The word “halcyon” derives from the Greek word α̇λκ vω̇v (alkyōn), which originally meant kingfisher. In classical mythology, Alcyone (the daughter of the wind god Aeolus) threw herself into the ocean in grief after her husband, Ceyx, died at sea. The gods took pity and transformed them both into kingfishers. According to legend, these birds built their nests on the waves during winter. The gods granted days of unnaturally calm weather around the winter solstice so Alcyone could incubate her eggs safely.

This piece was created to reflect the client’s love of kingfishers which accompanied him while sailing the Puget Sound. And while nesting on water is pure fiction (they excavate long burrows in sandy banks along the water), they can frequently be seen hunting for small fish in the waters near their homes.