Public Sculptures: Blooming Gratitude

The Blooming Gratitude sculpture series is a collaboration between my wife, Susan Livermore, and me. Forged in our artisan blacksmith studio, these sculptures are our way of expressing resilience and gratitude, inspired by the challenges we faced during the Covid-19 years. In each sculpture, the vertical elements burst forth from the base with an energy reminiscent of a bouquet of flowers—a monumental bouquet. With this series, we wanted to honor the perseverance that kept us moving forward and allowed us to continue our craft.

The process starts with me in the forge. I work with hot metal, shaping vertical elements from ½-inch stock, letting the natural flow of the material guide the design. Once the pieces are forged, Susan takes over, carefully selecting, arranging, and painting the elements, bringing them to life with her vibrant colors and thoughtful compositions.

Each sculpture in the Blooming Gratitude series varies in size, taking on its own scale and presence. The first one we created, Blooming Gratitude #1, is a massive piece, standing 12 ½ feet tall and weighing 1,100 pounds. We forged these sculptures using a mix of modern tools—propane forges, power hammers, hydraulic presses—alongside traditional blacksmithing techniques with hammers and anvils. With the help of our two longtime employees, Susan and I poured our joy, resilience, and gratitude into these works, and we hope that those who experience them feel that same energy shining through.