"Carapace" / Richmond Sculpture Trail 2023

“Carapace" is an 8-foot-tall sculpture inspired by the patterns in cocoons, triceratium diatoms, and the shape of a heart cockle shell.  As the passage of the sun changes throughout the sky and eventually sets behind the piece, the colors of the film inside the ethereal aluminum shell change accordingly. The color glow subtly shifts during the brightest part of the day, reading more as a mysterious ethereal internal light floating from an unknown source within the shell, getting more prominent as the sun goes down. At night, it is illuminated from within, allowing the film to take on a duo-chromatic hues of blue and red. It was installed as part of the Richmond Sculpture Trail 2023-2024 on Richmond Ave in Houston, TX. 


Carapace was partially funded by the City of Houston and the St. George Place Redevelopment Authority and curated by Redbud Arts Center.

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​"Chrysaline" / Fortlandia 2022
This public art project was funded by the University of Texas and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. 
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“Chrysaline”, is inspired by the chrysalis of both Pipevine Swallowtail and Variegated Fritillary butterflies. It was installed for the Lady Bird Johnson’s annual “Fortlandia” 2022 exhibit. The overall contour is abstracted from the papery, leaf mimicking shape of a Pipevine swallowtail chrysalis, and the metallic quality is inspired by the reflective and jewel-like chrysalis of a Variegated Fritillary butterfly. The interior is a transformative and meditative space that elicits feelings of calm reflection. Kaleidoscopic lenses are installed throughout, presenting an opportunity to experience a change in perception once inside the chrysalis. ​

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Jamie Spinello ,"Allochory", Aluminum , 7ft x 7ft x 7ft , 2019
above photo courtesy of Phillip Rogers ​

​"Allochory" / Tempo Public Art Program 2019 

This sculpture was funded by the City of Austin, Art In Public Places, Tempo 2019 Program. It was installed at Hampton Branch Library, along the Anne and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail along Lady Bird Lake, as well as on  Heights Blvd in Houston Texas as part of the True North Sculpture Exhibit. It is slated to be permanently installed at the Las Cruces City Hall in Las Cruces, New Mexico. 

"Allochory" was inspired by the triadic seed pod of the Red Yucca, a native plant of central and west Texas. At 7 feet tall it is 80 times larger than a natural red yucca seed pod. Named for a method of seed dispersal, Spinello constructed this sculpture as an homage to humans who help spread and maintain the proliferation of native Texas plants in our cityscapes and home gardens.

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"Asclepius Ecclesia", Aluminum and Stainless Steel, 4.5' x 4.5', 2018
above photo courtesy of Phillip Rogers 

​"Asclepius Ecclesia" / Tempo Public Art Program 2018 
​This public art piece was funded by the City of Austin, Art In Public Places, Tempo 2018 Program.

Created for the City of Austin in 2018, my aluminum sculpture is an abstraction of a native central Texas plant, the Antelopehorns Milkweed, scientific name “Asclepias Asperula”. My love for the Antelopehorns milkweed started when I was driving home through the fields of prairie land that surrounds my neighborhood and noticed that areas of the field looked as if someone had placed random popcorn balls scattered throughout the field. Curious, I pulled over to investigate. As I approached these popcorn ball-like forms dotting the landscape I realized that they were plants, space-pod Buckminster Fuller looking plants that I had never seen before, clusters of flowers writhing in motion. 

​I have never encountered another plant before or since with such a wide spectrum of wildlife dependent upon it. Sadly, that field has since been turned into an apartment complex.  The scraping and replacement of native plants within the city of Austin is an ongoing issue we face as more condos and new developments move in on every inch of open land. We can help re-establish native habitats for native plants and insects by incorporating more native plants into our home gardens. ​

This sculpture is now part of the Bush International Airport's permanent collection in Houston, TX.

​Over the years I have collected many milkweeds from construction sites slated to be turned into parking lots and successfully transplanted them into my yard. I have also collected flowers and taken molds of them and then cast them in Sterling Silver or Bronze, incorporating them into my sculpture pieces and my jewelry designs. 

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​Links to native seed suppliers and Texas native plant organizations

Buy Antelopehorns Milkweed seeds: milkweed seeds
Native Plant Society of Austin:    https://npsot.org/wp/
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: https://www.wildflower.org/plants-main
Central Texas Seed Library, Austin, Tx  https://library.austintexas.libguides.com/seedsandgardening