The Beautiful Nothing

Here is the white and silky trumpet of nothing, Here is the beautiful Nothing, body of happy, meaningless fire, wildfire, shaking the heart. 

from At the Shore by Mary Oliver

There Will Be Snow (April 2nd) 48" x 48"

Part of a series of squares incorporating words. In this one the trees are made of tiny stamped words. The text came from a letter that my father wrote to my mother on the day their first child was born. 

The Problem With April (so far) 48" x 48"

The underpainting of this piece is the handwritten text of another of my father's letters to my mother, writing from his army post during WWII, of his happiness and pride at the birth of their son. 

The Joy Was Equal 48" x 48"

A favorite quote: The joy was equal to the pain and both were near unbearable.  

The band that my son and nephew are in, Wild Child from Austin, Texas, used this inside their first album and dedicated it to me. Listen to their music--they were recently voted best Indie band and best folk band in Austin during SXSW and they are currently touring to promote their second album, The Runaround. 

Unsettled Sea 16" x 16"

Offering 31" x 50"

Offering (detail)

The Scream

Roots, branch, seashell, raffia, palm stem. 40" tall

The Scream closeup

Tadpole

Japanese Wood Carp

Root, buckeye  30"

Wood Stork

Wood and roots.8" ( 18" including legs)