Scanning electron microscope image of lily pollen mix (Louisa Howard). This image is in the public domain. Dartmouth College. http://remf.dartmouth.edu/pollen2/pollen_images_4/images/26%206a_2_DLily-5.jpg

Inspiration

The idea of connection is central to my practice; both in terms of how my pieces connect to each other and how they connect to the space they exist in...

– Michelle Maher

My Inspiration

Symmetry in nature & ceramics…..

Inspired by plants, coral, fungi, marine fauna and the microscopic – I enjoy working on site-specific outdoor ceramic installations that allow me to respond to a particular environment or place.

My work in clay is informed and inspired by plant and botanical forms, in particular that part of our environment that is hidden from view or perhaps ignored. All around us organisms are living, dying, reproducing and adapting at an incredible rate.

The science behind these everyday living things fascinates me and I seek to illuminate this world in my work and to take a snapshot in clay and make it accessible to all.

Inspiration from the shoreline in the Burren near Fanore in Co. Clare, Ireland. The erosion of the Atlantic Ocean on the ‘soft’ limestone rocks had created the most amazing seascape. www.ceramicforms.com

Inspiration from Orange peel fungi (Aleuria aurantia). Image by Holger Krisp (Own work) licenced under a Creative Commons licence [CC BY 3.0] (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AAleuria_aurantia_fungus_orange_peel_(second_view).jpg

Tree fungi inspiration, image from Pixabay.

Inspiration from bracket fungi, image by RichTea licenced under a Creative Commons licence [CC BY-SA 2.0]http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ABracket_Fungus_-_geograph.org.uk_-_663780.jpg

Inspiration from bracket fungi, image by Derek Harper licenced under a Creative Commons licence [CC BY-SA 2.0] (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AFungi_in_Drive_Coppice_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1112624.jpg

Image by PJeganathan (Own work) licenced under a Creative Commons licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AChicken_of_the_woods_Fungus_JEG7298_Jegan.JPG

Inspiration from bracket fungi on dead tree, image by Evelyn Simak licenced under a Creative Commons licence [CC BY-SA 2.0] http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bracket_fungi_on_dead_tree_-_geograph.org.uk_-_961143.jpg

matryoshka-red-fly-agaric-mushroom-inspire-pexels-2

Image by Michael Gäbler (own work), licenced under a Creative Commons licence [CC BY 3.0] (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AMeripilus_giganteus_(Karst_1882).jpg

Puffball fungi, releasing spores. Image by Kalyanvarma (Own work), licenced under a Creative Commons licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3APuffball_fungai.jpg

Inspiration from Betsiboka River seen here (2002) entering the Bombetoka Bay, creating a delta. Image by NASA [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ABetsiboka_estuary.jpg

Tree detail, the Phoenix Park, Dublin. Winter night sky. www.ceramicforms.com

By Boris Khvostichenko (Own work) licenced under a Creative Commons licence [CC BY-SA 4.0-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0], http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0, via Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ASocotra_dragon_tree.JPG

Tree detail, National Botanic Garden, Dublin. www.ceramicforms.com

Emiliania huxleyi (coccoliths) - single-celled marine phytoplankton that produce calcium carbonate scales. Image by Alison R. Taylor (University of North Carolina Wilmington Microscopy Facility) (PLoS Biology, June 2011) licenced under a Creative Commons licence, [CC BY 2.5] http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5), via Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AEmiliania_huxleyi_coccolithophore_(PLoS).png

The coccolithophore Gephyrocapsa Oceanica. Photo by NEON ja (own work), coloured by Richard Bartz [CC BY-SA 2.5] http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5 , via Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AGephyrocapsa_oceanica_color.jpg

Inspiration from microscope image of lily pollen (Louisa Howard). This image is in the public domain. Dartmouth College. http://remf.dartmouth.edu/pollen2/pollen_images_4/images/26%206a_2_DLily-5.jpg

Scanning electron micrograph of false colored Passiflora (passionvine), Spathiphyllum (peace lily), and Aster (daisy) pollen showing intraspecific pattern stability and interspecific pattern variation. Image by Asja Radja. [CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)], from Wikimedia Commons.

Scanning electron micrograph of lily pollen tubes by Dr. Anja Geitmann, Institut de recherche en biologie végétale, Université de Montréal. By Neutr0nics [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], from Wikimedia Commons.

Scanning electron microscope image of pollen mix (Louisa Howard). This image is in the public domain. http://remf.dartmouth.edu/pollen2/pollen_images_1/

Scanning electron microscope image of pollen grains from Helianthus annuus (common sunflower). This image is in the public domain. http://remf.dartmouth.edu/images/botanicalPollenSEM/source/10.html

Back-scattered electron microscope image of pollen grains from Lilium auratum (oriental lily). This image is in the public domain. http://remf.dartmouth.edu/images/botanicalPollenSEM/source/3.html

Scanning electron microscope image of pollen from Ipomea purpurea (Heavenly blue morning glory). This image is in the public domain. http://remf.dartmouth.edu/images/botanicalPollenSEM/source/4.html

Pollen from a variety of common plants: sunflower [Helianthus annuus], morning glory [Ipomea purpurea], hollyhock [Sildalcea malviflora], lily [Lilium auratum], primrose [Oenothera fruticosa] and caster bean [Ricinus communis]. This image is in the public domain. http://remf.dartmouth.edu/images/botanicalPollenSEM/source/12.html

Inspiration from Corals of the genus Sarcophyton (common name Toadstool Corals) seen here in Flynn Reef, part of the Great Barrier Reef, near Cairns, Queensland, Australia. Image by Toby Hudson (Own work) licenced under a Creative Commons licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), via Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AFolded_Coral_Flynn_Reef.jpg

Inspiration from bracket/plate coral. Coral at Arthur Bay, Magnetic Island. Image by Holobionics (own work) licenced under a Creative Commons licence [CC BY-SA 4.0] (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), via Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AMontipora_coral%2C_Arthur_Bay%2C_Magnetic_Island%2C_January_2016.jpg

Inspiration from a lettuce sea slug (Elysia crispata) photographed in the waters off of Curacao's Playa Forti. Image by LASZLO ILYES from Cleveland, Ohio, USA licenced under a Creative Commons licence [CC BY 2.0] (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ALettuce_Sea_Slug_11-03-2006.jpg

Inspiration from bracket/plate coral Turbinaria mesenterina. Tracey's Wonderland, Ribbon Reefs, Great Barrier Reef. Image by Richard Ling (Flickr) licenced under a Creative Commons licence [CC BY-SA 2.0] (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0), via Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Turbinaria_mesenterina.jpg

Inspiration from soap bubbles. Photograph taken at Traquair House, Scotland (2003) by BDB (Tagishsimon) licenced under a Creative Commons licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), via Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Soap_Bubble_-_foliage_background_-_iridescent_colours_-_Traquair_040801.jpg

Close-up of pine vascular trace shown in image to the left. From left to right in this trace would be protoxylem, procambium, and protophloem. Image by Dr. Paul J Schulte (University of Nevada). https://faculty.unlv.edu/schulte/Anatomy/Stems/Stems.html

View of a vascular bundle from Selaginella, image by Dr. Paul J Schulte (University of Nevada). https://faculty.unlv.edu/schulte/Anatomy/Stems/Stems.html

Cactus Dahlia_Nuit_dEté, image by Cillas (Own work) licenced under a Creative Commons licence [CC BY-SA 4.0-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0] (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0, via Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dahlia_%27Nuit_d%27Et%C3%A9%27.jpg

Cactus Dahlia flower, image from Pixabay.

Image by US Botanic Garden (2003). [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ATitan-arum1web.jpg

The inside of the Amorphophallus Titanum, image b y TGrayPhotography (Own work). Image cropped to focus on female part of flower (2017). Licenced under a Creative Commons licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AAmorphophallus_Titanum_Inside.jpg

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