Resin for Living

Phoenix artist Mayme Kratz literally finds her inspiration in nature. Kratz encases found objects such as butterfly wings and cactus seeds in resin, effectively protecting them from decay.

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• Mayme Kratz

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“I don't think about preserving the objects for posterity, but I do feel inclined to give them a new life,” says Kratz, whose latest works are on display in her solo exhibit “Pale Dreams” at Lisa Sette Gallery. In one image, a mass of seedpods resembles blood as seen under a microscope. In another series, gathered grass is arranged like a bird’s nest.

To get supplies for her works, Kratz collects natural objects while hiking Phoenix and the surrounding wilderness. The results are organized mounds of junk waiting to be turned into art. “I do not always have piles of things, but sometimes the collecting gets excessive,” says Kratz. “I keep them around until it is clear what form they may want to take, or how they might express a longing.”