“Volnus” is Latin for “wound”. This branch of black walnut was discovered with an affliciton due to some form of crown gall. However, the form seems more visceral than vascular. The use of traditional urushi lacquers of red and black further express the paradox of something appearing soft from something known to be hard. The piece serves as a omen as black walnut is currently under threat from the “thousand canker disease” or TCD.
