Cabinet of Curiosities

Lucy has always been attracted to the surprising and wonderful, the odd or unusual, in nature. Many of her early paintings were of fungi, which at the time in botanical art were rarely shown. Also overlooked were lichens, another love of hers. She is also attracted to such things as shells, strange rocks, decaying leaves, animal skulls, and moths, expanding her work beyond the limits of botanical art. This vein of interest led her to the theme of this exhibit, the Cabinet of Curiosities. Its purpose is to awaken wonder and delight.

Cabinets of Curiosities, also known as “Wonder Rooms” emerged in the 16th Century in Europe. They were collections that crossed the boundaries between art and science, including objects belonging to natural history, archaeology, geology, and ethnology as well as paintings, sculpture, and antiquities. In one of these elaborate rooms you might see collections of minerals, seashells and stuffed birds; animal skeletons; ivory carvings from Asia; a unicorn horn (actually the horn of a narwhal); a painting by Rembrandt; even a stuffed crocodile. The word cabinet refers to the rooms created specially to house the collections, but also to elaborate cabinets in the sense we use the word today, beautifully painted or inlaid, with drawers, pigeonholes, and windows to display small treasures. The cabinet of curiosities was a precursor to museums.

In our times, we can’t imagine the newness and surprise of the discoveries and collections of the 16th and 17th centuries—we see so much, we have so much, we know so much (or think we do). But Lucy believes we can still feel and cultivate a sense of wonder at the marvels of nature.

Reception June 21, 3 - 5 pm.

Demonstration and artist talk July 12, 4 pm.