Tempe, Arizona
Cast Copper/Iron Matrix Buddhas, Ash, Poplar, Cocobolo, Hemp Rope, Sinew
"The Weight of Wishing" invites participants to reflect on the tangible and intangible effects of their desires. This interactive piece prompts users to make a wish and place a penny upon the scales, physically tipping them one way or another—turning an internal reflection into an external, observable shift.
At the heart of the piece are cast Buddha figures, born from a deeply personal connection. These figures originate from a wooden statue that once belonged to my Great Grandmother—an object I would often gaze at and touch as a child. It was the one thing I truly wished to have when she passed, carrying with it a sense of memory, longing, and reverence.
The casting process began with a rubber inner mold and a solid outer mother mold, preserving the details of the original figure. Wax patterns were then created and dipped in ceramic shell, eventually brought to life at a community iron pour. During this process, I seized the opportunity to experiment—charging the cupola furnace with a unique blend of copper and iron. The result was castings that emerged as a fusion of half copper and half iron.
The scales themselves are a study in balance and precision. Their arms are secured to the central hub through an experimental dovetail joint, held in place purely by tension. The resulting leaf springs provide a delicate yet resilient support for the suspended Buddhas, responding to even the slightest addition of weight.
Through interaction, The Weight of Wishing transforms abstract hopes into physical movement, illustrating how even the smallest actions can tip the scales of our lives