Author: martin

The Three Graces

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Three Graces

Glass, 10″ x 10″
Steel stand, 12″ x 5″


The work of Ruth Faktor, the highly accomplished Israeli ceramic artist, is the inspiration for this cast glass piece. When visiting a friend in New York I noticed she had one Ruth Factor’s ceramic panels among her cherished pieces. I loved it.

Back home I roughly sculpted Ruth Faktor’s piece in clay and then cast it in glass. Though her piece was not titled, it reminded me of the three graces found within Greek and Roman mythologies. I do not know if the artist had the three graces in mind yet every time I glance at this piece, I think of charm, beauty and creativity, the gifts of the three graces.

Check out some of Ruth Faktor’s work at http://www.sapergalleries.com/RuthFaktor.html.

A Sanctuary

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A Sanctuary

11″ x 10″ x 11″


Many have entered the silence of a church, synagogue or mosque to lift their burdens when there was nowhere else in the world to go. They are places of shelter when storms have unraveled every stitch of meaning from their lives.

They are also the place where many of us were blessed as infants, joined in marriage, and from which we will be buried. Sacred places are frontier places where the mystery of life is touched.

For the past month or two I’ve been reading John O’Donahue’s book entitled “Beauty.”

“In all our talk about the institutional church in the West, in our anger and disappointment at its theological blindness and abuse of power and person, we have fatally forgotten the harvest of healing presence that dwells in the house of God. In our desperate search for meaning and healing, we rush through our towns and cities on our way to work, therapy or doctors. We pass by these huge sanctuaries of absolute presence, totally oblivious of the divine welcome that awaits us …” Page 161

This piece of a church on its head is my effort to express O’Donohue’s sentiments in clay. I was influence by a photo of a building impaled on its steeple that appeared years ago in the New York Times’ coverage of an exhibition at the Denver Museum of Art.

Grandmother

Grandmother

15″ x 7″ x 7″


This peaceful woman in a pale blue-green housecoat, sits musing. Her hand is to her chin and, as with so many of the elderly. Her thinning legs and feet barely touch the floor. She could be anyone’s grandmother.

The inspiration for the sculpture is a painting by Helen Brancato, a Philadelphia artist. The model is an elderly Sister.

While I know little about the Sister, given her age we know she lived through the Depression, two world wars, and the remarkable changes brought about by technology. I think of her as having a secret on how to age well.

Fathers’ Day

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Fathers’ Day

12″ x 12″ x 5″


This old man with a cane over his arm, sits in a chair, and looks down over a distant village. He seems relaxed. His hat adds a note of formality to the setting. The rich amber-red color of the glass hints of autumn. The city is Santa Fe, noticed by its Cathedral, hills, winding roads and architecture. Today, few remember the sentiment that gave rise to the city’s name, “Holy Faith.” This man does. He sits wondering. I like to think of him as grateful.

The Song of Women

The Song of Women


18″ x 11″ x 4″

When Mary greeted the pregnant Elizabeth it is said that the life within her womb moved. Some say leapt. Mary sang what is today known as the Magnificat or the Song on Mary.

I have heard other pregnant women say that they have known what it is like to be greeted by a loved one and to have the life within them to stir.

I’ve carved into clay the opening words of the Magnificat (akin to “I am blessed) in eight different languages.

It is designed as an outdoor hanging.

LGTBQ

LGTBQ

H20″ x W7″ x D7″


If you place your hand over the top half of this figure’s face it will seem as if it is a female in a monk-like robe. Slide your hand down to cover the lower half of the face and she will appear a male. An observer of this piece remarked, “Just like today. I have to look twice at some people, especially metro types. Hard to tell man or woman.”

Not bad, I thought. That’s something of the sentiment I tried to capture.

Our sexual identities likely began to be shaped around the third year of life. Today lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual and queer individuals have found their voice. We are the better for it.

This little piece was created for no other reason than to stand as a quiet reminder of creation’s ways.

Holy Man

Holy Man


H29″ x W14″ x D5″
Steel and Ceramic
Base is flat steel, 19″ x 10″


Contemporary Mexican sculpture has strength, vibrancy, and colors that reflect its varied ancient traditions. Refer to Federico Silva’s work. Click on his website (museofedericosilva.org). Few artists have their own museum. He is one who does. This is a small piece when compared to his. Fashioned in iron and steel is my homage to his muse.

Garden Goddess

Garden Goddess

Ceramic Goddess is 24″ x12″ x 16″
Steel base is 24″ x 17″ x 8″


Gardens have a hidden life, much of it underground, and all of it mysterious. Anyone who knows the satisfaction as well as the frustrations of gardening is aware of that secret life. The market for fertilizers and chemicals is a hint that we want to control that secret life.

This garden goddess is calm, focused, and quiet. She’s more about caring than controling.