The Moon Skaters
16 in / 40,6 cm
I believe angels sometimes envy our humanity. That is why in the winter, at full moon, celestial spirits come down to slide and skate on small frozen lakes deep in the forest, far from prying eyes.
Two skaters: an adult and a child. The young adult is holding up the child, who is holding his arms out, pretending to be a plane. The older skater is making the same movement with his free hand. We see the trust of one, the emotions of the other, the love between the two and the joy that bubbles forth. On one foot, the young adult is wearing an ageless skate, symbolizing the skates of children of generations past. A silver scarf with two golden sleigh bells, the colour of snow and festivity, floats in the wind.
Anecdote
My best friend Denis has a young daughter. The first word she learned to say was “moon”. She would say: “Come on Daddy, let’s look at the moon”, and they would sit and contemplate the heavenly body together. That is why when Denis ordered one of the Moon Skaters, I made a special one for him. Working the wax, I changed the boy into a girl. And so, number four of the series of eight represents a young girl and a man.
Treatment
Bronze (16in/40.6cm) with black patina. The hair and wings are bluish. The ribbon is electroplated nickel and the bells are mirror polished. On the artist’s proofs, the ribbon is silver plated and the bells are 24-carat gold.
A series of eight and four artist’s proofs.
