Empty nests are not only found in places that one may expect, but can be discovered in old canoes, under eaves, flower gardens, and in overturned flowerpots. The nest is this spectacular vessel that takes countless hours to construct. The careful selection and arrangement of particular materials used is a work of art in its own right. Yet, the nest is not just this fantastic functional structure found within the branches; it is also a symbol of life’s possibilities.

This silent vessel held new beginnings, nurturing, and the growth of new beings in the world; from the very young, up to the time of flight, to the flight itself. The empty nest also evokes the quietness that accompanies it—just a silent, empty vessel, devoid of calls and sounds, the sense of loss. This examines the inevitable dichotomy —an undiscovered freedom infused with an acute sense of longing.

The works for “Beyond the Branches Series” below represents these intricate emotions and unveils the significance of an empty nest. The beauty of this vessel that reclaims an interlude in time, and rediscovers tender memories with a renewed sense of clarity that accompanies solitude.