The other evening, this green creature visited our back porch. I'd never seen one of these before and was unsure of what it was.
A quick interweb search (remember when we used identification books for this sort of thing?) makes me think that it's a kind of Katydid commonly called a Conehead. (Neoconocephalus sp.) According to an insect identification site, they can be found by listening for their songs. This one was quite silent and come to think of it, I don't see any wings either.
Saturday before Thanksgiving was spent teaching a glass class, a fast and fun make and take utilizing ornament lead to create angels.
Interesting beings these, messengers of God mentioned in the sacred writings of all three of the monotheistic faiths. Halos didn't appear in artwork until the fourth century but they now show up all over the place.
Do angels have wings? Well, at least cherubim and seraphim do but if they are spirit beings, are they bound by the laws of the physical universe and in need of wings to propel themselves?
A multitude of the heavenly host. (Oh dahling, those canapés are simply divine! You're a heavenly host.)
Fun fact: the angles mentioned have male names - Lucifer, Gabriel, Michael. Interesting that most of the angels we see as decorations have decidedly female faces. Then again, if they're not bound by the laws of the physical universe, are they in need of gender?
The quickie technique with U-channel lead and a bit of solder can be extrapolated to make larger pieces without having to go to all the fuss of copper foil.
It was a fun few hours playing with glass.
Have a great weekend all! Hope you have time to listen for the songs of Coneheads and angels.
Wow, Peter - being a gruff personality type who generally sneers at angel decorations, I have to tell you - yours go FAR beyond the norm, and are SO full of life, movement, and expression. You are quite the artist, my dear, and I would love to take a glass class from you some time. I love how you used the color striations in the glass to enhance the flow of their robes, and the wire to create movement. Just lovely, and very well done!
ReplyDeleteThere was just no telling where you were going with a title like that. Nicely played.
ReplyDeleteAlthough it is said we are created in the image of God, it is obvious us humans create Godly creatures in our own image; it makes it easier to think they are just like us.
ReplyDeleteLike Anna, I would have love to take your class. It looks like a lot of fun!
Those are some lovely angel ornaments! Angels must be nonbinary. Who knew?
ReplyDeleteI love your angels regardless of their gender (or lack thereof). They should hang on to their wings whether needed or not, though - we humans need that touch of magic.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a female (w/ ovipositor) Katydid to me. Ours are done for the year, only their eggs survive.
ReplyDeleteLove your angels and I'm not usually taken with such. My favorite is the one with red swirled glass. Nice work.
Peter, those angels are indeed divine! They're not typically my kind of thing, but with these I love the contours you have used in creating them - fine lines, beautifully attenuated. Captivating work! That katydid has some fine lines, as well, though she (he?) lacks the multicolored treatment. I don't suppose he (she?) cares one bit.
ReplyDeleteHeavenly host! How do you do it; come up with these witty remarks. Too funny.
ReplyDeleteSo impressive! Those angels are truly something special! I would love to take your class, too. When I saw the first photo, I immediately thought of katydids, too, although I don't remember seeing this particular species here.
ReplyDeletewonderful post, love the katydid and the angels but it was the commentary that made me chuckle. Can't wait to call someone a heavenly host - problem is don't go to many cocktail parties with canapes these days ... Your comment about angels having male names reminded me of fairies. Before fairies were sanitized by Walt Disney I think they were fearsome male creatures too.
ReplyDeleteThose are beautiful and they don't look at all easy.
ReplyDeleteI might come across an angel or two this weekend but the coneheads have been frozen out here already. I won't see/hear them until next summer. These angels made are sweet. I like all the colors and the various poses. Well done. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteAngels look great. I love the colored glass.
ReplyDeleteHalos didn't appear in artwork until the fourth century but they now show up all over the place.
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