Raphine

Copied Micah Evans, Raphine, 2015, lampworked glass, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Fleur S. Bresler, 2021.48.27

Artwork Details

Title
Raphine
Artist
Date
2015
Location
Not on view
Credit Line
Gift of Fleur S. Bresler
Mediums
Mediums Description
lampworked glass
Subjects
  • Object — other — appliance
Object Number
2021.48.27
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/2021.48.27

Artwork Description

The title of this artwork, Raphine, comes from the Greek word ??ß?, meaning “to sew.” With a repetitive technique comparable to hand-stitching, Micah Evans joined together thin strands of borosilicate (heat-resistant) glass with a torch into the shape of a nineteenth-century Wilcox & Gibbs sewing machine, the first single-thread chain-stitch machine invented for domestic use. Raphine celebrates the historical tool that affected everyday life. It also reveals an unexpected, contemporary use as a water bong. In this way, Evans shows the changing perceptions of tools over time.

This Present Moment: Crafting a Better World, 2022