3/14/17: Today begins the 2017 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament. Why do I know this? Facebook, of course! While I couldn’t care less about basketball (sorry, sports fans), I thought my own version of March Madness was in order.

Since Beloved and I moved to our house in the middle of the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, we have become a bit obsessed with water birds. The wading birds, in particular, have captured our interest. Though I am constantly keeping an eye out for the perfect piece of heron or egret art, I have never found something I truly loved (and could afford). While these pieces are certainly lovable, I can’t begin to afford them. Alas, the search continues. But in the meantime, here are some (pricey) lovelies to enjoy!

Glass artists Warner Whitfield and Beatriz Kelemen work with borosilicate glass which is heated to the consistency of taffy. They then gather and stretch and blow the glass into the graceful shapes you see here.

“Our designs are influenced by diving in the shallow, clear waters of Florida and the Caribbean, and by our dance instructing careers. Many of our designs and compositions, particularly those involving the latticino technique, have a feeling reminiscent of underwater coral reefs and the rhythm of the dance. “

Their work really does evoke the magic of the marshes on which we live. (And I may love these pieces a little extra because I’m missing our bay so much…) Hope you like them, too!

All images property of Warner Whitfield and Beatriz Kelemen.