Tim Spurchise

Tim Spurchise
Toledo, OH United States

This hot sculpted glass tardigrade was made entirely utilizing a beautiful opaline white glass. I specifically chose this translucent white because it resembles how a tardigrade is seen under a microscope. Tardigrades are my favorite life form, and I am inspired by their resilience and ability to withstand a multitude of extreme conditions. Tardigrades are nearly translucent and they average about half a millimeter in length. I am drawn to the micro/macro aspect of creating this glass tardigrade.

They were first named "tardigrada" in Italian from the Latin meaning “slow walker.” Taxonomists classify Tardigrades under the Eukarya domain, Animalia kingdom, and Phylum Tardigrada. This phylum is one of the 36 phyla within Animalia; making these water bears a significantly distinctive branch on the tree of life.

Dimensions: 8 x 14 x 8 inches