Atlas
Trapped in a jar is a centipede, resplendent with legs. At its disposal, a ladder sufficient for its escape. There is an imperfect equation at play: the necessary tools for resolution appear to be present and yet the insect is past self-help and remains forever fixed in the jar as a wet specimen. In like manner, mankind, made in the image of God, rational, capable of so much, is unable to approach the problem of his perplexity with objective power. He is not able to enact his own salvation. This still-life is a metaphor for the helplessness of man to save himself.
The title is a play on both the brand of jar holding the centipede (Mason Atlas) and Atlas, the Titan of Greek mythology who was punished by Zeus for leading the Titans to fight against the Olympian gods for control of the heavens. Just as Atlas was condemned to carry the weighty heavens upon his shoulders for all eternity for his attempt to overtake the gods, mankind bears "the weight of the world" on his shoulders as he seeks to grasp heaven and rescue himself from his own destruction. Both are fixed for eternity, no matter their effort or strength.
PALIMPSEST "Mid 17th century: via Latin from Greek palimpsēstos, from palin ‘again’ + psēstos ‘rubbed smooth’." (Oxford Dictionary)
These small paintings are based on palimpsests of abstracted marks. While not physically rubbed smooth, they are unintelligible in their jumble of overlaid strokes. This series is entitled Glossolalia and is a metaphor for human experience. We often define ourselves by the events of our lives as we remember them. Memory is an unreliable witness as recollection changes, and we lose the ability to truly understand ourselves if we do not find a grander context of meaning in which to interpret our experience. Life is beautiful, but meaningless without God, Who is the only objective observer.
Glossolalia I
Digital image of watercolor on paper
Dimensions Vary
Glossolalia II (Initial Work)
Digital image of watercolor on paper
Dimensions Vary
Glossolalia II (Intermediate Stage)
Digital image of watercolor on paper
Dimensions Vary
Glossolalia II (Finished Work)
Digital image of watercolor on paper
Dimensions Vary
Non Passe Peccare
24" x 30" Oil on Canvas
2023
I recently took a course called Man, Sin and Salvation that outlined the doctrines of Anthropology, Hamartiology and Soteriology. St. Augustine of Hippo described the four states of man: Pre-Fall (able to sin, able to not sin), Post-Fall (able to sin, not able to not sin) Reborn (able to sin, able to not sin) and Glorified (not able to sin). This painting is an analogy for these concepts and how I conceived of them visually.
The "blank page" on the left is man in the state of original righteousness, not developed into all he could be but still fresh with potential for good and evil. He is unsullied.
The next image (counter-clockwise) represents man's Fall from original righteousness into sin. The fold has irreparably changed man's nature and marred him from his original state. Anyone who has folded a paper plane or made origami will appreciate how folds matter and also affect all folds going forward.
The third image is of the second fold and represents reborn man in a state of Grace. There is a mirror fold to the first, which is meant to suggest the empowering of man to obey God in his vivified nature. I especially like how this incorporates man's Fall, reflecting God's sovereign foreknowledge that allowed man free will, knowing that he would Fall and yet having an ultimate plan for redemption in spite of that frailty. It has been said, "Sin is therefore against God's will but never outside of or beyond God's will. God permitted the Fall to occur because in his omnipotence he could bring good even out of evil."*
The final image of the completed paper airplane suggests man's final state of sinless perfection. It is not a return to original righteousness (Adam's state, the original unmarred page with the possibility to obey or disobey) but something better. Man is transformed, deified-being made a partaker of the divine nature. We are caught up into Christ in a state of perfection to be eternally united to Him and Non Passe Peccare (not able to sin). This is well pictured by the transformed paper, now capable of flight, designed with intent and able to be lifted to the heavens.
*(Hoekema, Anthony A. Created In God’s Image. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing (Grand Rapids, MI), 1986. p. 132)
This is a constructed painting in the Polychrome Mechanic Series entitled Potential Momentum. It's a three-dimensional painting with bas-relief components. I approach this as a combination of painting and small-scale model-building and think of these works as objects/spaces.
Polychrome Mechanic Series - Potential Momentum
Watercolor, Graphite, Plastic and Glue on Paper
10" x 14"
2022
Thank you to Kiowa Gallery for having me as a guest artist along with well-known regional artist Lindy Cook-Severns. It was a pleasure to meet locals and visitors during this annual two-day event. Turnout was great despite the wintry mix of snow and rain on Saturday.