Work title: Seed of Turtle Island
Size: 6 3/4" tall metal stand, re-claimed hand painted box turtle shell 5" x 4" x 3", hand formed and painted paper clay fetus sculpture 3 1/2" x 1 1/4"
Medium: Found-Object Assemblage with Figurative Clay Sculpture with display stand
Content: Surreal, Nature, infant, figurative, Native American Mythology

About:
Many Native American tribes believe that eons ago everything was covered by water and that the world came to be formed on the back of a turtle. They called this world "Great Turtle" or "Turtle Island." The turtle represents longevity, loyalty, shelter, peace, fertility, the power to heal female disorders, the earth and nature, and indeed the living spirit of Mother Earth herself.

The figure at the center of this piece is modeled after a tiny human fetus, using Creative Paperclay and careful dry-brushed layers of acrylic paints. The character represents the Infant Humanity sleeping peacefully within the womb of the Earth. The outer portion of the sculpture is a genuine box turtle shell that was recycled from nature, cleaned, then carefully hand painted to give it layers of color depth. Having been formed as a bead, the baby figure hangs inside the turtle shell, which in turn hangs from the included display stand, both by natural copper wire. Both the shell and the figure are signed by the artist and dated 2008.