Flight of Fancy
This little woman spoke to me at an estate sale back in 2022. She spoke of thoughtfulness, calm and flights of fancy. She was a bit pricey by thrifting standards, but I suspect I purchased her due to withdrawal symptoms. By 2022 we were starting to emerge from our Covid slumber, all a bit stir crazy. Certainly those of us addicted to thrifting and estate sales were struggling with the lockdown restrictions. Which, of course, were extensive and caused all sorts of other – more significant – issue in our lives. But come April, 2022, it seems the estate sale business started up again, likely with masks, and I purchased this art piece for no other reason but the joy of finally being able to see art again!
The piece was designed to be a pin, but I brought her home and put her on my dressing table. The artist is Karen Halt (b. 1946) though the piece is not signed. When I purchased her, there was a booklet with some other pieces about Halt’s work and thank goodness I took a photo of it, as I most certainly would not have recalled her name otherwise. Ms. Halt’s website (https://www.karenhalt.com/) indicates she often uses birds in her art: “they are gracious visitors who bring joy and dazzle me with their beauty, inspiring work and images that attempt to bridge the gap between what is natural and what is civilized. Their feathers…seek to soften the hard edges of our dwelling places and our fact-filled lives.” The leaves on my sculpture’s body reflect the growth and renewal nature provides. The woman sits contemplatively, with eyes closed, while a small bird sits perches on her head. The bird, connected as it is to trees, reflects a brief moment of touching nature’s beauty; the inspiration that comes from our head and flits off into the clouds.
Better a bird than a dog. While walking a few days ago with hubby, I had twisted my long and thick hair into a clip on top of my head. My hair often causes me to get rather hot, and the day was remarkably warm for a March weekend. As we walked our 70 pound dog, a couple was heading towards us on the path. The woman laughed as they passed, calling out “Oh! I thought you had a dog on your head!” Seriously. A dog on my head? Why of course, doesn’t everyone sit a small dog on the top of their head while walking on a sunny afternoon?! Flights of fancy indeed!