Cascades in Oregon

Cascades in Oregon, 2020

This piece was completed right before the pandemic hit and was sheltered-in-place for 6 months before it was delivered to its special owner, my sister.

This sculpture represents a glimpse of my sister’s life. Her husband and her sweet pup bring so much joy in her heart. The waterfall was inspired by one of our hikes at Multnomah Falls in Oregon. A waterfall greatly contributes to the health of its surrounding area by providing nutrients to plants and animals. More than that, the waterfall signifies God’s outpouring of love and blessings over her. And it’s through my sister’s kindness and generosity, that He continues to nourish others as well.

To the left of her husband is a mango tree. While there are no such trees in Oregon, I chose to plant it there to symbolize her roots in the Philippines. The leaves and golden mangoes represent treasured family ties. The multiple leaves on the outside of the sculpture represent the love of family and friends who have been there for her throughout the years.

The birds represent her strongest advocates - Lolo Fred, Lola Geling (our grandparents) and of course, our mom. They are angels soaring in the heavens and celebrating her life. Though the longing will never go away, we have the assurance that we will see them again one day clothed in breathtaking colors and fully healed.

This sculpture was made using low fire white clay and painted with velvet underglazes. It was first fired to 1888F for 21 hours. After a cooling period of 24 hours, glazes were applied to specific areas of the sculpture to give it gloss. It was fired again for another 8 hours to 1888F.