I have been having so much fun creating these little houses which are full of all the things that I love. To me they are almost representational of the heart, dwelling places as in sanctuary + home, but also those things of importance that we are passionate about.
For me that is words and images...the birch trees I grew up with in the north, their leaves and the feathers of the birds that nested there...and words, always words, as I'm obsessed with literature. I've been playing with patterned paper and art pens along with the reclaimed wood that I have received from neighbors and friends. I wanted them to be perfectly imperfect...just like everything I do, I guess. And I love seeing them grouped together as a small village....a community. The hoary marmot is commonly found near the treeline in the Rocky Mountains and are actually the largest ground squirrel which can grow up to 32 inches in height. 'Hoary' refers to the silver-grey fur on their shoulders and upper back. They love to lie around sunning themselves on rocks and spend almost half of their time doing so.
As a totem animal, they represent commitment and research. They also represent setting boundaries, a challenge for so many of us, and community. Marmots remind us to rest during difficult times and to work and play hard. I'm really loving this chubby little guy from the 52 WEEKS PROJECT. The artist is a receptacle for emotions that come from all over the place: |
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