Kelp Art

About This Category

Bull kelp is a sustainable resource plant harvested off the beach after it has been swept ashore by ocean storms. 

It grows in great kelp forests or beds far out from shore in the subtidal zone. Each individual Bull whip kelp is anchored to rocks on the ocean floor with a cable-like formation known as a holdfast.  A round buoyant bulb at the top of the plant is filled with CO2, bringing the long flat fronds growing out of the float closer to the sunlight.  Bull kelp can grow a metre a day, making it one of the fastest growing plants and productive ecosystems on the planet. At its longest ,18-50 metres, it can be dislodged by storms and brought ashore by waves. Sometimes living up to 25 years, a bull kelp whip can be aged by counting its growth rings.

To achieve proper curing, bull kelp needs the salt, sun and wind of many days lying on a beach. It is gathered dry from March to October, then reconstituted to be handcrafted into a myriad of shapes and designs. Sanded, oiled, waxed and varnished for a smooth almost wood-like finish or left to dry in the sun, the finished products vary dramatically. 

Kelp is durable, non-flammable and will last many years with proper care.