Welcome to the Bamboo Forms Catalog 2008
What you will see here are 2 and 3 year-old harvested culms of various types of giant Guadua bamboo, a genus indigenous to Central and South America. They have been “invited” by me to grow through various forms, similar to the way in that the Japanese in their tradition make square bamboo poles by the use of vertical forms through which the growing tip progresses upward. During the period in which the tip is enclosed in the form, which may be as long as 3 months in some cases, it is in almost complete darkness but nevertheless continues to grow. I believe this is because the shoot is oriented away from gravity rather than growing towards the sun. The sun becomes the dominant factor when the shoot finishes its upward push (with Guadua spp. that may be 20-30 meters) and after it puts out branches with leaves.
The culms are allowed to harden for several years before harvesting, and are then treated by a boron/water solution injected in each internode of the curved sections, and by immersion of the straight sections in the same solution after piercing the diaphragms. Lengths are variable.
These singular, highly sculptural forms are available to purchase. Please write to Brian Erickson, brian@brieri.com for details. Some of the pieces are still drying and will lose water-weight. When dry I will publish their weights, sometimes a factor in shipping.
Keep checking for new listings, there’s more to come!
What you will see here are 2 and 3 year-old harvested culms of various types of giant Guadua bamboo, a genus indigenous to Central and South America. They have been “invited” by me to grow through various forms, similar to the way in that the Japanese in their tradition make square bamboo poles by the use of vertical forms through which the growing tip progresses upward. During the period in which the tip is enclosed in the form, which may be as long as 3 months in some cases, it is in almost complete darkness but nevertheless continues to grow. I believe this is because the shoot is oriented away from gravity rather than growing towards the sun. The sun becomes the dominant factor when the shoot finishes its upward push (with Guadua spp. that may be 20-30 meters) and after it puts out branches with leaves.
The culms are allowed to harden for several years before harvesting, and are then treated by a boron/water solution injected in each internode of the curved sections, and by immersion of the straight sections in the same solution after piercing the diaphragms. Lengths are variable.
These singular, highly sculptural forms are available to purchase. Please write to Brian Erickson, brian@brieri.com for details. Some of the pieces are still drying and will lose water-weight. When dry I will publish their weights, sometimes a factor in shipping.
Keep checking for new listings, there’s more to come!
