THE ARTIFACT
The mixed colors of beach glass were reclaimed from the shores of Lake Erie. I have mounted the shards of glass in a cutout in a light piece of driftwood. This suncatcher also features a light sisal rope for a charming, rustic touch. Comes with a suction cup.
DIMENSIONS & SCALE
- Artifact type: reclaimed Lake Erie beach glass and driftwood
- Artifact size: beach glass shards filling approximately 1-inch diameter hole (see reference photo with quarter for visual scale)
- Length: driftwood – 8 inches; total length with hanger – 11 inches
THE ORIGIN
Each driftwood fragment begins its life as part of the massive sycamores, oaks, and cottonwoods that line the high bluffs and riverbanks of Lake Erie. During the violent “Gales of November” or the heavy spring thaws, these trees are claimed by the rising waters of the rivers and marshes that feed the lake. Unlike ocean driftwood, which is primarily cured by salt, Lake Erie wood is “milled” by the lake’s shallow, choppy basin. The freshwater acts as a gentle abrasive, stripping away the bark to reveal the dense, resilient heartwood beneath. After being cast onto the high-water marks by a storm, the wood sits in the open sun. This natural UV exposure leaches out the organic tannins, turning the once-dark timber into a luminous, “silver-grey satin” artifact. The hue of the wood is determined primarily by the type of tree, how long it has been in the lake, and how long it has sat on the beach under the harsh sun.
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