Together with artist Jane Sutherland, we created The Crane Project as a tribute to the beauty and mystery of the crane, the elegant and noble bird whose ancestry goes back to prehistoric times. Our interest in cranes  took us to the International Crane Foundation in Baraboo, Wisconsin where we were able to meet, observe, and learn  about the 15 species of cranes (11 are threatened or endangered) and the conservation work being done to help the them. 

The experience with the cranes in Baraboo lead Surherland to make pastel portraits of each species of crane, sharing their unique personalities, their grace and boldness. While I created three large scale crane sculptures, Ancient Travelers. These three sculptures evoked the sense of timelessness and power of these beautiful creatures.