Fruiting Bodies: Cycles of Decay and Rebirth

𝐷𝑎𝑛𝑖𝑒𝑙 𝐾𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑧
Artist Statement 

My work explores the intricate relationship between decay and regeneration, as manifested in the natural world and the urban environment.  I am fascinated by decay, both in nature and in architecture.  Fungi, often overlooked as agents of decomposition, serve as a primary inspiration. These organisms, with their transformative abilities, break down organic matter into essential nutrients, creating fertile ground for new life. Similarly, urban decay, characterized by the erosion of structures and the decline of communities, often precedes revitalization and renewal.
Through my art, I aim to challenge the perception of decay as solely destructive. Instead, I propose it as an integral part of a cyclical process, essential for evolution and growth. By juxtaposing the microscopic world of fungi with the macroscopic scale of urban landscapes, I seek to reveal underlying patterns and connections. I hope to invite viewers to consider decay, not as an end, but as a catalyst for transformation.  

I work primarily in clay, and each of my pieces is hand built. My early years as an artist tended toward studying and creating vessel forms, and my current work reflects that experience. 

The great majority of my forms are created using coil and pinch methods, as well as hand rolled and cut cylindrical coils. I use very little glaze, opting for deep, matte, and mostly neutral underglaze colors.

My medium directly reflects my interest in  decay and renewal as they relate to both nature and urban landscapes.
 
​Fruiting Bodies Inventory:

•  Pitch, stoneware, 13” x 5” x 5”, 
• Appendage, stoneware, 20” x 8” x 8”,
  
• Bust, stoneware, 14” x 8” x 8”, 
• Capped, stoneware, 19” x 6” 6”
• Red Fruiting Body, stoneware, 22” x 12” x 12”,
• Burst, stoneware, 11” x 9” x 6”, SOLD
• Bloom, stoneware, 13” x 7” x 7”, 
• Ziggurat, stoneware, 15” x 6” x 6”
• Yellow Fruiting Body, stoneware, 16” x 6” x 6”,
• Polyporos, stoneware, 12” x 5” x 5”,
  
• Skyline, stoneware, 8” x 8” x 4”, SOLD