People’s Choice Award voting CLOSED July 31st 2024

Winner will be announced mid September 2024

‘Ember (2)’

7.4’ tall x 1.5’ wide x 1’ deep

Currently in Olympia WA at Percival Landing park, 217 Thurston Ave NW. Even the minimal sunlight of this Washonton-ian cloudy day illuminates the red crystal sphere carried on her back to represent the ember she carried in the Cherokee stories.

‘Dilsdohdi’ ᏗᎵᏍᏙᏗ is Cherokee for scissors, the action a particular stocky spider makes with its hind legs to walk on water. She is commonly known as “Water Spider.”

The bronze spider peers from a steel web and base over six feet tall. A red crystal sphere rests in a bronze pot on her back, representing the legendary fire she brought to the mainland.

Dilsdohdi/ᏗᎵᏍᏙᏗ “Water Spider,” though small and “weak” was the only creature who successfully retrieved fire, while other larger “more important” animals failed. Not only do the small accomplish great things, sometimes they are the only ones who can. (8/1/2022 Cherokee Phoenix Article.) (7/16/2022 Peninsula News Article.)

‘Ember (2)’ is the fifth finished piece of the ‘Ember’ series and part of a larger project titled “Empowerment.” This ideal encompasses inclusiveness and through extension community action. Cherokee legends are filled with the understanding that even the smallest or weakest creature can do the most important things; Grandma Spider and Water Beetle are popular examples. These values encourage communities to include those who may seem small or weak and empower them by recognizing their potential. The same could be said for sustainable community action: small actions over time, “weak” citizens or citizen groups can make permanent change; reminiscent of the Margaret Mead quote, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed individuals can change the world. In fact, it's the only thing that ever has."