08/01/2026
There was a clam shell.
There was a lump of clay.
And, for reasons that seemed perfectly reasonable at the time, the two were eventually introduced to one another.
Evergreen residents took inspiration from Patience Wright, an early American wax artist whose remarkable portraits and even more remarkable Revolutionary era story made her an unexpected character in the history of American art.
Our residents pressed clay into clam shells, allowing the shell’s natural ridges and patterns to become part of each bowl. Then came the signature names, messages, and small personal details pressed into the clay before the pieces were left to dry.
The bowls are not finished yet.
There will be paint.
There will be color.
There will, presumably, be several strong opinions about which color is best.
And eventually, each resident will have a little bowl they made themselves part artwork, part useful object, and part evidence that a clam shell can have a surprisingly productive second career.
A rather fitting way to close our month of American inspired art taking something from history, giving it a new shape, and leaving our own mark behind.
