Bronze /2014
Edition of 15
22”H x 17”W x 9”D
No Longer Available

The Gull Riders were created during a period when Georgia was playing with combining different animals in playful ways. Like much of her work, it suggests a story but does not reveal it.

The family of Susan Armstrong purchased the last remaining casting of Gull Riders in the Summer of 2020, and it inspired her to write a story about the piece for her grandchildren. We’re pleased that she has allowed us to reprint it here.

THE GULL RIDERS
A Whidbey Island story
Dedicated to Mally, Emmy, Audrey and Matthew
from their Gamsy

Once upon a time there were two little bunnies who lived with their mother and father, and brothers and sisters, in the rose bushes down by the shore of Useless Bay on Whidbey Island. They loved to play and nibble on the large lawn of green grass right next to their home. One day, the two little bunnies, who were the most mischievous of their litter mates, saw patches of green out on the tide flats. They were very surprised because, just a few weeks ago, there had been nothing growing out there. They were very curious. Their parents had warned them that it was not safe to go out there, but the blades of sea grass looked so yummy!

“Let’s just hop out there lickety-split and taste the grass,” suggested the first bunny.

The second bunny thought a bit and finally agreed. “Okay, bunnies are very fast, and we are the fastest of our brothers and sisters. We can run out there and be back before anyone knows we are gone.”

So they waited until none of their family was watching them, and then hopped down the long wooden path to the sand, leapt over the driftwood and raced onto the tide flats. They ran right to the closest patch of green grass.

“Ugh, phew. This grass is awful. It tastes all salty,” said the first bunny.

“Yuck! Yuck! Yuck!” said the second bunny, and he kicked at the sand because he was so disappointed. Then he stopped. “Wow! Look at how high I can make the sand fly.”

Soon both bunnies were digging and kicking the sand, chasing each other and playing leap-rabbit. They were having so much fun that they did not notice that the tide had turned and was now coming in. When they finally stopped to rest, they suddenly saw that they were marooned on a small island of sand and the water was all around them, rising higher and higher.

“Oh no!” gasped the first bunny.

“I can’t swim!” cried the second bunny.

They hugged each other. Their home in the rose bushes looked very far away indeed. As they huddled together, a shadow appeared overhead. At first they were terrified—their parents had warned them about the giant birds called eagles that often soared over Useless Bay. But, “Whew!” It was just a seagull, and a friendly one at that.

“Hi! I’m Sammy. Well you two are in a fine predicament! What are you doing way out here? Didn’t your mother and father warn you about not going out on the tide flats?” The two bunnies nodded between sobs.

“Please stop crying. I’m here now and will take care of you.” Sammy spread his wings and put them around the two bunnies until they stopped shaking and crying. It felt very warm and safe all snuggled against Sammy.

“Now, that’s better! Let’s get you home. Would you like a ride back to the shore? Just hop on my back,” said Sammy.

The bunnies’ tears now became smiles and they leapt onto Sammy’s back. The bravest bunny sat in front, spread his front paws and squealed, “Hooray, I have always wanted to fly. Yippee!!”

“Now just a minute,” said Sammy. “It would be too dangerous to fly. You might fall off and hurt yourself. I am going to swim and wade. “ While the first bunny was disappointed, the second bunny was actually glad to hear this. He put his arms around his brother and held on tight.

“It’s OK if your paws get wet,” Sammy explained. “ Look—you have webbed feet.“ The bunnies had never noticed this before. Sure enough, there was webbing between their toes! “But don’t decide to try swimming. Bunnies get very sick if they jump into cold water. Promise me???” Both bunnies nodded vigorously.

So Sammy swam toward shore with his two special passengers on his back. Even though they did not fly, it was a fun ride, especially when they surfed on the waves that came from the large ship that had passed by earlier.

“Wee!” said the first bunny.

“This is fun!” agreed the second bunny.

Sammy just smiled. He waded up the bank of the shore, the bunnies hopped off, and raced up the walkway. Just in time they remembered their manners and turned to wave to Sammy as he flew away, “Thank you!”

Sammy flapped his wings. “Stay safe my little Gull Riders”, he called back.