The Salmon River, as it courses through Idaho, is home to the river otter. Here, as a summertime river guide, I was treated to numerous sightings of one of nature’s most playful creatures. Sightings occurred on most journeys; sometimes just one or two otters, but as many as seven. “The Prelude” came as a title and can have many suggestions, but for me, otters mean the beginning of fun; raw, wild, social, almost laughing and always laughable. This is serious play! The otter has long held fascination for me, but it is a frequent theme in wildlife art. How could I do more or differently from other sculptors? I pondered this question for some time. The answer was “glass”, used in a very different way to yield this rare composition. Using glass I am able to create the illusions of water and depth, yet not interfere with the sculptural aspect of the work.

24" x 29" x 20"

Edition Size: 15

Year: 1998