RELIQUARY SHADOW BOXES

Reliquary - a container or shrine in which sacred relics are kept (Miriam-Webster Dictionary)

In my latest series of clay sculptures, I have created detailed miniature clay forms utilizing colorfully painted fine white porcelain, much like the jewelry I posted earlier only slightly larger. I have combined the precious nature of a gilt finish with glass, stone and metal to give each object an air of peciousness. The deep black shadow boxes seem to enshrine the delicate objects and add to their sense of sacredness. As you look at the miniatures, notice how they sometimes hint at the human form and at other times an abstracted cross can be seen.  The black wooden boxes are relatively small meauring just 6 by 8 inches on the outside.

  

MORE PORCELAIN JEWELRY

Here are a few more examples of the porcelain jewelry I am working on.

PORCELAIN JEWELRY

In the past few months I decided to work in a small scale and I have been creating diminutive shadow boxes and jewelry using a fine white porcelain clay. I have been utilizing a wide variety of textures and shapes in making the miniature organic forms. After each piece is constructed it goes through four seperate firings to acheive strength, surface and luster. Each piece is then hand painted and adorned with metalic pigment, glass or metal beads, brass rod, or other materials. Here are seven examples of the pieces I am doing. I have about 50 pieces in various stages of the creative process.

Quest for Peace Exhibit

I am currently showing three pieces at the Miami Dade College Gallery. These pieces are from my latest series, Imago Dei, and were each created with the theme of peace in mind for the "Quest for Peace" annual show. These pieces all include examples of the figures I am currently working with. The masks are a part of a series of 12 and the other figures are a part of a set of 25. My goal will be to show all these pieces as an installation this spring. (Remember to click on the photos to enlarge the images)

IMAGO DEI

The clay figure series I am currently developing is called Imago Dei. In biology "Imago" is the last stage of developement or metamorphosis for an insect. My imagry shows a symbolic human transformation from "chrysalis to butterfly." Imago Dei is a theological expresion which literally means the Image of God. It refers to both the way we are created in God's image but also how we are being transformed into His image. I plan on displaying these figures in a variety of ways, but usually in groupings as you see here. I currently have 25 figures done and my hope is to create another 25 in the next few months.

PAINT THE STARS

This installation piece, Paint the Strars, is about the connection of artists to seeing God via the splendor of His created world. This assembled piece developed from two quotes. The first quote (seen on the back of the easel) comes from a letter Vincent Van Gogh wrote to his brother Theo -

"When I have a terrible need of, shall I say the word, religion, I go out and paint the stars." Of course one of Van Gogh's most famous paintings is Starry Night.

The second quote (on the ground under the easel) comes from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow - "Then the stars come out and the night is Holy."

ASCENDING / DESCENDING

ASCENDING/DESCENDING - I recently completed a stacked, 2 part piece about the intersection of the earthly with the divine. The piece is based on two passages from the Bible. First, Jacob's dream as recorded in Genesis 28 - "And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the anghels of God were ascending and descending on it!"

The second passage comes from Jesus' comments to Nathanael in John 1 - "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven openned, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."

This is the first piece where I have incorporated a form similar to Cypress knees to represent life arising from death or decay (as represented by the leaves on the ground at the base of the sculpture). This 2 part piece is about 7 feet in height.