Metaphors of Metamorphosis

Nature is full of beautiful sounds, don’t you agree?

Especially in Colorado, where artist Kagen Sound and his family reside.

Perhaps inspired by the nature of the world, he created the Lotus Table many years ago, a stunning pedestal which hides six drawers that only open when the correct geometric patterns are created by rotating the concentric wooden rings on the surface.

Each ring is inlayed with contrasting wooden lines and curves, and multiple patterns can be created by shifting their positions.

When all six drawers are opened, the table has the appearance of a lotus flower.

He has transformed this large format concept into a series of puzzle boxes, which chronicle the metamorphosis of a butterfly.

Caterpillar Box by Kagen Sound

Starting with the Lotus Box, a favorite plant for hungry caterpillars, the boxes follows the same principle on a smaller scale, with four hidden drawers dependent on four separate patterns.

There are eight concentric rings which must be manipulated to create the different patterns.

Along the way there are clues to be found which guide you on to the next pattern.

The Lotus Box is stunningly crafted in Claro Walnut and Curly Maple, with Wenge and Madrone for the inlayed pattern stripe.

The next in the series, the Caterpillar, features European Walnut and Birdseye Maple.

Kagen’s love for Walnut and Maple wood really shows in these boxes, which highlight the varied beauty found in different species of these trees.

Solve both boxes and you will have the starting clue to the final planned box in the trilogy, the Butterfly Box.

Kagen has channeled his fondness for pattern metamorphosis, which is a feature in many of his puzzles, into a metaphorical puzzle box trilogy.

Beautiful Birdseye Maple

For the Caterpillar Box toast I’m taking a bit of artistic license with another literary caterpillar, the cantankerous and confusing, hookah loving mushroom dweller from Alice in Wonderland.

Merely a black and white ink drawing by John Tennial in the original, the caterpillar became distinctly blue after receiving the Disney treatment in 1951.

He even got a name, finally, with the 2010 remake by Tim Burton: Absolem.

It has a nice ring to it.

Very Faulknerian.

Absolem, Absolem!

I couldn’t find just the right “caterpillar” cocktail which already existed, so I made a new one, which hits the right notes.

The drink is based off the modern classic “Naked and Famous” from Joaquin Simo.

The base spirit of mezcal is perfectly smoky for this hookah toking tease, and the balance of lightly bitter Cocchi Americano and complex and confusing Chartreuse merge perfectly to complete the reference.

I added a touch of blue curacao as well, which does add a nice hint of orange, but really just to get the color right.

It’s absolutely, absolemly delicious.

Cheers!

Smoky, complex, lightly bitter and blue.

Absolem, Absolem!

¾ oz mezcal

¾ oz fresh lime

¾ oz Cocchi Americano

¾ oz Yellow Chartreuse

¼ oz blue curacao

Shake together with ice and strain into a favorite glass.

Adorn with a hookah smoking caterpillar brandy cherry garnish, or just a lemon peel.

These caterpillars make quite the pair.

For more from Kagen Sound: