Dragonflies on Purple - Dragonfly Spindle
Artist: Bill Dawson
Materials: Brass, copper, shakudo, silver, and gold inlay, Port Orford cedar holder
Dimensions: Diameter of whorl 60mm, length of stave 230mm
Fabric Motif: Dragonflies in Japan have many symbolic meanings including courage and good fortune
Haiku: twilight dance...
dragonflies
dip and glide
- Michelle M. Ballou
About the Work: This piece is a memorial in honor of the late metalsmith Ford Hallum. Dragonflies were his favorite creatures and the fabric pattern reminded me of him. I shaped the whorl using the tsuba forging techniques I learned from him, and created the the designs using Japanese inlay and patina techniques.
Bill Dawson Bio: There are few greater honors than perpetuating traditional arts, keeping them alive and relivant, and passing them on to the next generation. This is what I have been attempting to do in my art for my entire career. I'm less interested in whether a piece of art is representational or metaphorical, realistic or abstracted; rather I look for an underlying creative honesty. It is this honesty of expression and commitment to technique that Itry to make the foundation of all my efforts: in my artwork, my outlook, and my life.
This piece is part of the Yukata Inspired 2025, a collaborative exhibition between Okan Arts & Danaca Design featuring jewelry and metalwork alongside Haiku from Haiku Northwest. Learn more and view the entire collection HERE.
