acrylic, modeling compound, inks, pigment, bird‚'s nest, moss, bracket fungus, bird‚'s egg, and seed pod on wooden panel
The Sisters of St. Francis commissioned these pieces for their residential community in Dubuque Iowa. I interpreted different aspects of St. Francis‚'s "Canticle of the Creatures‚" prayer. The Sisters were ideal patrons, giving me the freedom to explore once we had established some basic requirements.
Sister Mother Earth incorporates her relevant part of the Canticle -
"Praised be You, my Lord,
through our Sister Mother Earth,

who sustains and governs us,

and who produces varied fruit
with colored flowers and herbs.‚" An apple tree, a Biblically important species, is abundant in spring blooms. A nest found by a sister in Dubuque on their land is included in the inset. A red admiral, one of the earliest Midwestern butterflies to show up, comes in for a landing, while honeybees hover over the blooms. St. Francis was known to have had much conversation with crickets, so one is featured here as well. Muscari or grape hyacinth, crocus, and daffodils all flower below the apple tree. Two sayings that are significant to the Franciscan order are:
"they have taken root‚" and "a common heart.‚" Both are included in this piece.
- Collections: Commissions and Public Art