Mother and Child

This was my first commission, and one with tremendous sentimental value.

It is a piece for which I am proud to share credit with the late Kirk W. Wilson (March 12, 1966 – June 23, 2009).  Kirk was a young, accomplished architect with multiple talents who tragically lost his life to brain cancer at the age of 43.

He had designed and initiated work on this Mother and Child piece before he passed away, but was unable to complete it.  His mother, Beverly, who was the intended recipient of this gift, approached me one day with Kirk’s work still in rough form and asked if I would be willing to complete her son’s vision.

What an honor to be entrusted with this precious gift!

Using a small clay model he had left behind, I let intuition and Kirk’s spirit guide my hands as I worked.  My wife and I were students at Pilchuck Glass School around that same time which provided me with an opportunity to cut, carve and polish the swaddled infant from a block of cast glass.  

I thought clear glass would be a compelling choice, not only for its aesthetic value, but as a metaphor for Beverly and Dick Wilson as well, reflecting this transparent soul who still occupied space in their hearts.