Plethora

"Be careful what you asked for" is a frequent admonition. And I certainly have an excellent example of asking and receiving. Early on in my single life after finishing a three year nursing school in Omaha, Nebraska I thought it would be wonderful to be involved with a man who could provide me "free" and "handmade flower pots". Seems I have always thought the clay pots sold everywhere were boring.

Well, I had to wait some time before meeting someone who would fulfill my request. When I met my late husband Dwight, he was just embarking on his exploration with clay. He truly enjoyed live models and created wonderful sculptures . . . not so much making flower pots.

Because he loved me and wanted to make me happy he did create some "flower pots" for my houseplants. Some have been broken while others survived our moves. However, I still possess a plethora of flower pots for house plants. Some made by Dwight, others by my deceased uncle Bill Gardner of Carlsbad, California and Chris Boyd.

Each week he would pick fresh California Pipevine leaves before leaving for the studio in Sebastopol where he did his clay work. I was curious so would ask him why he was picking these leaves? His cryptic reply was  that eventually I would know.

This was my birthday gift from Dwight.
Please notice the detailed leaves.
She is nestled in front of the
Aristolochia californica (Dutchman’s pipevine) 
which is trellising onto three metal supports.

 

Buddha

One of the first sculptures he did from a picture has always sat near our front door whether in Sebastopol, California or Santa Fe, New Mexico or Cotati, California. To me it is such a peace filled sculpture. What better  way to welcome visitors to our (now my) home?

And this one usually hung by our front door. Here in Cotati it is hanging on the North most fence in the back yard. It is placed so I can see it when I do my daily morning qi gong practice.

Dwight's pots grew larger.

His sculptures became more innovative featuring new and original ideas. In Santa Fe the clay available to him was drastically different from what he used in the Sonoma County studio. This seemed to be just one of the adjustments living in Santa Fe. Also the clay, he reported to me, dried out much faster at the 8000' elevation than at sea level. Luckily he used a studio own by a man who had work in clay for many, many, many years. It was his livelihood. Dwight gleaned all he could from him.

Some of the members of 19 Pueblos tribes of New Mexico believe their ancestors came from the depths of the Earth onto the surface. This sculpture honors the "spot" from which they emerged.

The Navajo Peoples have a bit different view of their creation. And to anyone interested I highly recommend this Douglas Preston's book. I so wish Dwight and I had had this book when we spent a week at  Goulding's Lodge in Monument Valley.

Read in Talking to the Ground by Douglas Preston who 

quoted from Leland C. Wyman’s Blessingway: Three Versions

Myth. 

“A song taught to the Navajo Peoples:

I am indeed its child.

Absolutely I am Earth’s child.

Now I am the child of long life, of happiness,

I am the child of the sky,

I am the child of the mountains, of the waters,

I am the child of the darkness, of the dawn,

I am the child of the twilight of evening,

I am the child of the Sun,

I am the child of white corn, of yellow corn

Now I am the child of long life, of happiness.”

Dwight created these male and female heads in the Baca Street Studio.

This particular sculpture was created to sit near a rock filled waterway in the front yard of our Santa Fe home. To me it is just so New Mexico. Not surprising since it was created in Baca Street Studio where Dwight spent all morning one day a week.  

When I began clearing out Dwight's sculpture supplies, I found some what I call "fun" objects. I am unclear whether he created them in Sonoma County or Santa Fe. No matter their origins I am so happy to have them in the garden.

The heavy looking water container was
also a birthday present. I had seen online
but due to the weight it would have been
many $$$ to ship. Dwight called the person
who made them. He so happened to live in
Albuquerque and was driving through
Santa Fe. He drove right into our driveway
and set this wonderful bird bath on the cement.

And then Dwight created these for the downspouts on the house.

Beneath the downspout
in the front corner where the garage is
attached to the house.

Beneath the downspout 
on the North end of the house.
The butterfly rain chain
hangs from the spout.
This chain was purchased 
by Dwight for me as
a Christmas gift
while living in Santa Fe.

Here is the rain chain frozen
during a winter in Santa Fe.
I loved experiencing four seasons!

This bird bath Dwight created. 
It has two pieces: the open base on which the bowl sets.

During this past May Water Wise garden tour a young (well young to me!) mother asked me where she could purchase one of these. Unfortunately I had to deliver the message that it is "one of a kind" made my late husband.

  

This is the last work of Dwight's.
I have it leaning against the fence
 with comfrey growing nearby.
His intention was to create this 
Green Man* to hang from our
fence. Unfortunately he was 
unable to finish this last endeavor.
When it was fired some pieces
came loose as you can notice.
No matter the condition
it is priceless to me!

*"a sort of forest-god,

and emblem of the

birth-death-rebirth

cycle of the natural year"

I feel so fortunate to have all of these works of clay that Dwight did over his time living with me. It is as if there is an "essential" piece of Dwight still here with me. And as I delight in what he created I am able to