OCTET

A giant octopus playing a cello, two violins and a flute.

What is the creative potential for music written + performed by…

A composer-musician with 3 hearts, 9 independent brains distributed amongst 8 extremely articulate arms, and a kaleidoscopic-wardrobe fit to deliver mind-boggling stage performances.

Materials: Instruments, fiberglass, resin, acrylic & enamel paints, wood, high-density foam, and glass.

Size: 6.5 ft x 6.5 ft

HAVING A MELTDOWN

A nod to the beautiful Emperor penguins who inhabit the Antarctic, and their uncertain future. These giant sea birds spend the majority of life on frozen ocean-platforms of ice. A group of penguins (called a Waddle) depends on these ice sheets for their breeding grounds and raising young.

But, the ice is melting… the phenomenon must be most puzzling for those who call the Antarctic their home.

The melting ice cream acts as a potent symbol, representing the delicate ecosystems and vulnerable communities most affected by our changing climate. It is metaphorical for the melting polar ice caps, the receding glaciers, and the rising sea levels that threaten coastal regions worldwide. Through its gradual transformation from solid to liquid, the ice cream embodies the profound consequences of unchecked global warming. The loss of the once-solid scoop serves as a poignant reminder of the irreversible changes and irreparable damage that can occur if we do not act swiftly and collectively to mitigate climate change.

 By invoking empathy through the metaphor of melting ice cream, the artist aims to evoke an emotional response within the viewer. It is a call to action, an invitation to engage with the urgent need to protect the fragile ecosystems, diverse species, and vulnerable communities that depend on a stable climate for survival.

Materials: Fiberglass, resin, acrylic & enamel paints, wood, high-density foam, and glass.

Size: 10 ft x 4.5 ft

Horse in Sea Major

The incorporation of the gramophone as the seahorse's mouthpiece is a testament to the fusion of nature and human invention, illustrating the interplay between art and nature. The gramophone also symbolizes that this species serves as the first to sound the alarm when water conditions become unstable. The Lined Seahorse—a species that calls the waters of the Chesapeake Bay it’s home, is considered an indicator species; a barometer for the overall health of the surrounding ecosystem. Its presence signifies a thriving habitat and excellent water quality, making it a cherished sentinel of environmental well-being.

Materials: Gramophone bell, fiberglass, resin, acrylic & enamel paint, wood & high-density foam.

Size: 6.5 ft tall

Playing it by ear

A life-size African elephant head with a french-horn bell on the end of its trunk.

It may be true, that an elephant never forgets… but if she ever did, this pachyderm plans to play it by ear.

The source of this claim is actually bolstered by scientific studies that have proven elephants have exceptional memories. Their memory actually grows stronger as they age. Vital habits and the recall of locations that provide a heard with precious resources are safeguarded in the memories of their elders. These female matriarchs share their wisdom from one generation to the next. Their songs live on.

The horn, a potent metaphor, represents the profound significance of the matriarch's "song" for the survival of the elephant kind. Just as music can resonate across vast distances, the matriarch's leadership, knowledge, and guiding influence are essential to the herd's survival. The horn's prominence amplifies the urgency of protecting and preserving this species and its unique and vital melody, ensuring its echo reverberates through generations.

Materials: French horn bell, fiberglass, resin, acrylic & enamel paint, and high-density foam.

Size: 6.5 ft tall

Pollinators

Larger-than-life, anatomically-accurate pollinators:

Two iridescent butterflies gather upon a baritone saxophone, a well-groomed bumblebee busily feeds from a sousaphone, and a hovering white-necked jacobin hummingbird sips from a full-bouquet of brass-instruments. 

Created for the Embassy Suites and Cavalier Resort in Virginia Beach, this series of sculptures magnifies three different pollinator species, and speaks to the kinship between their lives amongst flowers - to the wonder of pollination - and humankind’s musical traditions & certain instruments used to articulate the sound-expressions.

Let’s give it up for pollinators & give back to them for all that they do for us. Life without them wouldn’t be so sweet. Educate yourself and encourage others to take part in ways we are able to reduce our impact on these creatures, and enable them to play their vital roles in generating healthy ecosystems.

Materials: Brass instruments / mixed media: incl. wood-carvings, glass, resin, oil & enamel paints.

Indoorfins

Sighting a pod of dolphins at the break of dawn is always an uplifting experience!

Thirteen life-sized dolphins gently breaking a vertical surface with their fins, flukes and bottle-noses.

Materials: Fiberglass and resin, wood & high-density foam.

Slice

An interactive, process-based sculpture that was developed over two months from a meditative interaction with a 100+ year old slice from a poplar tree. This involved a nightly routine of burning and carving away the chard surface, using fire as the primary tool.

Materials: Slow-acetylene torch reduction of a cut from a large 100+ year old poplar tree.