Mini Storytellers

Frank Fleming was one of my first influences as an artist. When I was 14 years old, my mother enrolled me in a workshop with Frank at Studio by the Tracks in Irondale, AL. It was a group of older women, wealthy and familiar with Frank’s works, and me. All the ladies crooned “Frank, make us one of your lilies!” He made beautiful flowers and animals out of porcelain. Frank said, “I’m making a frog,” in that gruff voice. He made the frog. I was enthralled. Then, when I left that day he gave me a garbage can full of clay. Years later, Max Rykov asked me to produce 20 tiny Storytellers, miniature reproductions of Frank’s iconic fountain in Five Points South. I met with his sister, who handled Frank’s estate, and she gave me permission with the caveat that I would turn over all molds to her at the end of the project and also produce one mini Storyteller just for her.