My last project of 2016 was made for a friend from college. In early November 2 days following the election she ordered The Orchideum Tree, a mandala that hangs on the wall and is 23” x 23”.
leaves cut in clay and flowers carved, both drying out for the firing
The Orchideum Mandala is a sculptural mosaic that is a meditation on interconnectedness. It functions to build the life force and energy flow within us and connect us with nature. The imagery is of leaves, as if one is looking into a flowering tree.
Also there is an arrangement of white dots in the shape of my own personal symbol for “the elements” (earth, water, air, fire, space).
glazing bisqueware
A few years ago, I had the simple but profound (for me) realization that everything – every single thing in me, outside of me, everywhere in our universe – is made of up of earth, fire, water, air, space in perfect amounts and configurations and that they come together to make up the world as we know it.
I wanted a symbol of these elements to use in my art-making and one morning I woke up with a shape in my mind’s eye. As I drew it I saw that it was made up of 2 Vesica Piscis placed opposite each other. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vesica_piscis
This was exciting because the Vesica Piscis is the geometry that is the basis of the flower of life and the seed of life
http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/geometria_sagrada/esp_geometria_sagrada_6.htm
Ancient representations of the seed of life have all been found in Ireland, Turkey, Egypt, England, Israel, China, Tibet, Greece, Japan.
putting all the pieces together after they came out of the second firing
The reason Rob and I used this symbol in the The Orchideum Tree is to point to how everything in the universe mirrors itself on the micro and macro levels; what’s inside us humans and outside of us all has the same basic components and structure.
Recently it was pointed out to me that the white dots are like a Mala which is used in Hinduism like a rosary is to Catholicism - to count mantras and prayers. Perfect for a mandala - praying with the geometry of the universe could be a powerful thing.
I’ve finished out 2016 with a piece that is a meditation and blessing for my friend, a meditation on connection, on wholeness, and the beauty that underlies all of life if we want to see it.
Happiest wishes to you for 2017 all my fellow Steemians! May we together bring forth the greatness in each of us and each of us bring forth the greatness we can be together!
The Orchideum is designed and made in collaboration by Robert Streff and Ruth Frances Greenberg