# 34 Loss of a Hat

I’ve been struck once again by how we hang our identity on whatever the most prevalent hat is that we are wearing. The wood in this piece is full of holes, which represent the experiences left by the departure of the multiple identities that we shed over the course of a lifetime. With each loss or change of role, we are left with a funny nakedness or temporary void. Our strengths and weaknesses need to be analyzed once again, and put into some structure for future consideration. Free of distraction the renewed awareness that we are the sum total of whom we have been, presents itself front and center. So now, all that is left to do is wait for new direction.

# 33 Tent Pegs

I’ve recently lost my job, which I loved. This piece is about the folding of the tents, with one still aloft, and the other on the ground. The wires spell out VCS and the wooden figure doesn’t quite have the spring in its step that was there before.

# 32 Tail Pipe Law

Back during President ‘W’ reign, the Clean Air Act was being challenged then as it is now. A judge ruled that CO2 emissions could impact human health and that industry needed to reduce its emissions and comply with safer standards. Bush ignored the findings.. Now just last week the Department of Transportation and the EPA have bypassed the ongoing legislative fight on the Energy bill and have set in place a new standard to cut emissions. It is the first time that the Clean Air Act has been applied to CO2 and other global warming pollutants. All new passenger cars and light trucks made from 2012-2016 will be required to meet emission standards of 250 grams of CO2 per mile, or the equivalent to 35.5 miles per gallon. These new standards will cut emission of CO2 by 30% or 960 million tons. This latest piece is about tail pipes. The blue gels inside the orange are meant to show the reduction of emissions.

# 31 Gnarled

Last weekend on a beach walk we found this spectacular piece of driftwood. I'd been thinking about the value of having a piece of wood really direct you and this piece was speaking in a powerful whisper. "Don't do much.." it said.. After considerable thought I decided on mock spider webs intergraded with these beautiful glass beads that I purchased specifically to go with the driftwood. Is this cheating? I'm not sure, but to me the best thing about my added idea is that I don't think it overwhelms the piece. The other thing that I love is that in a good light you can't see the fishing line and the glass beads just float within the negative spaces.