Something Special

A gift to express appreciation and thankfulness for teachers, volunteers, donors, caregivers, friends... or for those who love plants and flowers. "The gesture of something special is one of protection and caring for something precious... our children, our earth, our natural resources. I see it as a hopeful piece about possibilities... about every child, doing his or her share. The rock is etched with words and images. The puzzle pieces allude to how we are all inextricably linked together... they're also symbols of children with autism. 'special' can mean many things - the special responsibility to care for our planet - and to nurture ALL our children to care for their future. 'Something' can be interpreted on many levels. The little sprout is an unknown. What's it going to become? And the boy is a sprout too... what's he going to become? He could represent hope for the future... This piece could be a symbol of newness and beginnings. For many years we've wanted to experiment with environmentally friendly packaging that wouldn't increase breakage. We're excited to try it with the packaging of 'something special'. The inner shell is made from biodegradable paper pulp , so now both shell and box can be easily recycled." - Susan Lordi. The figure includes a gift tag with the sentiment ' You make the world a better place'.

Approx. Dimensions: 14cmH 4.5cmW 4cmD

Willow Tree

Artist Susan Lordi hand carves the original of each Willow Tree sculpture. Using family and friends as models, Susan tries to capture a moment in time, or express a feeling. Pieces are cast from her original carvings, and then individually painted by hand. Softly washed colours, carved and metal accents, and representative icons of nature mark Susan’s work.

Her figures continue to evolve as she identifies emotions so important for us to convey, and renders them in simple, pure gestures. These art forms beautifully express love, closeness, healing, courage, hope…all the emotions of a life well lived.

The name Willow Tree was chosen to symbolise all that is gestural and beckoning. The figures are columnar in design, like a tree, and often carry natural objects or animals as metaphors for human virtues or qualities…rosemary for remembrance, a bird for healing, flowers for beauty. The sculptures are rendered so as to suggest elegance, simplicity, peace and serenity. Forms reveal their expressions through body gestures only…a tilt of the head, placement of the hands, a turn of the body.

Emotions are left to the viewer to discern, which makes them personal and powerful. ‘Willow Tree is not necessarily a likeness, it’s a way of conveying emotion…a reminder of someone we want to keep close, or a memory that we want to touch, or see.

I hope that people can recognise subtle expressions or gestures of those they love, and from that, be able to select pieces that are uniquely meaningful for them.’ Susan Lordi