A weekly series featuring ephemeral headpieces made with decaying plant materials and paired with lyrics from Vanessa's catalogue.
THE SUMMONING
Hemlock and henbane brew
Nighshade and jimsonroot
Round up my devils
on the head of a pin
THE VEIL
Set me alight—a meteor
Barrelling through the atmosphere
Where the veil is thin as gossamer
OCTOBER
Scarlet October leaves
Ochre and amber and honey-gold
The rich, woven tapestry
The unbreakable thread
The warm glow of memory
REAPER
Did you know by the wind
By its breath on your skin
Did you know that your reaper had come?
BENEATH THESE PETALS
I will show them
The fire burning
Beneath these pretty petals
Is not afraid
THREADS
All the loose threads
Gathered together
And scattered on the wind
By chickadee
dee
dee
dee
COUNTING SHEEP
Counting sheep
One by one
Until the coyotes come
BY YOUR SIDE
I am already there
Standing by your side
Faster than the sound
Of your dying red sun
Coming soon.
Vanessa does not read or respond to SEO or other sales-pitch emails or private messages on social media. She is not available for commissioned work, concert bookings or studio sessions at this time.
Please address serious inquiries to hello [at] vanessalaurin [dot] com.
Although Vanessa's work focusses heavily on the cycle of life, death and rebirth, being a lifelong wildlife advocate, no living creatures have ever been harmed for the sake of her art. All skulls, feathers, taxidermy, and other specimens used in her work are non-CITES, non-SARA and non-MBCA species, and were ethically and sustainably obtained through reputable, cruelty-free, and trusted sources. Any songbirds featured in her work are cardboard printouts.
Conservation and awareness are crucial to preserving wildlife and wild places; therefore, if Vanessa's work has inspired you to begin your own collection, it is your duty as a responsible collector to educate yourself on the legal requirements applicable to your country or location of residence. (For example, in North America, it is illegal for the general public to possess live native songbirds, corvids or raptors, or their remains, including taxidermy, bones, skulls or feathers.)