Brandin is a California raised, Chicago based installation artist. Her work explores the natural world through the ways in which woman have interacted with our ecosystems for centuries. Exploring women's historic interactions with nature allows her to examine the beauty, fragility, and interconnectedness of the natural world and our responsibility towards it. Growing up in Northern California gave her a soul full of foggy redwoods and magical tidepools; drawing upon this curiosity and care for the natural world as a way to learn about the state she has called home for the last 10 years is a huge part of exploration as an artist. So much of her work involves researching, scouting, foraging, collecting and photographing the ecosystems she lives in that learning about the nature close to home has become an inextricable part of her and her art. Her most recent series "Reliquaries" and "Heirloom" explore foraging and and weaving, activities traditionally passed through the maternal line for centuries, as a way to speak about conservation.
Featured Artworks
Dappled Reef Installation
Dappled Reef Installation
Hand cut Brass + Mica pieces pinned at varying depths reference dappled light through water
Dappled Reef Detail
Dappled Reef Detail
Hand cut Brass + Mica pieces pinned at varying depths reference dappled light through water
Dandelion Heirloom
Dandelion Heirloom
"Heirloom", uses the practice of weaving to examine what we are leaving for our children with our current environmental practices. Utilizing hand woven metal wire and vessels housing foraged seeds, this collection is visually inspired by jewelry. What we often value and choose to preserve is counter to our survival as a species. In this series I am exploring what I hope to leave for my son. Knowledge about the natural world and a love for it that inspires conservation and reciprocity seems the only true thing of value. Weaving has historically been passed through the maternal line, utilized for practical vital purposes while being cherished for its beauty and delicacy. It is seen through almost every culture throughout history and is one of the traditional practices that continues to be taught. My mom taught me to crochet and sew, and my grandma taught her. I am using a crochet weave in my first piece of this series for this reason. Historically, weaving played a vital role in sustaining families and communities. It had cultural, economic, social, and practical applications in most civilizations. However, weaving is a prime example of the ways in which practices passed primarily through the maternal line are trivialized in our patriarchal society, often labeled as "craft" rather than art or trade. We have been living in a world in which the patriarchy decides what to prioritize. What would happen if we elevated and cherished those traditionally female roles.
Dandelion Heirloom Detail
Spring Reliquary
The collection is called "Reliquaries", and is inspired by the reverential practice of creating elaborate shrines for holy relics. My reliquaries lovingly house pollinator seeds to showcase and preserve them. With the natural world in such obvious peril, I am feeling an overwhelming urgency to guard and treasure those things we stand to lose. Reliquaries are sometimes housed for centuries; showing those who view them throughout those years what is precious to us.
Spring Reliquary Detail
Spring Reliquary Detail
Foraged Pollinator seeds housed in glass spheres showcase and preserve seeds
Summer Reliquary Detail
Summer Reliquary Detail
Foraged Pollinator seeds housed in glass spheres showcase and preserve seeds