Eternal Choice

2021

Glass and metal sculpture: mirror, copper foil, 60/40 solder, common plants used as abortifacients since ancient times fused and slumped in float glass.

Apium graveolens (celery); Artemisia absinthe (artemesia/wormwood); Artemisia vulgaris L. (artemsia / mugwort); Daucus carota (queen anne’s lace); Juniperus communis (juniper); Origanum majorana (marjoram); Petroselinum crispum (parsley); Ruta graveolens (rue); Salix fragilis (willow); Salvia officinalis (sage); Salvia rosmarinus (rosemary); Thymus vulgaris (thyme)

8in x 18in x 16in

The Egyptian Ebers Papyrus, based on a 2500 BCE text, is the earliest known record of humans using plants to induce abortion. Globally throughout time humans have turned to plants as allies in making choices about their reproduction. “Eternal Choice” (2021) is a mirror vessel overflowing with abortifacient ‘seeds’ made of fresh plants fused in glass. These plants have been used since ancient times as reproductive ‘choices’ and are common in the Gulf South today. The use of mirror evokes self and society in abortion history.