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My Mother's love for the hummingbird was the major factor that led me to create the bronze vessel "Cloud Dancer". 

At the time I was growing up, the hummingbird was not prevalent in our area, but was abundant in the mountainous area that we frequented in the summertime.  She would always make sure that the hummingbird feeders were many and that they were full of the sweet nectar that they loved so much. It was at this time that I too became a lover of the hummingbird.  We would sit on the railings of the porch as they fed, watching them flitting from one feeder to the next.  They would have disputes over their territory and then settle for one of the other feeders. Their hovering and flying backwards always fascinated me.  The longer we stayed, the more accustomed to us they got.  Sometimes, they would fly around our head or actually land on our outstretched fingers if we remained very still.

As I became more interested in the hummingbird, I became aware that many people believe in animal totems or animal spirit guides. For them, the hummingbird is a powerful symbol of life and joy. Because of their ability to hover and take their time drinking nectar, hummers are often thought to be reminders that life is meant to be savored.  Hummingbirds never seem to stop. Unlike other birds, they never glide, and if they are in the air, their wings are in constant motion. This tireless activity symbolizes perseverance. Because hummingbirds do not simply flap their wings up and down, but instead move them in the pattern of the infinity symbol, or a figure eight, they are often thought to symbolize eternity and everlasting life. Hummingbirds migrate and are known to wing their way as far as 2000 miles to reach their destination. This quality reminds us to be persistent in the pursuit of our dreams, and adopt the tenacity of the hummingbird in our lives. 

The vessel that I created has the very realistic hummer on the top, sampling the nectar from the cactus flower.  On one side is a stylistic hummingbird as it flies backward with its body arched and its tail tucked.  On the other side there is the petroglyph, or rock art. This petroglyph shows that the people of the past were intrigued with and admired the hummingbird also. There are also two very small birds on the design that represents their size in relation to their surroundings. The high polish bronze of the vessel represents the sunshine, the bright oranges and yellows the flowers and the blues and greens the sky and grass. I hope you enjoy my interpretation of the hummingbird.  

Jammey Huggins

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Jammey is a Southwest artist who was born and raised in West Texas. From her life-long

interest in Western and Native American memorabilia she has seriously devoted herself to
portraying the culture and history of the Southwest. She seeks to recreate the mysticism and
spiritualism of the West in her paintings and sculpture. 

Studying, collecting, traveling and exploring the historic ruins of the Southwest and Mexico are sources for her unique creations. Her love of the outdoors has led her to be particularly aware of the many living creatures in her surroundings. Whether at home, with jackrabbits, box turtles, and coyotes, or traveling and observing dolphins, eagles and bison, she realizes that each is individual and possesses unique characteristics. It is the spirit of life and emotion as well as the physical power and sensual form that she tries to capture in each of the animals. The use of the figure is also very prominent in her works. Personality combined with historical accuracy is her goal in creating a life-like sculpture. When viewing her creations, she hopes they will evoke memories and emotions from your own experiences with both wildlife and human beings.

Even though she has been sketching and painting from a very early age, she did not
begin sculpting until 1982. Since that time she has worked with stone, bronze, clay, polymer,
and welded sculpture. Her bronze, "Full Circle", won Best of Show at the annual
American Plains Artists Show displayed in the Ellen Noel Art Museum. All of her bronze sculptures are cast using the lost wax method. In this way, all of the details in the original are retained in the reproduction. Jammey produces her sculpture in limited editions and keeps the edition numbers low in order to retain the integrity of her work. 

Jammey holds a degree in art from Texas Tech University, with graduate studies at the
University of Texas of the Permian Basin and Manhattan College. She participates in both
invitational and juried shows throughout the Southwest. Her work can be found in both private
and corporate collections throughout the United States. Commissioned works are also accepted.