Angel Fern by Tahja Henderson

Fig 12. Tahja Henderson, Angel Fern, 2023. Wire. Art Building Courtyard, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Megan Lam.

Angel Fern by Tahja Henderson (Fig 12) is a collaboration between the industrial product of wire and the celestial quality of angel symbolism. By hand-twisting wires, Henderson’s piece takes the shape of a blue star fern, a plant with stellar-like characteristics, reaching out to viewers like a large hand. The black wire submerges in its camouflage in the low light environment, viewers can trace the shape of the fern when light is reflected, bubbles of white shades traveling through the surface, adding a semi-halo effect to the piece. Henderson is inspired by the idea of finding sanctity in nature, which her mother instilled in her when she was younger.