GAMBLER'S HOOF

Bronze, 8" H x 8" W x 8" D

“Gambler’s Hoof” was made in response to an experience that I had with my horse. He became very lame and the veterinarian said that he might have to be put down. While I nursed his condition and waited for improvement, the image of a winged hoof came to me. Gambler was a winged messenger to me in some respects since he brought me so much joy and taught me lessons about stillness, listening, and waiting.  With him I was able to go to places of great beauty that I would never otherwise have known.  

After the danger of his illness passed I trained him to stand still in a pail of water so that I could make a mold of his hoof.  I made this piece from a sense of relief, gratitude and joy to celebrate his life and recovery. I later made a second version, “Gambler’s Hoof Revisited,” after his death (years later) in which I reshaped the original ailing hoof into a perfectly healthy form to represent his new, perfect existence in another life.  By doing this I celebrated his life and dealt with the pain of losing my companion of twenty years.

“Gambler’s Hoof”

“Gambler’s Hoof Revisted”

“Gambler’s Hoof 3”

Photography by David Ross for Blackman Cruz

Gambler himself.

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COTTONWOOD BRANCH IN AUTUMN