A huge thank you to @ines_cross and @amaraeno for this thoughtful piece for @fthtsi about the wonderful Hudson Valley community that we call home. Photographs by Rhinebeck native @jone_bone ✨
A few months ago, @annieleibovitz contacted me. She was to be sworn into @academiedesbeauxarts as one of “The Immortals” and needed a sword for the ceremony. The sword was to be more symbolic and sculptural than functional. We decided to use branches from her property in Rhinebeck, NY as the base. I had read extensively about the sculptor Claude Lalanne’s use of electroforming and thought the process would be perfect for this. The process is almost alchemical, a natural object is soaked in a bath over several days and through an electric current, copper is slowly transferred onto the object, creating a lasting heirloom.
Today, Annie received her sword in Paris, presented by Anna Wintour. Congratulations Annie and thanks to you and @karen_mulligan for trusting me . ❤️
