Bone Art
My degree in biology left me fascinated with the anatomy and physiology of humans in particular, and everything alive with a pulse in general. Owning a farm for 30 years helped me get over any squeamishness I had around dead things. Working with bones feels like a way to sit closely with death and visit for a while, which leaves me with a deeper appreciation for life.
Each of my bone sculptures has more than one animal represented. I have a quirky side, and the idea of combining bones attracted me. As with all of my art, I rarely know where I’m going with a piece. I sit down and start with a small thing, and it grows from there. Following my creative impulses and seeing where they go brings me joy.
All of the bones in my art belonged to animals that were already dead either as road kill, found in the woods, or animals killed for meat on my farm.
"Bridger"- cow mandibles and deer vertebrae
"Esmeralda"- cow skull, deer antlers, copper wire
"Charlie"- The friends who bought my farm had a guard llama that died. They hauled the body up into neighboring BLM land so nature could recycle it. Knowing my proclivity for bones, one of them remembered to tell me about this a few days later. When I got there, only the head, some neck vertebrae, bits of leg bones and a pelvis were left. I added deer scapulae for arms/wings. My friend Derek recommended goggles.
"Frankie"- Cow skulls are great but what to do with the mandibles? Frankie is made from 2 species of cow jawbones.
"Malik"- 3 cow mandibles and deer vertebrae
Cow skull, goat kid skin, llama hair
Fox with owl feathers running. As with much of my bone art, this was salvaged road kill.
My friend found a desiccated bear in a roadside ditch. This shows the start of putting it together (with other bones in view)
Black bear found in woods along the Pacific Crest Trail outside of Ashland, OR. Smaller black bear skull on top, also found in woods. Deer hooves as choker around bear's neck. Foot resting on top of cow femur. Speared rabbit skeleton to complete the fierce warrior motif.
Raccoon with horse tail hair beard and goose feathers along back, peacock feathers in arms.
Cow skull with black bear claws
Cow skull with goose feathers, infant black bear ribs on forehead and scapulae for eyes.
Cow skull with red-tailed hawk feet (red-tailed hawk found in roadside ditch. Feet were about all that was left).
Part of cow femur above. Wasp nest attached. Bumble bee on wasps nest. Peacock feathers as eyebrows
"Bridger"- cow mandibles and deer vertebrae
"Esmeralda"- cow skull, deer antlers, copper wire
"Charlie"- The friends who bought my farm had a guard llama that died. They hauled the body up into neighboring BLM land so nature could recycle it. Knowing my proclivity for bones, one of them remembered to tell me about this a few days later. When I got there, only the head, some neck vertebrae, bits of leg bones and a pelvis were left. I added deer scapulae for arms/wings. My friend Derek recommended goggles.
"Frankie"- Cow skulls are great but what to do with the mandibles? Frankie is made from 2 species of cow jawbones.
"Malik"- 3 cow mandibles and deer vertebrae
Cow skull, goat kid skin, llama hair
Fox with owl feathers running. As with much of my bone art, this was salvaged road kill.
My friend found a desiccated bear in a roadside ditch. This shows the start of putting it together (with other bones in view)
Black bear found in woods along the Pacific Crest Trail outside of Ashland, OR. Smaller black bear skull on top, also found in woods. Deer hooves as choker around bear's neck. Foot resting on top of cow femur. Speared rabbit skeleton to complete the fierce warrior motif.
Raccoon with horse tail hair beard and goose feathers along back, peacock feathers in arms.
Cow skull with black bear claws
Cow skull with goose feathers, infant black bear ribs on forehead and scapulae for eyes.
Cow skull with red-tailed hawk feet (red-tailed hawk found in roadside ditch. Feet were about all that was left).
Part of cow femur above. Wasp nest attached. Bumble bee on wasps nest. Peacock feathers as eyebrows
Cow skull with African horn
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