Sculpture
Celtic and Folklore
FOREST SPIRITS, II
This piece was inspired by reading Celtic history and Druid folklore. Ravens figure prominently in these texts as does the Druidic reverence for ancient oak trees. This young Celtic maiden is visited by a raven bringing a prophecy of future love and marriage. Her hair is decorated with oak leaves, and her future seems to be guided from the strength and agelessness of that revered tree.
Our many journeys through Scotland and Ireland were inspiring - the misty, moody landscapes and ancient sites of worship have a wonderful sense of mystery and magic. In this atmosphere it is very easy to imagine mythical beings and to step back in the mind's eye to an ancient, mystical time when magic was never far from daily life.
Dimensions: 16"h x 11"w x 8"d
BANDORAI
The inspiration for a piece may come from many sources. Perhaps a song or poem, a dream or the sight of something unique and wonderful. In this case the idea grew from a piece of wood that I collected because it so resembled a human torso.
With this in mind, I sculpted the image of an ancient female Druid's face emerging from the wood, In ancient Celtic culture, the Bandorai are female druids. Wise ones. Witches. The poets, seers, astronomers, midwives, healers, and mediators of their communities. They were considered the intellectual elite and spiritual protectors of their tribes.
Dimensions: 29"h x 15"w x 8"d
SOLD
ARC OF LIFE
This piece is a celebration of life - all of it. There is a wealth of wisdom and resilience in the lives and stories of older women. Many women are "late bloomers", coming into their own later in life when they find a sense of freedom and a greater understanding of their own potential. In some ways this part of life feels like a beginning, a gathering of strength and a new vision of what one wishes to become in the world.
Two ravens, (Odin's ravens, Thought and Memory) symbolize the wisdom of a lifetime of experience and memories of the past that enrich both the present and the future.
Dimensions: 29"h x 15"w x 8"d
ON THE CUSP OF MAGIC
This piece was inspired by a visit to a 12th century churchyard on the remote island of Inis Meain, one of three Aran Isles off the western coast of Ireland. The church itself is a primitive oratory - a tiny sturucture built of stacked stone. In the midst of this fascinating jumble of historic stones is a large round slab with a void carved in the center. We discovered it was a symbol that reaches far back in time. The ancient Celts believed that such stones were healing stones or windows to the Otherworld.
While traveling in Cornwall we
discovered other such stones, one in particular that is quite large,
a small child could pass through the oriface.
I have combined this symbol with ravens, a bird that is thought in many cultures throughout the world to have magical abilities. In Celtic mythology, ravens are powerful symbols that are strongly associated with magic. Two ravens are featured in this sculpture, one holding a silver Celtic ring and the other, a quartz crystal.
Dimensions: 24"h x 19"w x 9"d
EDITION CLOSED
Picasso insisted that everything is
miraculous - it was miraculous he said, that one did not melt in one's bath.