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 CRANE DREAMS is a residential stone mosaic fireplace commissioned by the executive director of American Players Theater, a company devoted to the staging of Shakespearean plays, in Spring Green, Wisconsin and his spouse the owner and lead instructor at the Wisconsin Ballet Academy. I provide this brief background sketch because it is integral to the performance art themes celebrated in the mosaic. The right side, with warm colors, and the andamento of the "floating" mosaic tesserae is meant to portray the ritual crane dance, somewhat of a "crane plie". The left side takes a more dramatic turn--perhaps an allusion to the Tempest? The effort to celebrate the owners' performance art achievements is represented in the horizontal andamento.
 The vertical andamento turns the page to an environmental theme. Color choices and "night sky" images speak to the centuries old history of the venerable and beautiful bird and the threat of extinction due to destruction of wetland habitat. It is the vertical andamento that seeks to honor the founders of the International Crane Foundation, Mr. George Archibald and the late Mr. Ron Sauey. Crane Dreams is dedicated to Mr. Archibald and Mr. Sauey for their vision and relentless efforts to protect crane habitat and thus the survival of this magnificent bird.
The stone mosaic was created from Indian, Chinese, Brazilian and Pennsylvanian slates. I acknowledge the valuable assistance of two apprentices on this commission, Ms. Barbara Sella and Ms. Diane Neukirch.
 One difficult hurdle has to be jumped at the beginning of most of my custom commissions; this project was no exception. The client requests a theme or subject, if they have one in mind. They are offered a choice of tesserae that are compatible with the furniture and other architectural appointments. Depending on the size of the commission, 300 to 2000 stones are washed and sealed then scattered at random about the room. It is a challenging process to explain that the picture is already "painted" on the rocks; creative selection will allow the picture to develop and reveal itself, piece by piece. It involves watching and listening so that the stones can guide the picture along using the artists hand and eye to audition each stone and execute an image that is preconceived but not completely finished or assembled. No preliminary sketches are made or offered. This explanation to a prospective client tends to "play out" very well or not at all. If I'm not abruptly shown the door, the commission proceeds.
A digital file photo can be emailed (300 dpi 25.4 MB RGB .tif file). High quality transparencies and prints are available. Information on the International Crane Foundation and Mr. Archibald can be referenced at www.SavingCranes.org.
Eric N. Rattan
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