Study in Black.
Felted wool,
19" H x 13"W x 11"D, 2005.
Private Collection
I made this piece partly in answer to a challenge unwittingly posed by a friend who observed that I surely couldn't sculpt in black wool, as it would not photograph well. I decided to give it a try, and chose what I think is an iconic example of deep black: the crow, a creature whose reputation makes it a loaded symbol. Crows are reputed to be the most clever of birds, and have been observed to use tools and engage in complicated social behaviors-- but they are also seen as symbols of death and decay. Tough break. Are we humans threatened by them? I chose to have my crow be engaged in a struggle that I hoped would call to mind both sides of the smart/too-smart coin. And I love that the black wool has the effect of being like a solid incarnation of negative space.
