Bamboo Forms Catalog

Introduction

2008-02-16T14:07:00.000-08:00

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!

#109B

2008-02-16T05:38:00.000-08:00

Another view of a dynamic form.

#109A

2008-02-16T05:34:00.000-08:00

This is a very powerful open coil in a large diameter guadua.

Height: 340 cm

Diameter: 10 cm

Coil width: 90 cm

Defects: 1 crease, 1 dent.

#108B

2008-02-16T05:33:00.001-08:00

Defects: 5 creases, 2 dents.

#108A

2008-02-16T05:30:00.000-08:00

This is a full spiral.

Height: 396 cm

Diameter: 7 cm

Defects: see #108B

#107B

2008-02-16T05:28:00.001-08:00

Defects: 4 creases

#107A

2008-02-16T05:22:00.000-08:00

This is the first form I made. It was going to be a circle coil, but I removed the form too early, then the growing tip turned, ducked under and through, then up to form this knot-like form.

Height: 385 cm

Diameter: 7 cm

Defects: see #107B

#106C

2008-02-16T05:20:00.000-08:00

A close-up of defects in the curve: 4 creases, 1 dent.

#106B

2008-02-16T05:18:00.000-08:00

Another view of a handsome open coil.

#106A

2008-02-16T05:14:00.000-08:00

This is another open coil type form. #106B affords another angle of view, and #106C shows the defects in close-up.

Height: 445 cm

Diameter: 6.5 cm

#106,107,108

2008-02-16T05:10:00.000-08:00

This is a group shot of three culms, showing off their sculptural muscle.

#105B

2008-02-16T05:07:00.000-08:00

Defects: 1 crease, 2 dents

#105A

2008-02-16T05:02:00.000-08:00

This is a full spiral in a small-diameter with a bumpy contour. Seems the larger diameters manage the curves of a spiral better----because of the thicker walls?

Height: 484 cm

Diameter: 5 cm

Defects: see #105B

#104B

2008-02-16T04:59:00.000-08:00

Defects: 1 crease, 3 dents

#104A

2008-02-16T04:54:00.000-08:00

A full spiral in a smaller-diameter variety of guadua.

Height: 320 cm

Diameter: 7 cm

Defects: see #104B

#103

2008-02-16T04:50:00.000-08:00

A large guadua in a partial spiral.

Height: 310 cm

Diameter: 9.5 cm

#102B

2008-02-16T04:46:00.000-08:00

This close-up shows the defects produced during the forming process. An indentation with a sharp line at the bottom is a "crease." A smoother deformation with no sharp line is a "dent."

#102A

2008-02-16T04:35:00.000-08:00

This ia an "open coil" type form. It was very slow-growing on the downward path since shoots normally flee gravity.

Height: 330 cm

Diameter: 8 cm

Diameter/curve: 65 cm

Defects: 6 creases (see 102B)

#101

2008-02-15T19:25:00.001-08:00

This is one of the earliest experiments with forming guadua. The tight upward curve from the bottom was not my idea, but it worked. This is a piece with no real defects

288 cm high
10 cm diameter
Diameter of circle: 95 cm

2008-02-15T19:17:00.000-08:00