"Preparedness"

By Brian Wilkes

As winter approaches, country people begin gathering a stacking firewood. Whatever warmth we can coax from a fireplace reduces the heating bill from other fuels, and lets us stay warm in the event of a power outage or supply line interruption. There can always be an early freeze, so advance preparation is key, just as it is with crops and livestock. I was intrigued by the interplay of surface planes in a stack of cut wood, and exaggerated this until they became more pronounced by facets on a gemstone. When a polar vortex hits, a stack of seasoned firewood seems worth a pile of jewels.