Blown Glass Floral Components

Central to the concept behind the Venusian World Sculpture Collection, including the Venusian Gardens, is the modular system of easily interchangeable components of the work. The Venusian sculptures consist of separate components that are interchangeable and therefore allow for flexibility in design. The neon tubes are wireless and are mounted in pyrex glass housings that enable each neon tube to be easily replaced or exchanged within any Venusian sculpture or garden without the need for tools or re-wiring. In addition, the glass components of the flowers are also interchangeable. Finally, the bases that support the sculptures and gardens are designed to allow for different components and/or configuration of components so that each garden or component of a garden can be easily changed without the need for tools or wiring. As such, one may “pick a Venusian flower” in a garden and place it in a new and different base thus allowing for personal customization or “growth” of the sculpture.

There are several components to each sculpture (see below for images). Essential to each is a base that houses the neon transformer that powers the neon tube(s). The bases are designed for individual or group neon/glass display. Each base has one or more pyrex glass housings for mounting the neon tubes. Each pyrex housing has a brass spring that allows for wireless electrical contact to the electrode of each neon tube allowing for easy mounting/removal of the neon tube. The sculpture bases are constructed of wood (stained or painted), ceramic, metal and/or acrylic. Some bases are designed for indoor and/or outdoor use, some for hidden installation under rocks and others with specific aesthetic attributes for a variety of applications.

While some sculptures are designed to consist only of a base and one or more neon tubes, many are designed to include additional components, especially blown glass, to further develop the style of the sculpture. Usually these glass components are mounted directly over the pyrex housings that hold the neon tubes thus creating the image of the neon tube emerging from the glass form. Generally speaking, the forms and shapes of the glass components serve to define the sculptures, i.e. Venusian Swamp Flowers and Venusian Swamp Lotuses etc. However, the choices of bases, glass forms and neon tubes offer a variety of combination options leading to many manifestations for a particular sculpture or installation.

Swamp Flower

Swamp Lotus

Clamora

Swamp Jax

Arruga

Grotto Blossoms

Bayou Blooms