Events July 9th - The Americas Cup - Elizabeth Ladron de Guevara Cetina

Event 1: Floral Sculpture – The Amazon Rainforest

Please give us your vision of the theme The Amazon Rainforest. What is your personal connection with The Amazon Rainforest? What do you want us to remember about this creation?

The Amazon Rainforest, so vast, with such a wealth of fauna and flora, are the lungs of all living beings, and it hangs from a thread so exquisite and fragile that its balance and care depends on everyone. It is an oasis of life, if you like, in a planet we’ve done nothing but destroy. Everyone has a connection with this area of the earth, considering that the oxygen it provides is used by each and every one of us; its ecosystem is a part of our lives. Personally, my connection to it is based on my great respect for life and admiration for nature. This piece is trying to represent a small part of the rainforest, the mangrove swamps, the Victoriana Amazonica (Nymphaea) that blooms in this area, the flora and fauna that share their lives daily, this constant, fragile, but natural balance, and the care we must take to keep from destroying this gift from nature.

What do you consider to be the typical flowers and plants from The Amazon Rainforest; the products must be commercial and available for your daily work?

Even though some of the flower varieties in this area have not been classified, there are all kinds of orchids (Masdevallia, Brassia, etc.), passiflora (Cariácea, Edulis), bromeliads (Vriesea psittacine, Aechmea recurvata, Aechmea nudicaulis, Tillandsia Cyanea), heliconiaceas (Wagnerian), and aroids such as anthurium.

Which techniques did you use and why? And how much time did the preparations cost?

The techniques used in this composition are structural, woven wire (Spider style), that helps represent the not only the fragility but also the balance of the Amazon Rainforest, as well as one of the inhabitants of the region, the Goliath spider, the biggest spider in the world. To make this creation I made a few tests, which don’t really have a cost since I reused some materials I already had, but an estimation would be around $500 USD, though the creative process is really a lot more than the actual money spent on a test.

What were your first thoughts when you knew you would attend The Americas Cup?

My first thoughts were more feelings than actual thoughts; happiness, curiosity, fear, but mainly the creative urge to make this project.

Surprise Item - Floral Garden – nature and art in miniature

Please tell us something about your creation.

I created circular shapes because the circle is the shape of infinity. Everything was created thinking in a circular movements.

When you think about a Floral Garden, which plants or flowers come to mind? Was it difficult creating a miniature arrangement?

Roses

Yes it was a bit difficult because I had more details to work with which made it more complicated.