"Brass Ring (It's in My Nature)" ORANGE

Acrylic on wood with brass ring, 11 x 4 x 9 inches, 2024

The series, "Brass Ring (It’s in My Nature)", originated from the painting "Brass Ring (Secretary Bird, Sea Lion, Scorpion)". In this work, a misfit hybrid creature offers a brass ring at the tip of its scorpion tail, tempting future riders of a twisted carousel. The challenge is to grasp the ring for a chance at a free ride, all while avoiding the creature’s venomous sting.

The narrative echoes the fable of the frog and the scorpion. In the tale, the scorpion convinces the frog to ferry him across the river, assuring him that stinging would be irrational since they would both drown. Yet, midway through, the frog feels the inevitable sting. “Why?” asks the frog as they sink. The scorpion simply replies, “I can’t help it. It’s in my nature.”

As humans, we often engage in behaviors that we know may lead to our downfall, yet we can’t resist. Do we reach for the brass ring—chasing fleeting glory—despite the risk of being stung? Time and again, the answer is yes. “I can’t help it. It’s in my nature.”

This series reflects on that inner conflict, offering a surreal vision of the choices we face and the dangers we willingly embrace.

This sculpture was inspired by the Arizona bark scorpion, the most venomous scorpion in North America.