This work is a piece I did after Tom & I returned from helping out my sister, Dianne in Wisconsin. I was struck with the endless miles of silhouetted trees, their black shapes/ branches reaching skyward. They were very strong and resilient looking. There were also short stalks left over from the harvested fields of corn which make me think of the life cycle of when just a few months earlier they were sprouting from the same fields. I had some dried leaves that reminded me of these new corn sprouts coming up. The yellow leaves ( small sunflower petals) are arranged stylistically along the branches with the small happy banners fluttering in the breeze. Spiral forms in the sky along with a bit of tiny glittering hearts surround the tree - life force- helping to protect the tree.

Thinking back on it- I had no firm plan it just grew out of that central strong image of a tree and the need to create a story about the tree. I realize now the tree was a metaphor for Dianne and how I wanted her to be happy and to have a rebirth like the new sprouts growing from the earth. The spirals are like the family and friends surrounding her and the tiny hearts are our wishes and hopes that she will be well soon.