[gallery]
DECKED OUT: From Scroll to Skateboard
BONSAI: Chinese Elm
Mypiece titled Eurydice appears in mythology as being saved by Orpheus from The Underworld by enchanting them with his music. From his stage the first elm grove grew but while rescuing her he began to doubt himself and ultimately failed. Eurydice retreats back to The Underworld. I was drawn to the story and similarly thought as a moth slumbers in their cocoon they transform to be reborn as a butterfly. This cycle of life, death, and rebirth inspired me to create a more haunting approach to my piece.
The stigmata appears often in my work as a representation of the characters closeness to God. When dealing with life and death one tends to attribute this to a higher being. When someone has the mark of the stigmata they have a direct connection to God, there is an understanding not open to those without.
BONSAI: Staghorn Sumac
Titled Forest Spirit, the branches of my Sumac have been described as velvet antlers. I jumped on the chance to do my interpretation of the Spirit of the Forest, a deity made famous by Miyazaki in Princess Mononoke. A touch of gold makes the preciousness of the subject matter sacred.
In both my pieces in keeping with the essence of the forest I chose to leave the wood exposed.When viewed closer you will also see the marks of my progress, something I find also shows the Life of the piece, that as the tree once lived, so did I.
They are both set up in the Tokonoma 3-point display style consisting of Bonsai, Scroll/Deck and accent plant or Kusamono. The exhibit will be on display through the summer. Big thankyou to the artist line up and to@pacificbonsaimuseum and Aarin @pacificbonsai for their amazing vision.