Art is an interesting subject that incorporates so much. We have discussed traditional art such as painting, sculpture and photography. Today we take a look at a different medium: seashells.
Designers and artists Lourdes Berg and Andy McAlister create art using nature’s beautiful shells. With their love of shells, they joined together and formed Islamorada Shell Designs. Their designs feature shell collages which create their own unique art. Islamorada Shell Designs is inspired by the endless beauty the Keys have to offer.
McAlister has a bachelor’s degree in visual arts from Auburn University. While Berg does not have an art background, she comes from the finance and business world. She has a strong foundation and passion for design. The dynamic duo loves to create the unique art that is evident everywhere in the works of Islamorada Shell Designs.
There is a strange satisfaction when seeing their shell designs. The art features shells, something all of us locals see and perhaps do not appreciate as much as we should. The creative patterns give us a new appreciation for shells and teach us that art can expand much beyond the traditional.
Berg and McAlister say they’re fascinated by the boundless beauty of shells.
“Our art is a collection showcasing their intricate details, shapes and colors.”
Berg, a dancer, describes their designs and the shells themselves as a rhythm and flow of self-expression.
“Dancing is in its basic form a series of steps that become a dance with movement and music. Shell art takes individual shells that, when intricately arranged and designed, become art,” she said.
McAlister manufactured large props for huge events, something you could say is art on a macro level. Larger creations were designed, fabricated and activated for sports events and fan experience. Creating and fabricating gave him a distinctive perspective when creating shell art.
Islamorada Shell Designs is best described as “handcrafted compositions created on canvas, driftwood and freeform sculptures, each created with carefully handpicked shells, artfully placed and transformed into art.” Some of the historical figures who inspire Berg and McAlister are Archimedes, Michelangelo, Monet and DaVinci.
McAlister has admired art since childhood. He won an art contest in third grade and didn’t look back. His work has always involved creating art. Berg also always loved working with her hands, being creative and artsy. It wasn’t until they got feedback on their first collaboration that they knew they had something special. The work called “Chain of Islands” garnered a lot of positive attention.
Since that first collaboration, all their works have gotten a lot of positive attention. After their success, they formed Islamorada Shell Designs.
Berg and McAlister’s work are inspired by the Keys coastal lifestyle and specifically by the Keys’ blissful surroundings to the beautiful water and coral reefs. It is to this natural beauty where their artistic nature reflects the ocean’s beauty and mysteries.
“Each piece requires a meticulous effort to not only ethically source the materials, but to use those materials in a thoughtful and creative manner. No piece will ever be like another, just like no shell is the same as another,” Berg and McAlister said. “Our passion can be seen in each piece. We are excited to share our art form with our community.”
What does the future hold? Shell designs of course, but perhaps some painting will be incorporated within the designs. If you are interested in an appreciation of the timeless elegance and mystical splendor that connects nature and humanity, you have found the right place. Islamorada Shell Designs can be found at various local shows and galleries. The best place to find out more is their website, islamoradashelldesigns.com.
