About the Art

Title: Several Snails Spread Sparkly, Slippery Slime Shaping S

Size: 10" x 14"

Materials: Sculpey hardening clay, turf, acrylic paint, artificial moss, wire, glitter, and glitter hot glue

Year: 2026

Artist: Dot Cates

15 glittery clay snails travel around a turf and moss covered frame, creating the sparkly letter S with the trail they leave behind.

INSPIRATION:

When my daughter was 5, she was obsessed with snails. She collected them at local parks, tried to take care of them in an aquarium at home, even letting them slither up her arm. I suppose when I was brainstorming ideas, this was my inspiration for this year's letter S.

Artist Bio: Dot has been teaching at Friends Seminary since 2002, and has taught fourth grade at Friends since 2004. Other roles included, 2/3 teacher, 3rd grade teacher, and 9 years of service on the Board of Trustees. A birthright Quaker, prior to Friends Seminary, she started her teaching career teaching for five years at New Garden Friends School in Greensboro, North Carolina. Outside of school, she reads, enjoys traveling and theater, distance runs, hikes, paddleboards, and climbs mountains. She's mom to Oliver (16) and Julia (20), who is no longer particularly fond of snails.