Cheryl Thomas

Fledgling #1 (2020)
purse, ceramic eggs, mesquite branch, saltbush thorns, bear fur (humanely harvested), copper wire, milagros
10 x 18 x 12 in.
$800

“Longing is like a seed that wrestles in the ground.”
Emily Dickinson

This time of Covid-19 is a push pull of fear and longing. Being separated from loved ones, feeling lonely and yet frightened. I am frightened for them and of them. I long for them. My dear friend lost a daughter, yet we shed our tears at six feet apart, unable to embrace. The work speaks to fragility, yet also persistence and tenacity. It is a time that helps me see the beauty of life. My use of thorns relates to protection, as does the bear fur. The purse, nest and egg are representations of the feminine. The staples and suture cotton are about healing. It is a dichotomy that I feel so separated from those I love and care about, yet never has my love been deeper and my need for their touch greater.

© Cheryl Thomas