Memory Stones – grief and comfort combined
Maybe, on the mantel piece, or in a cupboard somewhere, you still have some ashes after a cremation. They are precious because of who they represent, but they are not exactly lovely and you are not sure what to do with them long term.
I had to consider this when my father Bob died, and my response was to make beautiful, tactile ‘Memory Stones’. We honoured his life through the planting of trees, the reading of his poetry, the scattering of his ashes, and the creation of Ceramic Memory Stones that held fragments of his being. This deepened my understanding of art as remembrance, and of love made tangible.
Each stone is a hollow sphere and contains his ashes inside. The outside of the sphere is embossed with tree prints and decorated with porcelain slip and ash.
The memory stones can be grey or terracotta in colour, using different clays. Some are small enough to be held in your hand or carried in a pocket, a comfort to touch. They aren’t exactly Memento Mori – as that literally means a reminder that you are going to die, they are more than that, a reminder of both our mortality and a life lived. The wonderful quality of the memory stones mean they are both beautiful to look at and comforting to hold.
You can buy mass produced ashes made into glass products, but this is different, artist designed and made, each one is unique.
I will make Memory Stones on commission – if you would like to find out more please get in touch.
