Janet Manalo

Bonsai Janet Manalo

Mixed Media Sculpture 11" x 12" x 18" NFS

Trees are recurring elements in much of my artwork. This tree has a hand-crafted metal and copper wire inner core. The “bark” on the roots, branches, and trunk consists of hundreds of buttons. Most of the buttons are hand painted. The base is a Japanese poetry book with work written almost 80 years ago. Bonsai trees symbolize harmony, peace, an order of thoughts, balance, and all that is good in nature. I was inspired by that symbolism; the creative process was quite tranquil.