This piece is from a series of awards that I created for a corporate gift to their top performers this year. What follows is the commission letter that was given along with the piece.

To honor your significant contributions and celebrate your receipt of the 2007 Top Rep Award, Genworth Financial Investment Services, Inc. commissioned me to create this crystal sculpture for you.

I used an adaptation of the Genworth logo and worked it into a lapis blue spiral leading into the center of the piece. This spiral represents a focused path to excellence. The internal bubbles symbolize the many attributes you use to make your performance stand out among your peers.

I hope this sculpture reminds you of the many people you’ve worked with and the many accomplishments you have achieved with your affiliation at Genworth Financial.

Recent Commissions

This recent commission was a gift from a patron to her husband of 25 years. The commission letter reads:

Debby commissioned me to create this blown glass sculpture for you in honor of your 25^th wedding anniversary.

I enjoy carving birds on many of my pieces because of their graceful appearance and symbolic meaning. Cranes symbolize long life, good fortune, and fidelity. You and Debby are the two cranes standing in the middle. On either side are sego lilies (the state flower of Utah) and a mountain ridge. These two elements represent the Wasatch Valley where you intend to live in the near future. On the opposite side of the sculpture are two cranes flying overhead - representing your two children, John and Janelle. Underneath, a lilac bush and a fox are depicted to symbolize each of your childhood hometowns: yours in Lombard (“the Lilac Village”) and Debby’s in St. Charles (along the Fox River). The tree, a blue spruce, is the state tree of Utah and known for its ability to withstand extreme elements of weather. The tree is a symbol of your quest to establish new roots for your family in the West. There are 25 shining stars in the sky - one for every year you have been married (1983 – 2008). Since Debby loves gazing at the moon, a quarter moon shines over the entire piece.

I designed and created this freeblown glass sculpture with the hope that it will capture the story of your marriage and remind you of the love you have shared, the family you have created together and highlight your constant and enduring love.