Study: Vessels: Salt (2008)

this piece is part of a new series i am working on in conjunction with the "light" series from the same section in matthew. for a long time i was never really sure what "you are the salt of the earth" [matthew 5:13] meant. and i'd be egotistical to say that i understand it all now, but I am slowly starting to understand. this series, along with the light series, are to explore the implications of these two important "you are" statements that Jesus makes about His people.

this piece was also accepted to be shown at the 2008 CCDA conference in miami (october 22-26) as part of a show surrounding the conference theme of "shalom." it will be displayed with the works of many other artists from around the country (and maybe even the continent!)

Captured - 2008

this is my most recent work, it goes along with Vessels (2008) as part of the Light series i am working on. this one can still pull from [2 corinthians 4:7] but leans more toward [matthew 5:14-16].

Garden Tools: Nunchucks, Spear & Throwing Stars - 2008

This is the combined presentation of the previous three pieces (Hoe, Pruning Hook, and Tiller) as a set.

Pruning Hook - 2008; Tiller - 2008

Pruning Hook - 2008

Tiller - 2008

same concept, more pieces!
i seem to be interested in martial arts weaponry... i think because i find the weapons from that time and place to be so creative, and i wish that we could be as creative in our methods toward peace.

Hoe - 2008

this piece is based on two nearly identical sections of scripture from the prophets micah and isaiah:

[1]It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and it shall be lifted up above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it, [2]and many nations shall come, and say:"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths."For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. [3]He shall judge between many peoples, and shall decide for strong nations far away; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore; [4] but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid, for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken. [5]For all the peoples walk each in the name of its god, but we will walk in the name of the LORD our God forever and ever.

- [micah 4:1-5]

[2]It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it,[3] and many peoples shall come, and say: "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths." For out of Zion shall go the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.[4] He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.
[5]O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD.

- [isaiah 2:2-5]

Vessels - 2008

this piece included a happy accident. it wasn't quite coming together as i wanted and i was mounting it to make sure the location was good, it wasn't and the day after i put it up to review, it pulled itself out of the wall and smashed into pieces. I was relieved though, it was one of those things where i didn't want to take it apart because it was almost done, but it really needed it, and i was able to put it back together better, and make it a stronger overall piece.
Vessels is based on [2 corinthians 4:7] which says,

[6]For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. [7]But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.

and [Matthew 5:14-16] which says,

[14]"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. [15] Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. [16]In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

Heart, Soul, Mind & Strength - 2007

Heart, Soul, Mind & Strength - 2007

Heart - 2007

Soul - 2007

Mind - 2007

Strength - 2007

- [mark 12:28-30]
- [deuteronomy 6:4-5]

Casket - 2007

Casket - 2007

Casket (red) - 2007

Casket (orange) - 2007

Casket (yellow) - 2007

Casket (green) - 2007

Casket (blue) - 2007

Casket (violet) - 2007

[24]Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

- [john 5:24]