At the other end of the rabbit hole, among the ferns of the New Zealand countryside, there sat a little girl by the name of Frances. She really, really wanted to see the scurrying pink eyed rabbit come out of that little patch of darkness. She imagined herself engaged in a formidable argument with an ill-tempered caterpillar and she wished for just a little sip from Mock Turtle's tureen brimming with beautiful soup. She simply needed or better yet, she demanded, something fantastically absurd to happen.
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<br>Many times before, she had heard fabulous tales in which princesses slept inside crystal coffins undisturbed for centuries, their beauty preserved by inexplicable magic. She had read accounts about wooden boys turned real by the power of true love. She'd listened to myths of tiny fairies fluttering about and little winter pixies huddling inside a magpie's nest. She was utterly convinced that all these creatures were out there in the forest, teasingly glancing at her without allowing themselves to be seen. Yet Frances always felt truly at home in this land of make-believe among her whimsical companions.
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<br>This is how Frances Melhop grew up to be a story teller. Her affinity for fairy tales only became a stronger source of inspiration as time went on and, quite naturally, women became the focal point of her visual tales. Her photographs now incorporate every possible aspect of the archetypal female: the damsel in distress, the marionette craving for autonomy, the persecuted heroine and the youngster untainted by malice or deceit.
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<br>Frances' characters are never regarded as mere objects of tantalizing beauty, but rather as vehicles through which the story is told in successive vignettes. Melhop despises the way in which women have come to be portrayed in fashion and advertising. Often times they are nothing more than the unwilling recipients of a vulgar and distasteful set of attributes and expectations. In sharp contrast, her work breaks away from this trend to render females in a much more thoughtful, considerate and elegant manner.
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<br>Marionette is an ideal illustration of how, through such a succinct and forthright image, Frances Melhop is able to imply the many layers of meaning within the tale. Here, the puppet and the master are one and the same. The duality of their roles develops into a symbiotic relationship between them. It is a complex bond that simultaneously grants them both freedom and confinement.
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<br>In appearance, the human is simply in command of the toy. Paradoxically, the puppeteer enacts her dreams through the actions of the marionette, so that the puppet turns into an agent of freedom despite her attachments. The issue of ethical behavior and personal boundaries is candidly addressed in this photograph.
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<br>What remains unequivocal is that Frances Melhop is the one gently holding the strings behind all her images. Her work is distinctively her own. In recreating these fairy tales she whispers secrets, unveils beauty, washes away bias and connects us all with the acorn of truth that sleeps within our collective consciousness. Her lens is the rabbit hole of our childhood that holds the promise of a magical, kinder world.
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<br>About the Author: Cristina Clarimon is the curator of ArtHaus66 Contemporary Gallery, specializing in the promotion of contemporary <a href="http://www.arthaus66.com/blog/" rel="nofollow">Spanish artists</a>. She believes everyone should have the opportunity to view and collect quality, reasonably priced artwork. ArtHaus66 specializes in <a href="http://www.arthaus66.com/blog/" rel="nofollow">contemporary abstract art</a>. For more information visit <a href="http://www.arthaus66.com" rel="nofollow">ArtHaus66 Contemporary Gallery</a>
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Sunday, February 21, 2010
Frequently Asked Questions About Pearls
How is a pearl formed?
<br>
<br>A pearl can be formed in two different ways—naturally within the shell of an animal, or cultivated by hand. A pearl is said to be "naturally" formed when a piece of dirt or sediment gets inside the shell of a shell fish. A pearl is formed layer by layer around the molecule of sand or dirt to neutralize it. This type of pearl making is extremely rare, as there is no way of determining if a creature has a pearl inside or not—or of catching only oysters that contain pearls. If you ever find a natural pearl, consider yourself lucky indeed—and have it set into a ring or pendant.
<br>
<br>Pearls are also hand cultivated by having humans interact in the pearl making process on a pearl "farm". The pearl is formed in the same way—a bit of sediment is inserted into the shell, then layer after layer of nacre forms, creating a pearl. Growers can track how long a pearl has been forming, and have a good idea of how many pearls they will harvest in a given year.
<br>
<br>What is a cultured pearl?
<br>
<br>A cultured pearl is a pearl that is created by man-made means—it is cultivated on a farm, and destined to become a piece of jewelry or ornament. A cultured pearl is typically created by placing a core into the oyster or mussel and then left to sit for a year or more depending on the location of the mussel or oyster. Once the core is inserted, it will be allowed to grow for a year or longer--and then the carrier of the pearl will undergo "surgery" to remove the finished pearl. Once the pearl is removed, the mollusk or oyster is typically fitted with a new core to grow. It is then placed back in the water and left for a year or two and then goes through the process again.
<br>
<br>What is a freshwater pearl?
<br>
<br>A freshwater pearl is a pearl that is created in a different body of fresh water, like a lake, stream or river. These pearls can typically be found in river mussels, in many different types of climates. Freshwater pearls have been found as far north as Scotland. Most of the freshwater pearls that are sold today originate from China. Some freshwater pearls are round, like their cultured counterparts, but others have a distinctive "potato" shape. Freshwater pearls make beautiful jewelry just like their saltwater companions.
<br>
<br>What should you look for when buying pearls?
<br>
<br>Make sure you are actually buying real pearls. "Pearl finish", "Pearl beads" and "Pearl glass" are all faux pearls. If you want actual natural pearls there are several things to look for. First, make sure you are buying from a legitimate source, and make sure the description states "pearls" without a modifier like "finish" or "beads".
<br>
<br>The color of real pearls will be a shiny off white color and the pearls will feel heavy for their size. For costume jewelry, simply making sure the description reads "pearls" or "freshwater pearls" or "cultured pearls" is enough. You should also be sure that your pearls have been treated well—look for knots between individual pearls, and for sterling or gold clasps—greater care and attention will be taken with "real" pearls.
<br>
<br>About the Author: Denise Sanger is the owner of <a href="http://www.butterflyjewelryshop.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.ButterflyJewelryShop.com</a> which carries an extensive selection of <a title="sterling silver jewelry" href="http://butterflyjewelryshop.com/" rel="nofollow">sterling silver jewelry</a> including <a title="beach jewelry" href="http://butterflyjewelryshop.com/bridaljewelry.html" rel="nofollow">beach jewelry</a> designs. The company is located in sunny Florida and customer service may be reached at 877-297-9050.
<br>
<br>
<br>A pearl can be formed in two different ways—naturally within the shell of an animal, or cultivated by hand. A pearl is said to be "naturally" formed when a piece of dirt or sediment gets inside the shell of a shell fish. A pearl is formed layer by layer around the molecule of sand or dirt to neutralize it. This type of pearl making is extremely rare, as there is no way of determining if a creature has a pearl inside or not—or of catching only oysters that contain pearls. If you ever find a natural pearl, consider yourself lucky indeed—and have it set into a ring or pendant.
<br>
<br>Pearls are also hand cultivated by having humans interact in the pearl making process on a pearl "farm". The pearl is formed in the same way—a bit of sediment is inserted into the shell, then layer after layer of nacre forms, creating a pearl. Growers can track how long a pearl has been forming, and have a good idea of how many pearls they will harvest in a given year.
<br>
<br>What is a cultured pearl?
<br>
<br>A cultured pearl is a pearl that is created by man-made means—it is cultivated on a farm, and destined to become a piece of jewelry or ornament. A cultured pearl is typically created by placing a core into the oyster or mussel and then left to sit for a year or more depending on the location of the mussel or oyster. Once the core is inserted, it will be allowed to grow for a year or longer--and then the carrier of the pearl will undergo "surgery" to remove the finished pearl. Once the pearl is removed, the mollusk or oyster is typically fitted with a new core to grow. It is then placed back in the water and left for a year or two and then goes through the process again.
<br>
<br>What is a freshwater pearl?
<br>
<br>A freshwater pearl is a pearl that is created in a different body of fresh water, like a lake, stream or river. These pearls can typically be found in river mussels, in many different types of climates. Freshwater pearls have been found as far north as Scotland. Most of the freshwater pearls that are sold today originate from China. Some freshwater pearls are round, like their cultured counterparts, but others have a distinctive "potato" shape. Freshwater pearls make beautiful jewelry just like their saltwater companions.
<br>
<br>What should you look for when buying pearls?
<br>
<br>Make sure you are actually buying real pearls. "Pearl finish", "Pearl beads" and "Pearl glass" are all faux pearls. If you want actual natural pearls there are several things to look for. First, make sure you are buying from a legitimate source, and make sure the description states "pearls" without a modifier like "finish" or "beads".
<br>
<br>The color of real pearls will be a shiny off white color and the pearls will feel heavy for their size. For costume jewelry, simply making sure the description reads "pearls" or "freshwater pearls" or "cultured pearls" is enough. You should also be sure that your pearls have been treated well—look for knots between individual pearls, and for sterling or gold clasps—greater care and attention will be taken with "real" pearls.
<br>
<br>About the Author: Denise Sanger is the owner of <a href="http://www.butterflyjewelryshop.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.ButterflyJewelryShop.com</a> which carries an extensive selection of <a title="sterling silver jewelry" href="http://butterflyjewelryshop.com/" rel="nofollow">sterling silver jewelry</a> including <a title="beach jewelry" href="http://butterflyjewelryshop.com/bridaljewelry.html" rel="nofollow">beach jewelry</a> designs. The company is located in sunny Florida and customer service may be reached at 877-297-9050.
<br>
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