5" x 5" x 5" old brass keys

On one level, these egg forms I started making a few years ago, were part of a sense of rebirth I had. These keys were first annealed, then soldered over a carved wooden form, which eventually was completely burned into a smaller form. old brass keys & wood 13" x 9" x 9"

Often I've just been making a reflection of the Earth. This partial dome has a small opening at the apex to allow room for growth creativity and breath. old brass keys 10" x 26" x 26"

Often I've just been making a reflection of the Earth. This partial dome has a small opening at the apex to allow room for growth creativity and breath. old brass keys 10" x 26" x 26"

These little chunks of wood came from the Wye Oak in Wye Mill, Maryland. It was the oldest white oak in America. When it fell in 2002, this ancient tree was estimated to be 460 years old. The acorn that sprouted into the Wye Oak would have done so about the same time Michelangelo was finishing The Last Judgement in the Sistine Chapel. I feel this wood is part of the sacred heritage of this land. By binding a key to these small pieces of the oak, I've created a relationship. The Wye Oak represents the last 460 years. What is the key to the next 460 years? Each used key is lashed to a piece of the Wye Oak with re-cycled copper wire. We are all bound together. old brass keys & wood each piece is 2" to 4" in any dimension

old brass keys & wood 90" x 60" x 10"

old brass keys & wood, 90" x 60" x 10"

old brass keys & wood, 90" x 60" x 10" This is the last of the long term projects I started and stopped many times in a 4 year period while recovering from health issues. The keys were shaped and fitted over this locust tree Y, then carefully soldered together to mirror and protect the surface in their own way. The keys shade and become a shodow of this piece of nature (the tree), while they also are able to stand alone if they need to. The tree, when inverted, is two grounding forces merging into one.

I punched the word HOPE into each of these keys before soldering them into this sphere. We need more hope in this world we've created. old brass keys 5" x 5" x 5"

I punched the word HOPE into each of these keys before soldering them into this sphere. We need more hope in this world we've created. old brass keys 5" x 5" x 5"