Description
Electronic Owl is a mixed-media tribute to a dear friend, Sam—a man of intelligence, creativity, and vibrant spirit. Based in San Jose, California, Sam worked as an engineer with NASA, contributing to advanced technologies, including components used in video cassette systems. His mind was sharp, inventive, and always exploring, much like the symbolic owl represented in this piece.
When I told Sam I wanted to create something using electronics, he generously sent me a collection of colorful electronic parts—fragments of circuits, components, and materials from his world. From those pieces, this owl emerged.
The owl became the perfect metaphor for Sam: wise, observant, and quietly powerful. Its form is constructed from the very elements he shared, weaving his presence directly into the artwork. Each embedded piece carries both a physical and symbolic connection—technology transformed into expression, logic transformed into art.
Sam himself was larger than life—playful, curious, and full of laughter. He reminded me of a real-life R2-D2: inventive, colorful, and full of personality. We shared time together in workshops, conversations, and even time out at my ranch. Those memories live inside this piece just as much as the materials do.
Electronic Owl is not just a portrait—it is a fusion of friendship, intellect, and creativity. It captures the essence of a man who bridged science and spirit, turning circuits into connection and technology into something deeply human.
