Burning Bush

ca. 1995

Not on view

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.

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

Provenance

Title: Burning Bush
Artist: Michele Oka Doner (American, born Miami Beach, Florida, 1945)
Date: ca. 1995
Medium: Bronze, gilding
Dimensions: 17 in. × 17 1/2 in. × 48 1/4 in. (43.2 × 44.5 × 122.6 cm)
Classifications: Metalwork, Lighting
Credit Line: Gift of Frances F. Bowes, 2013
Object Number: 2013.44
Curatorial Department: Modern and Contemporary Art

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From the same time and place

Scanned III, Michele Oka Doner American, Rubbing made with grease stick, ink and paint — Scanned III
Michele Oka Doner
2005

Gray and Brass, John Sloan American, Oil on canvas, American — Gray and Brass
John Sloan
1907

Candelabrum (one of a pair), Matthew Boulton British, Gilt bronze, Derbyshire spar, British — Candelabrum (one of a pair)
Attributed to Matthew Boulton
second half 18th century

Bag, Michele Oka Doner American, sterling silver, leather, synthetic, American — Bag
Designer Michele Oka Doner
Designer Nancy Gonzalez
2006

Necklace, Meta Overbeck American, Gold, emeralds, Montana sapphires, topazes, enamel, American — Necklace
Meta Overbeck
Louis C. Tiffany
Manufacturer Tiffany & Co.
ca. 1914–15

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