(Sadly, this series no longer exists. It was destroyed in the Summer of 2015, during a massive fire that raged through the owners’ Southampton, New York, home. My Four Elements have “returned to the Elements,” I guess…sigh…)
The series of four sculptures was inspired by the time-honored concept of “The Four Elements,” namely Air, Water, Earth and Fire. The shape of each piece reflects that of a helmet from a different culture. Air: The Heavens Protect Me, derives from medieval, Middle Eastern (Saracen) designs. Water: Are You the Island or the Avenue? resembles certain Viking (Norse) helmets. Earth: The Root of All Good is based on ancient Greek (Macedonian) helmet types, and Fire: Destruction or Rebirth? was inspired by Japanese (Samurai) designs. The surfaces of the sculptures were worked in glass seed beads, variously, in peyote, square, and netting stitches over turned and carved wooden cores.
Published: Suzanne Golden Presents: 35 Artists Innovate with Beads, by Lark Books (Sterling Publishing, NYC), April 2013, pp. 96-99; “The Intersection of Love and Art” by Lisa Fieldman, West Chester & Chadds Ford Life (Spring/Summer 2016, pp. 76-80), p. 79.
Exhibited: 7th International Fiber Biennial (February 5, 2010 to March 20, 2010) at Snyderman Works Galleries, Cherry Street (Old City), Philadelphia
Competition: Work (Earth from this series) included in the International Bead Award (IBA) 2015 competition hosted by Perlen Poesie Magazine (Germany).
Private collection, New York
For detailed views of the individual helmets, please see below.
Air: The Heavens Protect Me
Design and beadwork by Leslie B. Grigsby
Woodturning by Lindsay Grigsby
Glass beads, thread, wood
H.: (sculpture) 17 3/4″; H. (with stand) 21 3/4″; Diam. (helmet): 7 3/4″
Water: Are you the Island or the Avenue?
Design and beadwork by Leslie B. Grigsby
Woodturning by Lindsay Grigsby
Glass beads, wood, thread
H. (helmet with stand): 21 1/2″; H. (helmet): 7 1/2″; Diam. (helmet): 8 1/2″
Earth: The Root of All Good
Design and beadwork by Leslie B. Grigsby
Woodturning by Lindsay Grigsby
Glass beads, wood, thread
H. (helmet with stand): 21 1/2″; H. (helmet): 10 3/4″; Diam. (helmet): 8″
Fire: Destruction or Rebirth?
Design and beadwork by Leslie B. Grigsby
Woodturning by Lindsay Grigsby
Glass beads, wood, thread, lacquer
H. (helmet): 8 3/4″; Diam. (helmet): 12″
Leslie B. Grigsby Beadwork 
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