Barbara De Pirro’s Metamorphosis

by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS

Three floors of the Department of Ecology building in Lacey are now aglow with chrysalis forms assembled from hundreds of plastic bottles. This art installation, Metamorphosis, was created by Barbara De Pirro, who says the forms represent “a transformation from the humble and forgotten into the exceptional.”

Artist Jeffree Stewart, who chose the art to be displayed, says, “As nature creates life cell by cell, so De Pirro has created these sculptures.” He goes on to describe the installation as “a wonderful communion of light and space” and “a well-crafted and delightful presence quietly immersed in light.” For many years, Stewart has curated revolving art exhibits in the Ecology building’s public spaces. He says this installation will remain until well into the fall.

De Pirro reclaimed plastic bottles and cut them by hand into cellular forms, then stitched them together into white nests or pods. Perhaps they’re nature’s chandeliers. Illuminated by natural light, they change as the light changes.

De Pirro’s artwork has been exhibited in galleries, museums and sculpture parks in Everett, La Conner, Seattle and Tacoma and has been featured in such publications as Fiber Art Now and TextileArt Around the World. Metamorphosis was recently installed in the Woolworth Windows in Tacoma, a Spaceworks project.

What: Metamorphosis

Where: Washington Department of Ecology,
300 Desmond Drive, Lacey

When: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily through October

How much: free

Learn more: 360-407-6000 | Barbara De Pirro

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