"As the Crow Flies"

"As the Crow Flies". Copper sculpture by Exhibiting Artist Member Sarah Harvell. 11"H x 5.5"W

As the Crow Flies was inspired by the familiar Appalachian expression used to describe distance “in a straight line.” Growing up in Appalachia, I heard the phrase often, though the landscape itself rarely allowed for direct paths. Mountains, hollers, rivers, and winding roads stretched even short distances into long journeys, creating a tension between measured distance and lived experience.

This sculpture reflects that contrast between physical geography and emotional memory. The crow becomes both a guide and observer, moving freely above terrain that shaped generations through isolation, resilience, and deep connection to place. Through metal and form, I wanted to capture the feeling of navigating landscape not only by miles, but by memory, family, and inherited stories.

Like much of my work, As the Crow Flies explores the intersection of nature, folklore, and personal history. It serves as a reflection on home, on the invisible paths we carry with us, and on the ways place continues to shape identity long after we leave it behind.