Arugula is fierce! Not only does it have a taste that’s not for the timid, it’s actually still growing strong out in my garden—in the chill of December! Its hearty spiciness, like a hot, tangy mustard, almost begs you to ice down your palate. Looking at the oddity of a fresh, leafy green in the cold, and admiring this lovely green Ice-O-Matic, given to me by my friend Christiana Aretta…the dots just connected for me, inspiring this new face.

Christiana is an interface designer who thinks about “why we interact with machines,” exploring “how to guide human-machine interaction within the most elegant and direct structure possible.” In my own way, I do, too, in my series of character face sculptures and the still life images I create of them. So, her gift, and her own creative inspirations relate to this work.

The Jalapenos that form the rest of the features on this guy are from my garden, too. Man, this arugula is tenacious for thriving in my frigid urban garden. It’s also food photographer’s dream…greens that can stand up for 30 minutes without wilting!