About the Piece

6" solid graphite Raven writing sculpture.

With uncanny intelligence and a curious nature, ravens have figured a permanent place in the lore of Northwest Coast native cultures. Cast as both a Trickster and the Creator, ravens are portrayed as selfish, mischievous and ever-hungry, foiling the unsuspecting and the prosaic. Despite its treacherous ways, native cosmology recognizes this Trickster's chaos as transformational. While he may leave ruin in his wake, he also reveals new possibilities and creative evolution. In its most popular tale, the raven steals the sun from a hoarding old man then clumsily drops and breaks it, illuminating the cold, dark world.

About the Artist

Inspired by his reverence of Nature, and informed by his formal studies in Art and Science, San Francisco artist Agelio Batle has created this innovative sculptural writing implement. Natural graphite and smudge resistant compounds are fused in specialized forms under intense pressure. All their surfaces can draw and the graphite will resist smudging onto your hands. Batle envisions these objects as sculptures, as much as they are implements for inspiring your own vision.