Dreams explores the quiet space where memory, imagination, and aspiration intersect. Constructed from individually cut circular
pages suspended on a central wooden stem, the book comes together as a sculptural sphere whose form shifts as it is rotated
and opened. Each page contributes a fragment of a larger visual and emotional narrative, inviting viewers to slow down and
discover new relationships between color, texture, text, and image.
Rendered in a palette of deep cobalt, turquoise, and indigo, the work evokes the vastness of night skies, calm waters, and the
limitless possibilities found within dreams. Intricate hand stitching binds the pages together, creating geometric pathways that
symbolize the connections between experiences, ideas, and hopes that often emerge while we sleep. Glass beads and fibers
catch the light like distant stars, rewarding close observation with unexpected moments of sparkle and movement.
Quotations woven throughout the book reinforce its central theme, encouraging reflection on imagination, perseverance, and the
courage to pursue one's vision. As the sphere is explored, the pages expand and contract, revealing hidden layers and changing
compositions that mirror the way dreams continually evolve in our memories.
Like much of Lore Spivey's work, Dreams transforms the familiar form of the book into an interactive sculpture. It invites viewers
not only to read but to explore—to circle the object, rotate it, and experience its story through movement as much as through
words. The result is a contemplative celebration of possibility, reminding us that every dream begins as a small idea that grows
through patience, curiosity, and imagination. explores the quiet space where memory, imagination, and aspiration intersect.
Artist Statement
Dreams have fascinated me for as long as I can remember. They occupy a place where memory, imagination, hope, fear, and
mystery converge. We often think of dreams as experiences that occur while we sleep, yet some of our most profound dreams
are the aspirations we pursue while awake.
Hidden within this spherical book is a tiger—a quiet reference to a recurring dream that has followed me for much of my life. In
the dream, I am relentlessly pursued by a tiger and climb a tree in search of safety. It is one of the few dreams that has remained
with me over the years, returning often enough that it has become part of my own internal landscape. I have never discovered
what the tiger represents, nor have I tried to force an answer. Its mystery has become part of its significance.
One of my favorite novels is Life of Pi by Yann Martel. Throughout the story, the tiger named Richard Parker gradually reveals
layers of meaning, becoming something far more complex than an animal alone. That unfolding realization has always fascinated
me. My own tiger, however, has no name and offers no explanation. It remains elusive, refusing to become a metaphor that can
be neatly defined. Instead, it reminds me that not every mystery is meant to be solved. Some simply ask us to live with the
questions they present.
Fortunately, not all dreams are unsettling. Many bring comfort, wonder, or unexpected clarity. They allow us to revisit loved ones
who have passed away, inspire creative ideas, or illuminate possibilities that remain hidden during our waking hours. Others leave
us with emotions we cannot fully explain, revealing that uncertainty can be as meaningful as certainty.
Our waking dreams are equally significant. They are the ambitions, hopes, and possibilities that shape our future. Every invention,
every work of art, and every meaningful journey begins as an idea imagined before it becomes reality. Pursuing those dreams
requires curiosity, resilience, and the willingness to move forward without knowing exactly where the path will lead.
The spherical form reflects the nature of dreaming itself. Unlike a traditional book with a fixed beginning and end, its pages
revolve around a central axis, allowing the work to be experienced from countless perspectives. As the sphere turns, quotations,
stitched elements, layered pages, textures, and hidden imagery gradually emerge before disappearing again, echoing the
fragmented and nonlinear way dreams unfold in our minds. The concealed tiger waits to be discovered, just as certain dreams
reveal themselves only after careful reflection.
Hand stitching, beads, wire, and carefully selected papers become visible connections between ideas that might otherwise
seem unrelated. Individual memories, fears, aspirations, and unanswered questions are woven together into a single form,
suggesting that meaning often emerges through relationships rather than isolated events.
Dreams embraces both revelation and uncertainty. Some dreams illuminate our lives with remarkable clarity, while others remain
forever beyond interpretation. My unnamed tiger continues to chase me through the landscape of sleep, just as Richard Parker
continues to accompany readers through Martel's novel. One eventually offers an explanation; the other does not. I have come to
appreciate that difference. Not every dream is asking to be understood. Sometimes its greatest gift is the invitation to keep
wondering.
"Dreams are not confined to sleep—they are the stories we experience, the memories we revisit, the fears we confront, and the
futures we choose to create."
Year: 2025
Medium: Mixed media artist's book
Structure: spherical
Materials: Archival papers, mixed media
Dimensions: 19” x 6” x 6”
Edition: Unique
Status: Available
