Guardian No. 817…morning coffee and three squares a day
Inspired by a gruff, yet soft-hearted ranch cook whom I worked beside on a remote ranch in Central Montana.
A sturdy Guardian capable of fulfilling the demands of the physical world. As she rises to get the morning coffee brewing, her vintage millinery slippers shuffle across the floor before the first birds peep. The coffee pot balancing on her head is created with sticks, beads, and a bit of creative engineering. Her hand-embroidered wings, evoking oven mitts, allow her to confidently move through the tightly-scheduled demands of her daily life, providing nourishment for hungry souls.
From sun up to sun down she lives by the clock, represented by a clock face attached to a traditional star-engraved concho. Pebble buttons, the colors of the land and sky, run down the front of her blouse. Her hair of tightly-felted wool balls has been disheveled, with the use of vintage millinery stems – a result of “slaving” over the stove all day.
This Guardian takes flight on a re-purposed bedspring emerging from a hand-painted reclaimed wood block base, measuring approximately 21″ tall and 7″ wide and 8″ deep. 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.
debbie smith art 