Where the River Rejoins from the collection of LRC

Where the River Rejoins, 2025

Neon tubing - Murano Italian Citrus Orange Glass tubing - filled with neon gas.

60 x 28 in

Location: Ridgefield, CT

Drawing inspiration from the poetry collection Paul identified as his favorite at the Pavilion, I developed a concept for the outdoor pavilion wall centered on waka poetry. Dating back to the 7th century, waka is one of the oldest forms of Japanese literature. It is more than written language, serving as a refined emotional and spiritual expression that has influenced Japanese art, craft, and culture for over a thousand years. The most well-known form of waka is the tanka, a five line poem with a 5-7-5-7-7 syllable structure. Rather than expressing feelings directly, poets evoke emotion through seasonal imagery and fleeting moments in nature. This approach gives rise to the quiet, introspective qualities that define traditional Japanese aesthetics.
From the classic collection of One Hundred Waka Poems, we selected two to feature in the design. Due to space limitations, we chose to highlight only the final two lines, known as the shimo-no-ku.

Though swift river flows
Blocked by a rock in its path
It splits, rushes on
Divided currents travel
And at last they join as one

In this poem, Emperor Sutoku (1119 to 1164), a former Japanese emperor known for his poetic expression, uses the image of a flowing river that is briefly divided by a rock before coming back together to reflect separation from a loved one. The poem expresses both the sadness of parting and a quiet hope for reunion, suggesting that even when people are apart, there is a natural pull that brings them back together. A simple interpretation could be: Even when separated, what truly belongs together will find its way back.

From LRC

Kody Shafer

The Mercury Dime & Buffalo Head, 2025

Neon tubing various colors mounted to brushed/polished metal round canister with cleat mounting system

42 x 6 in
Kody Shafer

Holding the Moment, 2025

Neon tubing - Murano Italian Citrus Orange Glass tubing - filled with neon gas.

60 x 28 in
Norbert Schwontkowski

Rockefeller, c. 2007

Oil on Canvas

19.6 x 15.7 in
Norbert Schwontkowski

Vorhang (Curtains), 2006

Oil on Canvas

25 x 19 in
Norbert Schwontkowski

Ich bin uralt, 2004

Oil and pigment on canvas

25 x 19 in
Claude A. Simard

Untitled, 1984

Oil on Canvas with elements of glass
Heinz Theuerjahr

Crouching Baboon VII, Original design from 1957, cast/production date 2025

Bronze

46x24x28
Xanti Schawinsky

Untitled, 1954

Oil on Canvas

30.5 x 30.5 cm

View All Artworks

About the artist

Kody Shafer

b. 1994

Kody Schafer is a Ridgefield-born, Connecticut-based neon artist and master glass bender whose practice centers on preserving and reinterpreting traditional neon sign craftsmanship. Trained through apprenticeships in the U.S. and Japan—most notably in Osaka—his work blends meticulous hand-made technique with influences from historic American and Japanese neon culture. Through his studio, Neon Spectacular, he creates custom neon artworks and signs that bridge functional signage and poetic, atmospheric art, emphasizing neon as both a living craft and a cultural language.

Additional Details

Additional Artworks

The Mercury Dime & Buffalo Head, 2025

Holding the Moment, 2025

Rockefeller, c. 2007

Vorhang (Curtains), 2006

Ich bin uralt, 2004

Untitled, 1984

Crouching Baboon VII, Original design from 1957, cast/production date 2025

Untitled, 1954

About the artist

Kody Shafer