The Cannabis Culture Project brings humor, character, and a little welcome weirdness into mixed media sculpture. A cat, a dragon, and an oversized gummy become ways to explore cannabis culture through art.

I am interested in the stories people attach to objects and symbols. These pieces use playful forms and luminous details to invite a closer look and leave room for conversation.

Three characters, three starting points

Snoop Panther began with a photograph my partner took of our black cat, Luna, enjoying catnip. Puff the Magic Dragon brings an imagined creature into the collection. Weed Gummy draws on my fondness for the Saturday Night Live sketch The Negotiator, featuring Regina King.

Each piece has its own personality. The photographs below follow them from development to finished views, including their luminous appearance in darkness.

Explore the sculptures

Choose a light or glow photograph on each card. Open “Development and more views” for additional angles and photographs from the making process. Select any image to open it larger.

Snoop Panther

10 × 10 inches. Mixed media sculpture.

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Artificial light Glowing

Development and more views

Dracorex Ignifera Cannabis

Also known as Puff the Magic Dragon. Mixed media sculpture.

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Front in the light Glowing

Development and more views

Weed Gummy

16 × 9 inches. Mixed media sculpture with a 16 ounce stash jar.

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In the light Front glowing Back glowing Side glowing

Development and more views

Meet Puff through a story

Puff’s art story gives the dragon a life beyond the sculpture. It imagines an encounter between a feared creature and a lord that grows into an unexpected friendship.

Read it alongside the photographs and see how the character changes when you meet him through words as well as form.

Humor with room for conversation

This project makes space for a playful approach to a subject that carries many associations. The characters invite curiosity about those associations, about the materials, and about the stories each viewer brings to the work.

The glow adds another layer to their personalities. Compare the light and dark photographs, then return to the development views to see how each character took shape.

Keep exploring

For questions about a sculpture, exhibitions, or care, contact me with the piece’s name. Follow the individual artwork’s care instructions when handling it.