Copper Tree Branches
Years ago one of our sons came home with this gnarly looking, perfect recreation of a Juniper tree he had made in his Jr. High art class.
Copper Tree Trunk
The detail and balance alone must have taken so much patience and time. I love that the piece looks just like the desert trees we are surrounded by. He spent many long hours playing in that desert, and I’m sure he just called on his imagination to shape and form this wonderful artwork.
Copper Tree
The tree is part of our collection of family heirlooms, displayed in our entryway along with his Copper Cowboy on wood.
Copper Cowboy
This was a pressed art piece, about 4″ x 4″ that he also made in school. I am remembering Mike’s stories about students being taught to work copper in the earlier days of the 20th century, and I’m glad some teachers still saw the value in this timeless metal in our son’s schooldays. I hope we won’t lose this appreciation in the current struggle to keep art in the schools.
The ability to express one’s self and work with different materials is such an important part of discovering and using the imagination. And without imagination, creativity and problem solving are stifled. Without those skills in our society we will lose our Joy.
How do you keep your joy alive and well-using your imagination? Does your community support art in the schools? We’re wondering.
