monument maker
FENIX ETIAM
FENIX ETIAM is a monument created for the Hynek family in California. The Hyneks lost everything in a wildfire and are rebuilding their home. It is my hope that this monument will help to preserve what has been physically lost while celebrating that which remains constant for the Hyneks: love, family, and their stewardship of the flora, fauna, earth and sky around them.
My process of working with the Hyneks to create FENIX ETIAM started with camping and hiking on the Hyneks’ land once called The Magic Valley. Their property is surrounded by mountains and has an ancient network of caves and waterways far below, shaped by giant rock formations. The awe-inspiring geography of the Magic Valley became a significant source of inspiration, as did getting to know the Hynek family. The design of FENIX ETIAM is intricately intertwined with the history, values, and joys of their family. The monument features the Phoenix, a powerful symbol of rebirth, encompassed by eight carved nests of spices, one for every member of the family. Halley’s comet, seen in the glowing night sky of cobalt and Prussion blue, relates to the family in a unique way. Many details of FENIX ETIAM have personal meaning–some of which only the family would recognize.
The seven-foot monument is shown here in the Hyneks’ new home awaiting signing and dedication.
QUID EST VIRIDIS
QUID EST VIRIDIS, an astrogeobiological meditation on the color green, celebrates the engagement of Roman Kleiser and Aurora Brown of Bastrop, TX. The emerald ring Roman gave Aurora inspired this monument to their love and to the magnificence of our planet. Ganesha, the Hindu “remover of obstacles” hovers in lotus position as the upward facing triangle of Anahata, the heart chakra, which is associated with the color green representing growth, harmony and love.
Ganesha and the lotus leaves, each holding a teardrop emerald, are all painted wood carvings that float in front of a scene of our ancient earth. Billions of years ago, during the Archean Eon, our earth was covered with water which was green with iron. There were no land masses, only islands of noxious gas-emitting volcanos. And the atmosphere of this anoxic alien world was red-orange with high concentrations of methane and carbon dioxide. At that time, our moon was much closer to Earth and was still being bombarded by asteroids.
Quid Est Viridis is framed by rays of sun, waves of water, and a “necklace” of cyanobacteria, the organisms we can thank for The Great Oxygenation Event which led to life on Earth as we know it. The constellations are of the time, place, and direction of the emerald engagement: Halloween night facing west. The five hand-carved bats, known as Wufu in Chinese culture, encompass the monument as five blessings: love of virtue, longevity, health, wealth, and a peaceful death to ensure a promising future for the new couple.
Brochure
Brochure
