Art Between the Covers- Global Creatures

Art Between the Covers 

(Global Creatures)

May 30 - June 13, 2010

The University of the Arts 

the exhibition will culminate in an auction to benefit the artist residency program 

of the Philadelphia Arts and Education Partnership (PAEP)

Every chosen artists was given an encyclopedia to play with. And ... I certainly had a lot of fun playing with it! The statement on the piece follows. Share with me your response.

Global Creatures -mixed media sculpture- is a reflection on transcending differences through a spiritual understanding.

   My encyclopedia was the letter I. I have always being interested in traveling so upon receiving the encyclopedia, I searched for the maps of the countries represented in the book -Iran, Iraq, Israel, India, among others. I reflected on the differences between countries and the religious ideology war that clouds the world today. I found myself wondering on the commonalities between the countries of the world and the word "insects" came to mind in conjunction with the thought of the rich spiritual tradition coming from countries like India.

   The insects (in the encyclopedia) were divided between friendly and unfriendly or enemy insects. I based the artwork on the lac beetle (friendly) who lives on the trees of India and from which we produce shellac and dyes, and the silverfish worm known as “the eater of books” (non friendly). 

   The depicted mandala at the front of the book attempts to integrate the meaning of this ancient symbol-- symbol of wholeness & healing of the soul --with roots in Tibetan practices--, with a white flower in the middle indicating the belief of this artist that peace will flourish in spiritual (no religious) understanding. On the back cover a 1200's Persian tile (image found on the pages of the encyclopedia) is the center of another mandala as a reminder that humanity, since the beginning of times, has attempted to communicate and to transcend above differences by spiritual energy released in the creative process.