Shadow Box
As I'm writing the stories behind these
pieces, I'm realizing that in all cases, the final impression that a
commissioned piece leaves on me is based mostly on the customer and the
interaction I have with them. I suppose it's natural after someone
takes the time to find me, trust me, get excited in an evolving idea with me and
agree to pay me fairly to create the design. It's is a leap of faith on their
part that I don't ever take for granted.
In this case, a local writer commissioned me
to make this "Shadow Box" for her. It's a functional mirror with halogen
lighting, and also a series of carefully spaced compartments
behind concealed hinged doors for storing small things. It
is veneered with curly maple, with solid purpleheart edging to make
a dramatic graphic border. As I was designing it with an emphasis on
making the proportions really sing and make the grain punch out with a rubbed
clear laquer, Jackie became so much more excited about the whole small but
precise project that she decided that her daughter in NY, NY needed to have
a twin piece. No problem.
I was about 3/4 the way through making both, when
Mother called Daughter and convinced her to come up for an extended
weekend visit, with the excuse that they should visit the maker of their
pieces which were being assembled. It was a beautiful early fall day when
they came up; we had a wonderful time standing around in my studio drinking
coffee, looking at the wood grain selection and all, enjoying the breeze
coming in the open garage doors, bantering on happily.
That was Sept 10th 2001.
Early the next morning, Jackie's daughter Jessica
set off back to New York City to her job in one of the twin towers. Around 10am,
as she was approaching the border, she heard the news on the radio and turned
around safely.
Both identical pieces were completed shortly after
with absolute precision. I installed Jackie's, and shipped her daughter's to be
installed by her trusted friend.
My wife Judy and I went over for a dinner to
Jackie's one night a while later, and I paid a visit
to her shadow box again. As I entered the beautiful bathroom, I
noticed that the mirror and the cabinet of the shadow box were perfectly clean
and dusted entirely. I then opened the 4 hinged doors to find that
the compartments were also perfectly clean, and empty.
