Burning Bush

Michele Oka Doner’s passion for nature can be seen in every element of her artistic output. Her careful study of the landscapes, seascapes, flora and fauna from her native Miami has inspired and informed a practice that ranges from vast site-specific installations to intimate-scaled jewelry. This iconic candelabra, evocatively titled Burning Bush is a powerful example of Oka Doner’s naturalistic approach to the decorative arts. The artist follows the structure of a crisscrossing bramble bush, evoking a bare, wintry bundle of branches, then casts the form in dark blackened bronze. Occasionally a branch terminates in a bud, or a small circular platform designed for a single candlestick. With this work, the artist intends to bring the ancient earthly qualities of the natural world into the often clinical modern domestic space.