Wait, not that exactly: she says that I should make some useful art, sculptures that serve a purpose or do something, such as jump over tall buildings or save kittens from trees. That seemed too complicated, so I have made a vase. Not too big––sort of medium-sized, rolled from a hand-poured sheet of wax and hand-cast in bronze. And then polished like the dickens.

The patina is a high polish bronze interior contrasting with a slightly rusty-colored exterior, with the edges of my swirled-wax surface buffed off to add highlights.