Last week I told you about how I was getting stuck trying to put my newest work into words, this week, I’m happy to say I’ve figured it out, at least for now.
Specimina (Specimens of Faith)
The search for meaning is a common thread for humanity. We want to know why we are here, what we are supposed to do, or at very least that our life has meaning to others. We also have a tendency to search for meaning in the acts of others, in the world around us, and in art. As for me, I have begun to look for meaning in natural artifacts and in the process, I am formulating a personal symbology for my faith.
In my world, a sparrow is not just a sparrow, but a reminder that God cares about me. That sparrow’s nest points to a final home and that sparrow’s death reminds me where I would be without my faith and points back again to the first reminder. Many of my symbols will be familiar to those with a knowledge of Judeo-Christian literature, as they derived from my studies of the Bible. Some have farther reaching commonalities and some maybe fewer, all are meant to be shared regardless of one’s spiritual beliefs.
Symbols are strong things, able to tell a whole story with single image, convey concepts on a subconscious level and wield the power to unite or divide. My goal is to bridge any gaps that might exist and provide a forum for discussion. This is an ongoing journey for me, continually picking up objects that seem to speak to me and stopping to listen, then passing the message along.
Over the next few posts, I plan to go into each of the symbols I’ve figured out so far, with some explanation as to how I came to that conclusion. I’ve even had the idea to do an art journal entry for each one, but that might take me a little longer, we’ll see what happens.