Thanks to today’s blessing, seashells were on my mind. Otherwise, I may have missed this story on the radio while I was driving:
“A tiny object no bigger than a 50 cent coin has inspired Aboriginal artist Judy Watson to create a monumental sculpture that will stand over six metres (20 ft) on Sydney Harbour.
Bara – real fishhooks fashioned out of shells – have been discovered all around the harbour. They were used on fishing expeditions by Gadigal Aboriginal women, who would dangle the hooks from their canoes. The new artwork will have a shimmering finish inspired by the seashells.
Judy Watson says, “The crescent shape is a beautiful expression of Aboriginal technology. The bara are like a reflection of the moon in the sky, the bays in the harbour, the sails of the Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. My concept for bara re-imagines ancient gathering spaces where people sat by fires on the headlands and feasted. Bara will provide a quiet space for ceremony, reflection and contemplation in a busy and ever changing city. It will be inspiring and educational, beautiful and transformative.”

The blessing of seashells continues in many forms.