Larry, Curly, and Moe $15,000.00

sculptural screen

materials: Twin Cities Black walnut, found steel, handspun wool yarn, Pygora wool, Missouri river stone

Some of my earliest memories find me sandwiched between dad and grandpa on the scratchy bucket seats of grandpa's creaky old Chevy.

I grew up 2 houses down from my grandparents and spent much of my childhood with them. When I was sick, sometimes I'd stay home from school and watch Wheel of Fortune because it was that or infomercials.

Sometimes I'd go to my grandparents' house and grandpa and I would watch the Three Stooges together.

Grandpa Leon was the kind that liked to joke and steal his grandkids' noses (to our horror). He thought the Stooges were funnier than anything else on TV. Now I barely remember the antics they go into, but I can still hear the crunchy chuckly of my grandpa watching those same episodes he'd seen a thousand times. I feel a connection to The Three Stooges that has nothing to do with their comedy, and everything to do with the formative memories you feel as true warmth, deep in your chest.

Larry, Curly, and Moe are dedicated to Leon. I think of The Stooges and a smile crinkles at the corners of my eyes – a trait passed down to my family by grandpa.

I miss you, I love you. I hope you're still laughing.  

- Marah