Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Mysterious Appearance of Giant Snail at Hoffhines Studio Garden.

Local biologists have been flocking to the back yard garden at Linda Hoffhines Studio in Union Pier Michigan since this huge gastropod was discovered this afternoon. It appears that the giant mollusc has been living off of a diet of back yard sculpture and is incorporating the bits and pieces into it's shell and carapace. Dr. M. Schilthuizen, Phd, of Midwestern Michigan University noted that "This is a most remarkable example of a terrestrial gastropod capturing, storing and exhibiting biomass. I've never seen a mollusc secrete such a colorful and highly patterned surface onto it's shell. This specimen will provide scientific researchers with many fascinating questions for years to come".

4 comments:

Patricia Griffin Ceramics said...

That's amazing. I make little snails that I sell from my studio/gallery but they're just 3 inches approx... Great to fill in the dead spaces in the kiln... Is this from clay? How big is this sucker?

nancyandburt said...

34"HX50"Wx4"D are the exact dimensions provided by the artist.
The piece is made of concrete built over a styrofoam armature. The surface is embedded with various stuff.

nancyandburt said...

p.s. Patricia, how did you find this blog?

Patricia Griffin Ceramics said...

Hi Nancy and Burt - Can't recall where/how I found your blog... Probably from another potter's blog and checked you out. I love the color and "life" in your work.

And thanks for the info on the snail. I make little bitty snails to fill dead space in the kiln. And, honestly, at my studio gallery in Cambria, I'll sell more little snails in a weekend than pots. Oh well, it adds up to paying for lunch every now and then!