Take the horseshoe...the cold steel that connects the horse to the earth...forge it red-hot, hammer and shape it, then repeat; add more metal and repeat again to slowly transform it into a smooth, flowing, gleaming representation of the majesty of this incredible animal. This is what I do. I see it as sort of a metaphor of our life; we take the hard, cold, sometimes brutal and unfair building blocks of life that we are given, and using our inner visions, thoughts, and feelings, combine them with our developed talents to express and magnify the wonder of life. As I journey through this process, I strive to end up each individual project with a piece that contains a flow and balance that is calming to look at, and one that also is interesting and fun to touch and explore. If that exploration makes the person feel good, then I am happy!
My process is not a structured one. On the contrary, it is totally fluid, starting with a random structural point and building by feel and trial-and-error to achieve the desired result—redoing the whole process until my "inner eye" and that "inner voice" says that it is finally right. The steel is uncompromising and unforgiving, quickly letting me know when the shape, form, or structure is not right, but just as quickly showing when it is finally the way it should be.
It is sometimes a frustrating quest. Sometimes it is difficult, even tortuous. But it is ALWAYS exciting and rewarding and so, I am compelled to continue.
Over time I have become more and more concerned about the epidemic level of animal abuse and neglect that is occurring in our communities. At our small rescue farm, a week rarely passes that we are not contacted with requests to help defray costs associated with veterinarian bills necessitated by this abuse. In an attempt to help alleviate this problem, I am committing 100% of profits from the sale of my sculptures to be contributed to help pay the medical/rescue costs for abused and neglected animals identified by local authorities. Please help if you can!
Thanks, and Be Well…
John