CREATIVE PROJECT ABSTRACT CREATIVE PROJECT: Vines, Veins, and Morning Glories STUDENT: Rachael Jobst DEGREE: Master of Arts COLLEGE: College of Fine Arts DATE: December 2009 PAGES: 40 This project focused on arboreal or branching patterns found in nature. A primary objective was the examination of the Gaia Hypothesis. The Gaia theory is an ecological hypothesis suggesting all systems on earth interact to form a single organism. The Greek word Gaia means earth goddess or spirit of mother earth. Each piece combined metal morning glory vines with bronze castings of the female human figure. The morning glory vines mimic the human circulatory system. Five sculptures culminate this series. The body of work is unified through subject matter and metal-smithing methods. Various metal-smithing techniques were required to produce this creative project including: copper plating and forming, construction, casting, enameling, fold forming, forging, and patination.