Guardian No. 416…forager…providing nourishment for the wild soul…
Inspired by an eccentric friend with an insatiable appetite for wild places and their food resources…
This strong-shouldered Guardian willingly accepts the responsibilities and demands put upon him. On his hand-dyed vintage linen face, ten black beads form a circle representing his supportive community. A deer antler “beak” emerges from a camel bone bead, symbolizing his endurance, persistence, and a self-sufficient way of living. Hand-felted, unspun dyed wool creates his disheveled hair, indicative of his peculiar personality. He is king of an enchanted wild world, wearing a rock crown adorned with twigs and pheasant feathers.
He is deeply connected to nature and its creatures. Blue button beads, the color of the remote waters that help quench his thirst for solitude, spill down his front.
His intricately-detailed hand-stitched wings transport him into the wilderness in search of peace and sustenance. His legs are made with deer antler to reflect his strength and passion for the wild.
This Guardian takes flight on a re-purposed bed-spring emerging from a hand-painted wood block base. Sewn to the back of the Guardian’s right wing is a tiny bell, representing my mother’s playful spirit. Its gentle sound is a reminder to listen to the whispers of your heart.
Measuring 24″ x 9″ x 8″
debbie smith art 