Piano hammer “Love”

I made this piece of art for my aunt’s wedding gift.  You can tell it says LOVE, right?

L, bird, V,E.

My aunt and new uncle have known each other for a long, long time so this was a very special wedding.  They lived on the same street when they were raising their families.  There are eight kids between the two families and some of them have been best friends since they were little kids. Its a fascinating story how these two families have been intertwined over the years.  My aunt and new uncle were devoted to their spouse and family for DECADES, and then were suddenly left alone when their spouses passed away.  Eventually, they reconnected and fell in love and their life story continues.

The base of this piece is weathered wood from a deck that was falling apart.  The wood is strong and solid, but there are imperfections, like nail holes and a deep scratch.  I painted it, sanded it, added some stain to highlight all that it’s been through.  The letters are made from piano hammers; the parts of a piano that are hidden inside that strike when you push down on a key.  My aunt loves music and has always had a piano in her house.

(Someone donated the hammers to ReHouse.  Not the actual piano, just the piano guts.  What a strange donation, right?  I took it apart and noticed they made the shapes of letters.)

The red bird symbolizes happiness and joy.  The weathered wood symbolizes strength despite all the years have thrown at them  and the piano hammers symbolize that sometimes pieces of our lives can be put back together in a new way.