Shell Schlock
A big thumbs up to all you tool users out there! Last week, we rattled our cutlery to satisfy our creative desires one spoonful at a time. Did you exceed the recommended daily dose of 10 ml of creative expression every four hours (not to exceed five doses in 24 hours)? Or was it a day to defy gravity with a spoon sculpture to scrape the clouds? Maybe you kept your feet on the ground and gathered a crowd around you while jamming out a spoon symphony. Whatever you found time to accomplish, I hope it was as satisfying as the last scoop of soggy cereal from your morning bowl.
This week, we’re embarking on a creative journey inspired by the captivating forms and textures of shells. These natural wonders evoke a sense of mystery when you find them miles from a coastline. But rest assured, residents of the Inland Empire, shells are not limited to the seashore; they can also be found right here, like the fossils embedded in ancient rocks scattered around the San Bernardino & Riverside County, or the delicate shells of snails that overrun our gardens and sidewalks.
For this creative nudge, I encourage you to explore both natural and man-made shells. From the intricate spirals of a nautilus shell to the shell-shaped candy dish on your coffee table, let these forms inspire your imagination and guide your creative exploration down one or more of these paths:
- Shellish Soundscape: Gather a variety of shells and explore the sounds they create when tapped, rubbed, or blown on. Capture the whispers of the ocean, every rhythmic click, and the resonant hums that result from your explorations within these natural chambers.
- Shell Orderly: Arrange shells in intricate patterns, creating a mandala that reflects the natural beauty and symmetry of these forms. Experiment with different colors, textures, and sizes of shells to create a visually captivating and meditative design.
- Shell Lack: Press shells into clay, playdough, or even sand to create unique impressions and textures. Observe the different patterns and textures that emerge from these imprints.
- Shell Shoot: Capture the beauty of shells through photography. Experiment with different lighting, angles, and compositions to highlight their textures, colors, and unique forms. Create a photo series that tells a story or evokes a particular mood using shells as your visual motif.
- Shell Game: Start with the classic three-card monte using three shells and a coin (or a pearl if you have one handy). Then come up with other games. If you’re the family prankster, replace all the Riverside Monopoly characters with pretty shells.
- Fashioned Shell: Just in time for the Holidays! Design an outfit for a doll or other small thing in your household. Belts, bras, hats, shoes… don’t you think that garden gnome needs a make-over?
As we engage with these creative exercises, let’s appreciate the shell’s ability to connect us with the natural world, spark our curiosity, and inspire new ways of seeing and experiencing our surroundings. Did you know that even in the Inland Empire, far from the ocean, you can find shells embedded in the ground? This region was once submerged beneath the sea, and the remnants of ancient marine life can still be found in the fossilized shells scattered throughout the landscape. These shells serve as a reminder of the ever-changing nature of our planet, the vastness of geological time, and the enduring power of nature to shape and reshape our world.
They also speak to the resilience of life, evolving and adapting to changing environments, finding ways to protect and thrive even in the harshest conditions. So, the next time you encounter a shell, whether it’s on a beach, in a garden, or even in your own home, take a moment to appreciate its beauty, its history, and the creative possibilities it holds. And remember, just like the shell, we, too, can adapt, evolve, and create something beautiful and enduring, even in the face of change and challenge.
This column was written with the help of Google’s Gemini Advanced, a powerful generative AI writing tool.