Prayer box for Mother Earth   
silver, bronze, stainless steel, 24k, vitreous enamel
3.5 x 1.75 x 1 inch
private collection
2015

Biodiversity is waning, whole ecosystems are destroyed or damaged, species extinction is at an unprecedented level and the poisoning of our air, land and water is sanctioned by governments all over the globe.

I made this pendant with these sadnesses in mind. It is called "Prayer Box for Mother Earth", the second in my For Mother Earth series, and it is filled with hope and love. When you turn the monkey knob crank, you will see the magician in teal blue perform a real, very special magic trick-- a golden heart appears from the empty box.

Seeing photos for the first time of abandoned amusement parks, my first thought was, "How is this possible, to abandon an amusement park?" That is the feeling I am trying to evoke here, with the bright colors, and darkened metal.

Because I can't figure out how something as extraordinary and awe-inspiring as our planet with all of the intricacy of life on it can be so easily abandoned on such a mass scale.

I chose the form of a "silent salesman", an antique vending machine, because it is the dearest symbol of consumerism I can imagine. There is a small gumball machine flap at the bottom that you can open to take out a hand, lion and lamb. The hand cradles the two tiny animals perfectly.

My 99 yr old grandmother cherished the original prayer book that she received in her late teens when she converted to the Protestant religion, so I have included the prayer for this box in similar form--her faith was unwavering, and that is the kind of faith, that values the protecting of the earth, that is so very needed at this time.

The prayer: "I love you. I'm sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you."

Watch the video above to see the reappearing heart magic trick.