Shadow Box for Father Pedro

 We have a new Rector at our Church, Christ Episcopal, Delavan.  In welcoming Fr. Pedro Lara as our 32nd Rector, and in celebrating his birthday on Sept. 9th, I made this shadow box assemblage for him.

It has various items and symbols that are from Christ Church, as well as items personal to Father Pedro, and his name sake from the Bible, Peter/Pedro.

Some of the symbols/items in this assemblage:

The medallion on the outside is from Christ Church’s 150th sesquicentennial anniversary, circa 1994.

The green metal shingle is from the original Church roof, circa 1844.

Re-purposed pages from both an English and a Spanish Bible, from 1st & 2nd Peter (Pedro).

A prayer (collect) for  Saint Peter the Apostle, and for you,Father Pedro, our priest, from a 1928 Prayer Book.

The rock and the keys from Christ’s declaration to Peter in Matthew 16:18-19; “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.  I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

The smaller precious gem stones represent all who you will reach with God’s message of Hope.  1st Peter 2:4-5; “Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

The incense burner: Psalm 141:2; “Let my prayer be counted as incense before you.”

 

The candle represents the Light of Christ, the brass plaque is from an old Christ Church pew, the #32 because you are our 32nd Rector.

The brass cross on the shingle depicts Jesus and the children, also the theme of our Rose Window at Christ Church.  Matthew 19:14; “Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.”

The carved wood figure, represents you, Father Pedro. Thankful that you intercede for us all in your prayers, as we do for you too.

Baby Teeth Reliquary

Reliquary: A container for relics. These may be the purported or actual physical remains, such as bones, teeth, pieces of clothing, or some object associated with a person one wants to save as a memory.

This found object assemblage features bronzed baby shoes, with teeth, on the pedestal is a container, shaped like a tooth, with space for your child’s baby teeth.  You can save the teeth in this container, or use it as a place that perhaps the “tooth fairy” will pick up your baby’s teeth, and deposit a meager

offering for the child. 

The Boxers

This assemblage is a fun one.... Titled "The Boxers", it features a pair of vintage children's boxing gloves, with a child boxer wanna-be in a water pail, and his fellow boxer dogs looking on. In the background is a copy of a vintage boxing stances poster. On top a working bell that announces the start and finish of each round. This will probably be at the next Gallery 223 Show in about a week and a half, unless it sells before that.

"The Seeker"

"The Seeker" 

Inspiration in this:
Seek Wisdom,
Proverbs 4:6-7; "Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding." and Colossians 2:2-3; "My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."

School Daze II

 This is a sad assemblage.... dealing with horrific events that kill our children!

School Daze II, was made in March of this year and included in the "Art as Prayer - Art For God's Sake" at Christ Episcopal in the middle of March. 
 What is also displayed with this assemblage art piece, featured during May and June at Gallery 223, Lake Geneva, WI,  is a booklet that includes A Prayer Litany, "Death Shall Have No Dominion" excerpts, from the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago's Day of Lament, March 14, 2018.

Also in the booklet are the listings of the hundreds and hundreds of schools where shootings in the USA have occurred the last 50 years. Very sad and terribly tragic, we need to make our children safe again, prayers yes, followed by action plans!

This piece was also in an article in the Lake Geneva Regional News on March 24th.  It did not show the whole art piece.   The reporter, in the article, says my passion is for politics, but really it's more pointed to the spiritual with events of life, including some political things, added from time to time... from my recent artist's statement: "...Much of my art is spiritual, motivated by events happening in the world, some take a light-hearted, whimsical look at things, but the majority offers a deep, reflective view of God, of life, and our part in it."”

So, this piece opened a lot of discussion online, statements positive and negative... and in the meantime, there have been 3 more school shootings and nothing has been done to stop the senseless violence!  What will it take??

Eye See You

These eye necklaces will be available to purchase at Gallery 223, Lake Geneva, WI during the May/June 2018 Gallery Show.

Stop in and check them out!
Gallery 223
223 Broad Street
Lake Geneva, WI

Early Warning System - "Canary In A Coal Mine Alert"

"Early Warning System... Canary in A Coal Mine Alert"

Background: "Canary in a coal mine": Something whose sensitivity to adverse conditions makes it a useful early indicator of such conditions; something which warns of the coming of greater danger or trouble by a deterioration in its health or welfare.

This is a political art assemblage... (lots of symbolism in this one) ....at the top is a cast iron replica of The White House - no longer white, tarnished in reality these days too! A cast iron eagle, symbolic of our freedom is taking a nose dive, aren't our freedoms doing the same lately?
A stormy sky in the background, and even the grass and trees around the Capital building are dying off, as well as the canary in the early warning system.. we are facing a toxic mess in Washington DC for sure!