In the center of this head are hand-formed metal marigold flowers. The marigold is used in the Day of the Dead ceremonies and is believed to lure ancestors back with its golden beauty and peppery scent. I use them as a symbol to pay tribute to the panther. The root-like elements in this piece represent a foundation that is trying to grab hold of something that is dying out. These linear elements can also be interpreted as arteries that pump blood and signify a life that still exists.