"Change comes in life, as surely as the color of leaves as we transition into fall, though not nearly as predictable and certainly, not always as joy-filled as the welcome radiance of our trees. While immersed in a season that brings challenges across the globe, how do we cope? We may find inspiration in the leaves, whose truth and inner color are revealed as they hold on, sustained by nutrients from deep roots and fueled by stored energy from the sun until they are ready to experience the gentle float down to the forest floor, where they renew the cycle of life. The example of the leaves offers a way… to find the inner strength to face our fears, allow ourselves to accept our human vulnerability, and continue to cultivate the courage to strengthen compassion for each other and for ourselves as we strive to heal our precious Earth and its inhabitants. When we recognize the power to change what is in our own hands, we embody our hearts, holding the all-encompassing range that exists between beauty and loss, with our hope and life force at the center. These sojourners empower us to carry our light into the world, one leaf at a time.”

This sculpture was created from combining a macro photograph of an autumn leaf found on beloved Kentucky hills and printed onto textile before being richly layered in encaustic medium, cut, carved end-to-end, colored with powdered pigment, and sculpted to shape before being integrated into found wood from our land and from the seaside. It has a hanger that enables wall mounting or may be displayed on a shelf or table, enabling different views and experiences. This leaf, like the entire collection, was sculpted to offer support during a season that continues to challenge us to the core.