When I moved back to California in 2004, I worked out of a glass hot shop in Atascadero- a very dry region in central California. About 11 months out of the year, the grasslands and oaks were brown, dry, and almost lifeless. During our yearly 2 week-long rains in April, the grasslands would soak up the rain and the land would come to life. Hundreds of thousands of lupine sprang from their hibernation, covering the green earth in beautiful specks of bright purple.

Glass, 2006
4″h x 24″l x 6″d
photo: Stephen Funk