Spirit of the Fire

There is something in the nature of fire that feels primal to me. It is the integral force of bronze sculpture work. It holds the characteristics of both creator and destroyer. I love the pouring of the bronze sculpture. It seems primitive and beautiful in its process
of destroying the metal and casting it into the sculpture. It is a very magical moment which will be explained in great detail to follow. Fire is the element in nature that represents and brings forth passion.

Fiery passion creates a sense of boundless love and unbridled enthusiasm, while at the same time unleashing an insatiable yearning for more, more, more. When one allows their passion to run without boundary, it can consume them and destroy that which
brought on such intense feelings.

It is a very tricky balance. At times, I have held my passion at bay in an effort to keep my life in balance, but instead, I was left with feelings of unrealized dreams and hopes. This creator and destroyer require a delicate balance. Perhaps that is why I can readily admit that fire is the one element of nature that causes me to feel discomfort at times, and other times can actually evoke fear. It is the peace and harmony of this balance that I strive to express with this sculpture.

Spirit of Fire has experienced and knows full well of this two-edged sword. She still stands with a smiling confidence, fearlessly knowing of this balance – head tilted toward the heavens while stirring her hot cauldron of passion. Spirit of the Fire was at my beach home the day Hurricane Katrina hit. Amazingly she survived, was found, and happily returned to me. My sculptured representation of my passion had not been destroyed.

Even Hurricane Katrina could not steal it from me. Spirit of Fire, it seems, represents my own willingness to be “more out there,” and consequently more vulnerable in expressing and sharing more of whom I am through my sculptures. I even used my face as the inspiration for her expression.

And it is a passion more than anything else that is the driving force of my desire to continue to sculpt. It is the fire within!