Remembering Beauty, Requiring Freedom, Allowing for No Rudeness

I find working is the best I can do these days. Gardening, and creating new sculptures is my preoccupation, my mantra, my daily need. I love working outside, I generally do all year weather permitting. My metal bench is in my garage studio, and I have a large window to see the garden, but it’s not enough just to see the garden, got to be in it. I work under large Angel’s Trumpets plants, viewing the fruit trees and vegetables for the summer.

With a bum knee, I’m lucky to get to the backyard. I am restless, wanting to get back to the farmers markets, the exhibitions I missed and my friends. I am also really clear on stay at home unless essentials are needed. Masks are easy, just wear them in public at all times. And daily, acts of kindness are being shared by family and friends and I thank you for the love, the prayers, the good news. In the good old days, I would have marched until I could make out some progress. This will take more than marching, it will take acts of kindness, and real change in the hearts of people to reach civility, understanding and the need for real hard changes.

Just finished a sculpture called, “The Bird Watcher”, my most ambitious to date. This was inspired by a short video I saw about a man loving birds in Central Park where he takes us on a tour of a place called ”The Ramble”. This is an area dedicated to wildlife and it’s viewing champions. I loved Chris Cooper’s joy at explaining the different birdsong and the visitors along the way.

THE BIRD WATCHER, Denise Ward, 2020, Galvanized steel, steel wire, exterior paint

There are more things crazy than sane, just takes a bit of perspective and leaps of faith to get to the right place. - Be safe, stay home, wear masks, and keep hope alive! Denise