Sacred Light

For many years my sculpture has explored the relationship between light and form: how light affects form and form affects light, primarily in visual, psychological and symbolic ways. My forms originated with the single human form and slowly evolved over time into simple geometric shapes of circles, spheres and cylinders representing the human condition. The light comes from artificial sources and represents God and the invisible reality underlying appearance. The interaction of light and form gives me a way of examining human existence both in the physical dimension of observable phenomena and in the spiritual (invisible, intangible) dimension. Broken and translucent materials such as glass cover but do not obscure the light, referring to states of fragility, fragmentation, transformation, and redemption.

SACRED LIGHT comprises a body of work consisting of long cylindrical transparent forms covered by broken glass and illuminated from within by white light (LED). Cast from tree forms, these forms are suspended by monofilament so that they slowly move and turn, casting reflections on walls, ceiling and surrounding space. The fusion of broken forms and light is a visual metaphor for hope and redemption. The theme of how our brokenness alliterates and even hides the light of the Father is found throughout the scriptures, even though it leaves with the hope of a light to be captured. From Gideon's pitchers breaking to reveal light, to Mary's alabaster box shattered as a memorial for Christ's death, to the very Eucharist itself, the broken bread and body of Christ, we stare at glimpses of the eternal light we were supposed to reflect. Jesus proclaimed Himself the "Light of the world." The gospel of John says "the Light shines in the darkness and the darkness cannot extinguish it;" Isaiah speaks of this Light shining in the darkness and His glory rising on us. Thus, this fusion of light and broken forms is meant to be a picture of Christ in us, the Hope of glory, in both our human frames and in this dark and broken world.