Capiz Waves

Capiz shells, also referred to as windowpane oysters, are a major Philippine export. Finding materials indigenous to the islands was the jumping off point for my reaching back into my culture and ancestral roots. When I was little, I always associated these shells and everything made from them to be cheap, tacky, and frankly embarrassing. But now I'm captivated by their translucence and imperfections, their fragility and durability. What can I do with them? how far can I manipulate this material? How do I personally relate to this shell's qualities?