Madison Pickers

Clamshell

Clams are a naturally occurring container with their own build in hinge. While researching the functionality of the clam shell I developed a deeper concept based on what a clam contains. Very rarely does a clam produce a pearl, and whether it does or not, the lure of human greed causes overfishing of clams. Discarded for what they contain, leaving the creature damaged and disposed of. This speaks to the nature of humans; a story of greed in the discovery of beauty. Creating the clamshell forces the viewer to interact with it. I want the viewer to ask themselves these questions: Can we view naturally occurring things without having to consume it as well? Can we simply observe beauty without having to take it? What is the duality between greed and beauty?Nestled between the shells of brass lay a pearl. The clasp requires two hands to open, to mimic that of shucking a clam. Once opened, it is your choice to observe or take. The functionality of this piece leaves viewers with the illusion that it is meant to be opened, but does it need to be?