The forms of Helen Shirk’s bold metal objects come from studying the natural world. She continually records landscapes and plant life encountered during travels to Europe and Australia, combining them with observations of her local setting in Southern California. Her response to these observations of growth, blossoming and renewal becomes the springboard for dynamic vessels. The consummate craftsmanship of a highly skilled silversmith underlies Shirk’s agility with hammered copper and colour pencils. She studied gold and silversmithing in the United States and Scandinavia, and then refined her work through decades of experimentation and practice. Violet hood: commemorative cup XVIII draws on historical precedents that delight the eye with wondrous memorial objects. This exuberant vessel celebrates an undisclosed occasion, as exotic flowers spring up to voluptuously reveal the luxuriant colours of their inner layers.  EKB