Shoreleave is a pair of carved wooden sculptures that mimic the colorful markings of the American Oystercatcher while taking on the shape of the lapstrake clamp (sometimes called a planking clamp). 

A native shorebird in the Haematopodidae family, Oystercatchers are a vital part of our tidal ecosystem and can be a sign of a balanced tidal zone. Though still rare, their presence along the Massachusetts coastline is believed to be a reoccupation of native habitat lost during European colonization rather than a result of climate change.

Lapstrake clamps, used to assemble the hulls of ships when they were still made out of long pieces of wood, is a prime example of the variety and diversity found within just one family of tools (clamp). Tools are one of the most ubiquitous forms of language that we share with each other and the natural world.

The change in scale for both of these subjects creates a new dialogue between object and landscape. The larger-than-life silhouette of the clamp introduces a connection to the body, while vibrant colors mark the Oystercatcher’s return with a monumental icon. Constructed from Douglas fir, a wood often used in marine infrastructure, and an eco-friendly finish, Shoreleave blends the area’s history of industry and conservation as one. 

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