nascent

mary jane dodd

january 1, 2010 - that was my word of the year... it has taken almost 18 months of gestation... but i am in the birthing canal - it is dark and scary... but at the end is light and life... i know this as surely as the seasons change, the tides ebb and flow... 

chapters end, doors open... doors close, new chapters are written... 

and in this transition, there has been no time to work - to do what feeds me... what if the muse decides she likes the vacation and never returns? but she will... when i am open and breathing new life - the space will envelope her as it never has before... 

for now, while i work at the other aspects of moving, i carefully set up my future work place... 

slowly it evolves... my dearly adored tools awaiting me patiently... offering me hope and a promise of something wonderful... 

the shelves filling... 

when i tire of working in other rooms, i just come downstairs to look... in that transitional place, of living in one place and moving into another... the transference of leaving one life behind and moving into another... there is a palpable tension in this moment... but it is just for now... 

childhood memories abound here - and i hope i get a chance to do the artspark justice this month... 

'your life shrinks or expands in direct proportion to your courage.'

one step at a time and lots of deep breaths can take you far... 

Sculpture: MUSE

The Muse is the traditional Spirit that inspires Artists, Poets and other creative people. The imagery I've carved in deep relief in the body section is representative of the things that inspire me: Light, space, geometry and organic/ natural shapes, rhythm, high contrasts in color and value, and the creative works of artists through the ages.

In the execution of the carving itself, as well as on the back of the piece, I have carefully preserved the chisel and tool marks, as well as the natural cracks in the wood, to create a rich, rustic flavor, and to remind the viewer that it is only by the labor of the hand that such creative works come into being.
The body of the piece is hand-carved from a solid heavy plank of Poplar, and the carving is polychromed with acrylic artists' colors accented with composite gold-leaf. The arms and legs are carved from warm-toned Oak, while the hair, which ends in a ponytail on the back of the piece, is Ebonized Oak. The face was created by overlaying hand-cut turquoise mosaic, piece-by-piece, over a carved wood base... then the assembly was ground and polished as a single large stone. The sculpture sits atop an 85-pound slab of Arizona Moss-rock. Resting in a depression carved in the Muse's left hand is a polished Brazilian rutilated Quartz crystal ball, symbolizing the "prophetic" nature of the artists' work: the dreams of artists today inevitably become the realities of tomorrow.

The piece stands 67” tall on a stone base that is 23” wide X 21” front-to-back. I envision this work of art as a greeting in a foyer or entryway, or as an accent in a great room to the side of a fireplace (but not too close!). It is for display indoors only, not to be exposed to the elements (as would be the case for any fine painting). The bottom of the stone has heavy felt pads attached, to protect your tile or wood floors.

Documentation sent with the piece is a Certificate of Authenticity, which includes the artist resume, artist statement, and a list of awards. Also included is the Appraisal of Replacement value, certified & signed by the artist. The piece will be crated & shipped in two pieces: the sculpture itself, and the stone base. The Quartz crystal ball will be packaged separately & sent via first-class mail as a third package.

UPDATE: THIS PIECE IS NOW PART OF A PRIVATE COLLECTION. UPON ITS RELEASE, IT WAS PRICED at US $17,500. Given standard appreciation rates, a similar piece could be done for you, and would be approximately US $26,000 today (2008) Email me for details:
David@StewartArt.com
Or call me personally at (505) 296-1400
DESIGN, PHOTO AND TEXT © DAVID LLOYD STEWART - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED