2012-2015, Lucky Rabbits…

“The rabbit comes out of its hole, around a tree and back down the hole” is the mnemonic device for teaching how to tie a bowline knot. This piece takes on the form of this story with the bent wood forming the knot in mid air. At its base a rabbit’s foot stands on end, a symbol of good luck. The coil like form rests on top a table of glass – topped with a silk screen print of rabbit tracks in the snow. The snow sparkles with highlights of crushed glass otherwise known as “diamond dust” – a path of possible rewards. The top of the bend wood knot is forked reminiscent of the dowser’s rod, wishbone, or tree branches. Pictured at the Cooley Gallery Reed College with works by E.O. Hoppe, Portland – 2015 and studio shots.

In Mating Lines from this series, the sheet bend knot takes the form of a double bowline using the familiar story of the rabbit coming out of its hole and around a tree to trace a line in space and form a hitch. My wooden rope dances into the knot and is held mid air following the lines of these two courting mates. Part tracking device and map of the chase, these sculptures exhibit movement in their stillness and stand at repose on a set of lucky rabbit’s feet in opposing tracks of diamond dusted snow and sand.