Dilettanteās not a word youād normally conjure up to compliment. But thereās something in Stephanie Simek's restlessĀ digressions that makes the idea of artful inexperience seem kind of revolutionary. Her muse sends her headlong into arcane and circuitous studies of natural science ā flirting with botany, circuitry, crystallography, electro-magnetics, phosphorescent algae husbandry ā self-sufficientĀ sojourns intoĀ worlds wading just deep enough for her exquisite purposes.
"Radio Room," a functional, gallery-sized crystal radio composed of copper, foolās gold, steel and paper.Ā
Her workās got a wide breadth ā spread out across sound art,Ā conceptual fine art, a fantasticalĀ jewelry lineĀ and most recently her ownĀ line of fragrances. Sheās made circuitry triggered by the behavior of venus flytraps, quail eggs lined with gold, a room-sized radio made from copper and crystals, a strangely well-publicized eyelash necklace made from human hairĀ and countless other curios.Ā In everything, Stephanieās tactile creations share a common curiosity with the wonders of the natural world ā an imaginative distillation of scientific complexities into their most elemental forms.Ā
Necklace sculpted from the Mitsumata branch, traditionally used in Japanese papermaking.Ā
Stephanieās latest departure is a forthcoming third installment of her fragrance line ā her selenite fragrance.Ā Made from plant-based essential oils, it evokes soft florals with mandarin and vanilla notes and is housedĀ insideĀ a unique selenite crystal, complete with silver spray top with cap.
The reception for her latest installation ā āSounds in 6 Cities" ā happens tonight in Portland at PSUāsĀ Littman Gallery, running now through May 28.