Artist: Marcella Matthaei

“Hope is the thing with feathers....” Emily Dickinson

Ever since I can remember, I have considered finding a feather a reminder of hope.  Feathers have always brought me respite from struggle; a single one carrying me through weeks at a time.  They are magnificent reminders of the extraordinary natural world most humans have come to ignore and utterly disrespect.  I consider these creations ‘totems of hope’ to be a form of organic iconography, a prayer to what’s best in and of the world.  

May they be inspiring to you!

 

I ONLY use legal, cruelty free, natural feathers, never dyed.  I use knotty pine found in Floridas forests and cat tail roots, found in her waters.  Other materials used range from Swarovski crystals, semi-precious stone and beads, ostrich eggshell beads, Thai silk, velvet, sharks teeth, Peruvian Wantana ties from the Sacred Valley, to shard of Navajo pottery, the occasional shell and material that honors the beauty and joy inherent in each feather.