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.