Witnessing the migration of monarchs as they pass over our land, often stopping for sustenance on the milkweed and butterfly weed that naturally grows, I have been in awe of these creatures' tenacity, endurance, and inner knowing of direction.  My aim was to capture a bit of their beginning essence, their miraculous metamorphosis from chrysalis to butterfly. 

Beginning with a photograph of a monarch, printed onto paper, detail drawn in with colored pencil, layered repeatedly with fused wax, carved intricately, cut to shape and sculpted, this monarch came to rest on a freshly opened chrysalis, created with paper and wax, supported by branches on which they are wired.

This is a wall-mounted sculpture, suspended by wire, but could also be viewed as a pedestal piece.