My Mother's love for the hummingbird was the major factor that led me to create the
bronze vessel "Cloud Dancer".
 
At the time I was growing up, the hummingbird was not prevalent in our area, but
was abundant in the mountainous area that we frequented in the summertime. She would
always make sure that the hummingbird feeders were many and that they were full of the
sweet nectar that they loved so much It was at this time that I, too, became a lover of the
hummingbird. We would sit on the railings of the porch as they fed, watching them
flitting from one feeder to the next. They would have disputes over their territory and
then settle for one of the other feeders. Their hovering and flying backwards always
fascinated me. The longer we stayed, the more accustomed to us they got. Sometimes, they would fly around our heads or actually land on our outstretched fingers if we
remained very still.
 
As I became more interested in the hummingbird, I became aware that many people
believe in animal totems or animal spirit guides. For them, the hummingbird is a
powerful symbol of life and joy. Because of their ability to hover and take their time
drinking nectar, hummers are often thought to be reminders that life is meant to be
savored. Hummingbirds never seem to stop. Unlike other birds, they never glide, and if
they are in the air, their wings are in constant motion. This tireless activity symbolizes
perseverance. Because hummingbirds do not simply flap their wings up and down, but
instead move them in the pattern of the infinity symbol, or a figure eight, they are often
thought to symbolize eternity and everlasting life. Hummingbirds migrate and are known
to wing their way as far as 2000 miles to reach their destination. This quality reminds us
to be persistent in the pursuit of our dreams and adopt the tenacity of the hummingbird in
our lives.
 
There are many legends about the hummingbird, but I particularly like the one of the
Haida, the Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest coast. Here is their legend of the
origin of the hummingbird. Locally called Sah Sen, the hummingbird was created by
Raven from a beautiful flower that animals anticipate every spring. The green color of
the hummingbird represented the green grasses of spring, and the red color the setting sun.
Raven gave the hummingbird the gift to fly like the sun flickering through the trees. The
hummingbird darts from flower to flower, thanking them for bringing beauty to the world.
 
The vessel that I created has the very realistic hummer on the top, sampling the nectar
from the cactus flower. On one side is a stylistic hummingbird as it flies backward with
its body arched and its tail tucked. On the other side, there is the petroglyph, or rock art.
This petroglyph shows that the people of the past were intrigued with and admired the
hummingbird, also. There are also two very small birds on the design that represent their
size in relation to their surroundings. The high polish bronze of the vessel represents the
sunshine, the bright oranges and yellows the flowers, and the blues and greens the sky and
Grass.