The Botanical Fainting CouchThe BFC is a functional bronze bench, measuring roughly 96" l. x 50" d. x 48" h. and weighing just under 500 lbs.
BotanyEach plant texture on the BFC contrasts with the next. Touching and engaging with each letter naturally leads to plant recognition.
TaxonomyJuglans (walnut) and Fucus (a seaweed), two surface textures of the BFC, are identified by their Latin genus.
TypographyH is for Hosta. Every letter of the alphabet is represented with a unique typographical style.
Attention to DetailZea is the genus for corn. This is one of the easiest textures for children to recognize.
DiscoveryChildren gravitate to the BFC, because they see the letters and like to find the whole alphabet. They look for the letter of their name, which leads to interest in the plant textures.
EducationEducational programming and fun games are easily designed around the BFC. Such programming can be custom tailored to your setting, with references to local plants and trees.
Display indoors...
in the GardenThe BFC can be installed indoors or out.
The Alphabet ChairThe Alphabet Chair, bronze, by Sarah Peters, is a functional interactive sculpture with a textural alphabet puzzle theme.
A puzzle...The textures on each letter are objects that begin with that letter.
...for all agesThe letter textures can be tricky to identify, but children are often the first to solve the whole puzzle.
at the LibraryThe Alphabet Chair is very at home in libraries, especially among the children's books. Countless story times have gathered around The Chair. It is a common gathering spot for author visits, group photos, and alphabet games. This Alphabet Chair lives at the Lewisville Public Library, in Lewisville, TX.
ProcessRuthie, the elephant, lies down for Sarah as she makes an impression of her skin with Play Doh. The E on the Alphabet Chair is for Elephant Skin!
Fisherman's Memorial ProposalThis is a maquette (a small "sketch" sculpture). The plaster maquette is 18" tall. The proposal is for a 16 foot tall figure, with 10 foot codfish, both cast in bronze.
The flat codfish at the base would be cut in local granite and installed as pavers, creating a handsome transition between the grass "deck" and the monument.
The figure faces the sea. The cod held in the fisherman's grip would stand about 6 feet tall. Imagine stepping among the fish and looking out to sea.
The fisherman awaits an invitation to be cast full size for a suitable public seaside space.
2007 FIDEM Congress MedalDie struck bronze, 92 x 92mm.
Rebuild/ReplenishThe XXX FIDEM Congress theme was "Passages to Reconstruction." The medal was created in response to the aftermath of hurricane Katrina and the tsunami in Indonesia.
ConfigurationsThe individual medals can stand alone, or be linked in many configurations. This activity symbolizes the progress we can make by working together.
Husband and WifeObverse and reverse sides depict a conversation between husband and wife. In the collection of the British Museum, London, UK.
Ill-Fated JourneyObverse and reverse depict the unfortunate fate of two women on a boat. In the collection of The Royal Coin Cabinet, Stockholm, Sweden.
WhalingRead about Falmouth's Whaling industry that sailed out Woods Hole HERE.
ShipbuildingRead about the Shipbuilding industry and learn about "live oaking" in Falmouth and Woods Hole HERE.
Ice HarvestingRead about how ice was harvested and stored for the summer months in the 19th century HERE.
Woolens IndustryRead about Falmouth's Woolen's Industry and very different New England landscape we lived in HERE.
Cranberry HarvestingLearn about the traditional and fascinating Cranberry Harvesting process HERE.
Pacific Guano WorksLearn why 19th century New England sailors journeyed to the pacific islands to collect bird guano HERE.
Marine SciencesRead about The origins of the Marine Sciences in Woods Hole HERE.
Strawberry FarmingRead about the Strawberry Farming industry and its uniquely Portuguese origins in Falmouth HERE.
Old SaltworksLearn about how salt was harvested in 18th century Falmouth HERE.
Eel FishingRead about the Wampanoag tradition of Eel Fishing and how the methods developed over time HERE.
Summer Resort CommunityLearn the unexpected reasons Falmouth became a Summer Resort Community HERE.
Water StudyWorking with an existing stone structure, Sarah used hand-dyed silk and white pine saplings to create a hot pink fountain and pool with an integrated tunnel.
Portals and PassagewaysThe installation was nestled in a sunken dell behind Highfield Hall, in Falmouth, MA.
A view through the top of Water Study shows the pathway and a visitor.