I made this sculpture after visiting a grocery that carried food from around the world, pausing to marvel at cuisine so different from mine.  Coming upon these large cacti leaves (spines removed), I reflected on the sustenance they held... guarded treasure beneath their once spiny exteriors.  Like the life-saving water contained within, we also have inner resources to call on in times of need. Connecting with these parallels that lie within the natural world makes me feel more grounded in our shared world.

This piece is made from a macro photograph, and is hand-colored, layered multiple times in wax medium, hand-carved relief work, sculpted, adorned with wax droplets containing "spines", and nestled into wood found on our land.  It is a wall hung sculpture, and has much depth out from the back surface.