This year for the Art of Conservation I wanted to create pieces inspired by the idea of "omens". There are both positive and negative connotations to this word. An omen can be a harbinger of something terrible to come, or a sign of hope and change for the future.
For me the latter resonates. I do not want to think of our future, particularly for the natural world, as doomed and beyond repair. I see so much hope and many people fighting to preserve and restore what is and has been lost, even if that battle is often uphill.
Immediately my first inspiration for this series was the white buffalo. Spending most of my life in South Dakota means I've been surrounded by stories, art depictions, and literal bison. Once numbering as many as 60 million across North America, in thunderous herds to rival the wildebeest of Africa, they were reduced to fewer than 1000 by 1890. Their slaughter en masse was fueled by monetary greed and goals of annihilation of the native tribes that relied on them- not only for physical sustenance but for their spiritual and cultural significance.
But their story doesn't end in 1890. Through the efforts of ranchers with private herds, early conservationists, and the creation of national parks, the bison now number over 400,000. While this is still far from their original numbers it is an incredible boom for an animal once on the verge of extinction.
The white bison holds deep spiritual significance to the Lakota and other native tribes. It is a symbol of hope, of change, and of restoration. The birth of a white buffalo calf signifies the sign of a better future coming. This piece was made in honor of that idea and in honor of Yellowstone and the wild bison herd that was preserved there.
Handmade ceramic plate featuring hand sculpted white bison and Yellowstone hot spring pool. Plate measures approximately 10" diameter and 1.5" deep at plate's edge.
All materials used are food and dishwasher safe. However, to best preserve your favorite animals I recommend hand washing.
I do my best to photograph every piece accurately, however, due to the many variations in monitors and browsers, the color of products may appear differently on different monitors and in different light settings.
50% of the proceeds of this piece will be donated to Tanka Fund to support their conservation efforts lead by Native Nations. To Learn more about their work please visit www.tankafund.org
To see more of Kelsey's work be sure to follow on Instagram @kelseyceramics
