**About the Piece**

This mosaic horse skull was created from the heart, through the hands, with profound love, passion, and care. It was crafted sitting in the grass at a beloved rescue farm, surrounded by 17 horses and 5 donkeys. The healed energy of these animals-who have been given a second chance to live in joy and peace-is intentionally woven into this craft, a reminder of the peace and second chances we all deserve.

**The Inspiration**
This piece honors the two-year cancer journey of my dear friend
, Rob Mahedy, who has navigated stage four bladder cancer with relentless courage. If you know Rob, his presence is like that of the sun: warm, kind, free-spirited, and adventurous. He is a builder, an alpinist, a salt-of-the-earth human, and the most badass spirit out there. His legacy is etched into this work. Woven alongside Rob's story is a deep thread of gratitude and love for my father, a prostate cancer survivor, whose own journey of resilience continues to inspire me.

**The Symbolism**
Every color and element in this mosaic was chosen with absolute intention:

* **Pink:** A tribute to Gunnison Tough-"Tough enough to wear pink"-standing in solidarity with all those navigating a cancer diagnosis.

* **Purple:** Represents the mystic and spiritual medicine of the horse, honoring their power, beauty, grace, strength, and freedom.

* **Whitish Gray:** Reflects the quiet stillness and wisdom that comes from deep contemplation of life, carrying the enduring hope of healing and a new day.

* **Charcoal Gray Grout:** Symbolizes the grit, the shadows, and the dark moments we all face as humans, as well as the inevitable certainty of death that unites us all.

**The Floral Band:** Inspired by the great Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. Like Frida, this band represents a fierce feminism, advocacy, and the courage to speak up and create through the pain-a raw, unedited representation of the depths of the human journey, where pain and beauty are inextricably linked.

*A donation to the Gunnison Tough Silent Auction to support those living with and navigating a cancer diagnosis.*