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I was fortunate enough to observe a pair of ravens one March as they constructed a nest for their anticipated brood. Through the following weeks they patiently alternated incubating duties and then the feeding and care of their four, ever more demanding, hatchlings.

When the time came to experiment with newly fledged wings, three babies were brave. The fourth refused to leave the comfort and security of the nest, so the parents, exhibiting great wisdom, calmly dismantled that haven until their timid offspring was forced to move, quaking, from one branch to another and finally flapping into the air.

Over the remaining weeks of summer and into late autumn, the six ravens remained near the nesting tree; the young ones becoming more agile in flight each day and also learning from their parents the complex vocalizations that comprise the language of these intelligent birds. The trial and error period during which these sounds were perfected was hilarious to say the very least.

In the tradition of the Jemez and Acoma Pueblo storyteller dolls, these bronze ravens cast a whimsical look at the way information is passed along to the next generation, whether animal or human.

This piece requires little elaboration in words. I was having fun when I sculpted it and hope that the viewer's spirits will be lifted when sharing it. Perhaps even a wee chuckle will escape now and then.

I was thinking of various phrases in literature and poetry such as, 'the heart leaps up' or 'his heart leapt when he saw her'.....phrases descriptive of such an intense feeling of joy that it produces a physical rush. These dancing rabbits have succumbed to that type of elation and have thrown caution to the winds.

"Ship of State" is a famous and oft-cited metaphor put forth by Plato in Book VI of Plato's Republic. It likens the governance of a democracy to the command of a naval vessel. However, according to Plato, the leadership of such a government should only be undertaken by the enlightened and benevolent.

Unfortunately history is often writ by leaders who have engaged in a reign of terror or have meandered aimlessly into a reign of error.

In lieu of a cartoonist's skill, this piece is my contribution to a bit of whimsical political satire. Our ship of state is crewed by birds of various feather, none of whom seem to be addressing one another directly. Sleeping at the oar appears to go un-noted and is perhaps even permissible. Although copious amounts of "hot air" are generally available, there is hardly enough to stimulate the motionless propeller to force movement forward...or even backward. There is obviously no visionary coxswain to guide the ship to a pre-established destination or to keep all aboard rowing in the same direction.

Reigning ravens may keep the ship afloat, but haven't a clue as to where they're going or what they might do if they actually arrive in that far off land called the future.

“Hundreds of people have shared with me their experiences of seeing raven’s behavior. I have tried to keep in mind that anecdotes can easily become interpretations. With other animals you can usually throw out 90 percent of the stories you hear about them as exaggerations. With ravens, it’s the opposite. No matter how strange or amazing the story, chances are pretty good that at least some raven somewhere actually did that.” Bernd Heinrich, “Mind of the Raven”

Ravens have been observed hanging upside down from wires, sliding down snow banks, pulling the tails of wolves and tail feathers of eagles, dropping balls and other objects on unsuspecting human heads, playing tug-of-war, or executing a breathtaking barrel roll in mid air. They love to bathe in snow or water, but nobody watching the bathing performance of young ravens would ever get the impression that the birds were trying to remove dirt. Like kids splashing in a pool, the birds might get clean, but if they do it is strictly incidental.

This piece is a flight through the fields of fantasy. Combining found objects with miniature sculptures of some of the critters who inhabit the high desert surrounding Sedona, I have endeavored to capture the lighthearted sounds of springtime.

It is also a humorous parody on a famous work by the German painter, Paul Klee. Somewhere between nature and the mechanical, between the comic and the tragic, Klee's birds "twitter" with a music that expresses how frail and vulnerable existence is, especially in the post-WWI modern world.

Desert Sonata is comedy unburdened by tragedy. It simply invites participation in the music of nature.

Dimensions: 10"w x 31"h

Antique engraved trumpet, bronze birds, frogs and crickets

Steel gear

Walnut base on turntable

The horse is a universal symbol in the cosmologies of the world. Many myths express the horse's innate clairvoyance and ability to perceive the magic within humans. It can represent the warrior spirit, loyalty, courage and is also linked with prophecy, hence the well known saying, 'straight from the horse's mouth'.

Myths are a part of contemporary life in more ways than we would care to admit...'nightmares' and 'horse sense' are common phrases that date from antiquity. The society of 'Horse Whisperers' is one of a number of ancient crafts that has survived down to the present day amongst those that work exclusively with horses.

The most important association the horse embodies as a totem animal is that of a magical transporter to the Other World. Perhaps this is the role of the Scottish Kelpie, or water horse. In Gaelic folklore, shape-shifting Kelpies were considered to be the guardian spirit of lochs and streams. So beautiful that one could not resist them, the inspecting rider would be carried at great speed straight into the watery depths.

However, if one could bridle this magic horse, it would immediately become docile, and if you looked through the rings of the bridle-bit, you might gain the gift of Second Sight.

The streets of Sedona are thoroughfares for more commuters than automobiles. Although deer, javelina and coyote are encountered, by far the most frequent fellow travelers on our street are Gambrel quail. We humans are often seen stopping our cars to allow a single quail or mixed families of a dozen or more to pass by safely.

Quail are good parents - both male and female care for their chicks and will adopt orphans when necessary.

This sculpture is a metaphor for human parenthood. A first child is, for most of us a shock in that parents rarely realize just how much sacrifice is required for the care of a helpless infant. While quail chicks are fairly independent almost immediately after hatching, a human child changes our lives forever in ways we could never have imagined. Certainly in today's home with two working parents, life does become a balancing act.

Because Sedona is surrounded by National Forest, encounters and interactions with wild animals is common. Deer, coyote and javelina do not recognize human boundaries and consider unfenced gardens or yards a bountiful source of food free for the taking. Raccoons have been known to enter homes through pet doors to snack on pet food.

This sculpture was inspired by my own encounter with a group of curious javelina who came quite close in their desire to learn what this strange creature might be. This kind of human-animal encounter has occurred through history and now and then results in lasting bonds. The domestication of the wolf/dog is one such illustration of a meeting of unlike minds.

Creatures both great and small share this planet with us humans and most go unnoticed as we go about the business of our daily lives. Many of us do, though, notice and enjoy the birds among us and draw them in for a closer look by putting out food and water.

This sculpture was inspired by my observation of a cardinal in winter, fluffed out to the max in order to maintain body heat. He did, indeed, wear a 'down jacket'.

Ravens are thought to have magical abilities in many cultures throughout the world. They have been called birds of prophesy, messengers to the gods and in the Pacific Northwest, Raven is the creator and bringer of light. Some native tribes refer to ravens as the 'keepers of secrets'. They are linked to the void, where universal secrets are kept. Because ravens are so intelligent, it is easy to see why humans delight in observing and identifying with them.

In shamanic lore, Raven, as a totem bird, enables second sight, shape-shifting and healing. This sculpture touches on all these aspects and also on our fascination with masks and their ability to allow us to play at being other.

Picasso insisted that everything was miraculous - it was miraculous he said, that one did not melt in one's bath.

In our travels we have spent many pleasant hours in sidewalk cares. Aside from great for people-watching, these venues offer opportunities for close interactions with birds.

The English are great bird watchers and generally welcome them to sidewalk cafes. This sculpture is the result of a multitude of afternoon tea breaks at Brodick Castle which is located on the Isle of Arran off the west coast of Scotland. There, the birds know that they are welcome and are very bold, often scavenging for crumbs within inches of charmed diners. Occasionally, someone is not so charmed and waves them away, but generally they just move to another table or wait for the ungracious to leave.

Chaffinch, blackbirds, sparrows and English robins are the usual beggars, but by far the boldest is the saucy chaffinch.