Abi Furr
The Will-O'-the-Wisps, 2025
Mild steel, white iridescent organza, blue LED fairy lights, blue LED flameless candles, acrylic, clear mounting tape
The Will-o’-the-Wisps (aka Will-o’Wisps, Ignis Fatuus, Irrlicht, or Corpse Lights) are spirits from Northern European folklore that are often characterized as mischievous or malicious. Appearing at night as blue or green lights floating off the beaten path, they are said to lead travelers astray and serve as an omen of death.
Much like its namesake, this immersive installation is meant to distract its audience from their path and cause them to pause, slowing the flow of movement through the space. The main lantern is tucked into the nook of a rafter suspended over GDAC’s main entrance and dance-studio staircase, visible from both above and below. The entire spooky scene is lined with magical iridescent ‘mist’ that mimics the Wisps’ flame.
About:
Abigail (Abi) Furr is a queer nonbinary Metalsmithing and Jewelry student at the University of North Texas and is the sole owner of Mettle and Mythos, a small independent jewelry business. They are currently based in Denton, TX, where they work as a student technician at the UNT College of Visual Arts’ Digital Fabrication Lab as they finish their BFA in Studio Art: Metalsmithing and Jewelry.
In the past few years Abi has worked as both a silversmithing intern at The Edward Bohlin Company in Dallas, Texas, and as the Summer repairs intern for the Conservation Lab at the National Ornamental Metal Museum in Memphis, Tennessee. They currently serve as the UNT Metal Club’s Event Coordinator and are also an active member of both the Society of North American Goldsmiths and the Dallas Makerspace Jewelry Studio. Nostalgia, storytelling, histories, and mythologies all play a significant role in Abi’s current body of work, exploring the relationship between civilization’s past and present mythos while also questioning the building blocks of individual identity.
Instagram: @MettleandMythos
Website: https://www.abigail-furr.com/