Queen Anne’s Lace (Daucus Carota),
resin, dimensions variable,
shown 48 x 48 x 108 inches
In Bled Dry, dried flowers are arranged hanging upside down from the ceiling to mimic the shape of a single Queen Anne’s Lace floret, while on the floor below there are small pools of blood to illustrate this small flower’s colorful story. Queen Anne’s Lace is said to have been named after Queen Anne of England, an expert lace maker. Apparently, the Queen challenged the ladies of the court to a contest to see who could produce a pattern of lace as lovely as the flower. As the tale continues, she pricked her finger with a needle and a single drop of blood fell into the lace. It is this droplet of blood that is said to represent the small dark purple center of the flower, one of it’s most defining characteristics. Bled Dry, while illustrating it’s botanical history, also comments on our current trajectory of literally bleeding nature dry.