Part of Jim Scheller’s Ancient Rings series, Phenology is a kiln-formed glass vessel that reflects the rhythms of seasonal change and the passage of time. Its pattern of ivory rings serves as the canvas, creating a structured foundation for the delicate interplay of color, texture, and light.

Golden-yellow and soft green stalks, inspired by the wheat fields visible from Scheller’s studio, emerge in rhythmic formations, echoing the cycles of plant growth and renewal. A luminous yellow oval, evoking the sun, punctuates the form, symbolizing the ever-changing light that shapes the natural world. As light passes through, it casts warm reflections and shifting shadows, deepening the vessel’s sense of movement and transformation. The balance of opacity and transparency enhances its depth, drawing the viewer into its layered, organic composition.

Through Ancient Rings 56: Phenology, Scheller continues his exploration of the natural world’s subtle transformations, translating them into a refined, sculptural expression in glass.