I had just started ice climbing during the period the first series of reliquary tree sculptures were created. I lived in the same cabin I do now, at the end of the road near the top of a mountain. The cabin was bare bones. I slept on a (constantly deflating) inflated mattress on the floor of my cabin which hadn’t the luxury of plumbing for seven years. Luckily fellow climbers gifted me their old gear and allowed me to rope in with them to explore frozen waterfalls. The iridescent shard of glass seemed an extravagant purchase but it reminded me of the magic and allure of ice. Life is full of unexpected bits of light in the darkest places; often experienced most fully when we open ourselves to the unknown.

“I Have Heard the Dead Singing” (detail photo)

Happy Easter!

Bunny tracks in the snow - Easter blessings abound…

Little Brushes, Tiny touches

Raymond took these photos during the patina process at the Adonis Foundry in Salt Lake City. Two of the three local bronze foundries I’ve worked with for more than twenty years did not survive the multiple challenges brought on by COVID, thus I’ve been prompted to look beyond the local foundry scene. Bronze casting has been around since the third millennium B.C. The industry (along with so many industries) has been hit hard with major increases in the cost of materials, shipping and hard-to-find skilled labor. Bronze art can be passed through generations and enjoyed for thousands of years - a enduring medium in a world of increasingly disposable things.

Reliquary Tree Sculptures

When you speak from your heart, the Tree Beings will hear you. Their spirit speaks even when no longer rooted to earth; after the forest fire - after they’ve been split open and stand in my studio - scars and stories revealed. Whispers. Shouts. Sadness and gladness - the dance begins between my tools and their texture. We listen to each other.

Newest Palm-size Bronze...delayed debut.

Patience and persistence have never been strangers to me but they certainly unpacked their suitcases and plopped themselves into many of our lives. Ten months have passed since this little bugger went to the foundry. The pandemic pounded bronze foundries across the country. Two out of the three local foundries I’ve worked with for decades had to close. Finally I can offer this little bugger to the public for adoption as I’ve a few fresh from the foundry. Just a few. For now…

Bronze edition closing...

ONE left. The very last “Little Bird” in the edition of 100 sculptures. Who will the lucky adoptee be?

Full Blue Moon today.

Did you know there are two different kinds of Blue Moon? Somehow I felt a “Blue Moon-ness” yesterday as Raymond and I drove down the mountain to join friends in a sweatlodge ceremony. I looked it up and discovered the Seasonal Blue moon exists.

Ceremony helps us “remember to remember” as Robin Wall Kimmerer points out in her lovely book “Braiding Sweetgrass.”

Remember to Remember

(I’ve wrapped myself up in those words this weekend)

-image from my newest series-

How do I recharge?

Totally stumped during a recent interview by the question “how do you recharge?” I stumbled for an answer. Perhaps because the things which refuel me are intricately woven into the fabric of my life both inside and outside the studio. Creativity recharges me. So does Momma Nature, Kundalini, laughter, love making, naps, super fine chocolate and even the dark hard places. Exhaustion and exhilaration can actually co-occur.

Break from Social Media

I’ve been spiritually immersed and vividly present in life - adventuring inside and outside the studio. Frankly I have rarely felt compelled to engage with social media these past many months.

I do think of you.

Sometimes I feel a bit guilty, prompted by the idea that I “should” post this or that amazing mountain summit shot, sunrises, sunsets, creative explorations and then too - shouldn’t I promote new art? But new artworks (like this piece from another prayer flag series) seem to organically find their way into collector’s hands.

Feels like good medicine in this moment.

"Show the Flag" exhibit at Stapleton Gallery

For thousands of years, prayer flags have been created and hung to promote peace, compassion, strength, and wisdom. Just as life moves on and is replaced by life - wind, weather and time tattered the flags Raymond and I brought home from Bhutan. The faded prayer cloth is gracing new artworks. The prayers continue with love and compassion. I appreciate the meditative space a recent new series with pieces of the prayer flags evokes in the group show “Show the Flag” at Stapleton Gallery. The artists’ various emotional responses to the American flag results in an evoking show (open for viewing by appointment and online). I chose prayer flags as a medium rather than the American flag - they are a reflective contrast. A large church pew sits in front of them.

Guess who's coming out of hibernation?

Meet “Bear” - the NEW palm-size bronze. Shown here in clay, the sculpture was created at the beginning of the year (check earlier posts for photos of the initial lump of clay). My intention was to create a cub but my infatuation with a plump belly transformed the little cub into a more grown up bear - which I couldn’t resist yet the original idea to create a bear cub stuck tenaciously like honey. I grabbed another lump of clay to explore “cub-ness” - then another lump and another lump…

The cubs are siblings. They will be sold as a pair because I don’t have the heart to split them up. All three bears were delivered to the foundry in February. They have been "sheltering in place" just like the rest of us until last week when peeps were allowed to return to work.

 I will see the first bronze bears in a few days which is rather fitting since Raymond and Tala saw a big pile of fresh bear poop while hiking near our cabin this morning.

Check out the “shop” to see more photos of the bear sculptures (preorders are happening right now).

Exploring NEW media

Seems like a good time to push my comfort zone by trying new media in my studio. Always experience moments of trepidation along with excitement when I embark with new materials - like a new dance partner - we have to figure out each other’s moves. Clumsy moments and a flash of grace and promise here and there. I’m excited to create more (and share more). Stay tuned (and be sure to watch social media updates on Instagram and Facebook as they happen more often than on my blog).