Joco

2024

Carbon Steel w/Natural Rust Patina

120 x 96 x 24 inches

500 lbs

Jocotepec, Jalisco, Mexico

My wife, Tere, and I were vacationing with friends in the lakeside town of Jocotepec, nestled along the northern shore of Lake Chapala in Jalisco, Mexico. One afternoon, while relaxing beneath a magnificent tree, a single leaf drifted onto the table before us.

I have long been fascinated by the hidden architecture found in nature- the delicate skeletal framework that remains after time has stripped away everything but its essential structure. This leaf revealed an extraordinary network of veins, each one contributing to a design that was both intricate and purposeful. It was nature's engineering at its finest.

As I examined it more closely, I thought, "I'm going to make this for Tere." I began photographing the leaf from every angle, much to the amusement of everyone around me, who couldn't understand why I was so captivated by a fallen leaf. But I already knew I wasn't documenting something ordinary, I had discovered the inspiration for a sculpture.

Joco is a celebration of nature's remarkable ability to create beauty through structure alone. Enlarged many times beyond its original size, the sculpture invites viewers to appreciate details that often go unnoticed. What was once held in the palm of a hand becomes an immersive study of balance, strength, delicacy, and the extraordinary design found in even the simplest gifts from nature.

Artist Reflection

Inspiration doesn't always arrive in grand moments. Sometimes it quietly falls onto a table while you're enjoying an afternoon with people you love. Joco is a reminder that extraordinary beauty often exists in the smallest details- we simply have to pause long enough to notice.