Stone Circle with Ladder Drawings
1999-2000
1-10 11-19 20-31 32-39
“Memories
of History”
The work depicted here is a result of a pilgrimage that
extends backwards through the last three years of my life.
During that time I have searched for ancient monuments in the form of
circles, standing stones, cairns and burial tombs throughout England, Scotland
and Wales. Although the trips have
resulted in a series of drawings and sculptures inspired by these sites, the
journey involved in the quest is also part of the artwork.
Navigation, maps, sometimes treacherous and sometimes serene walks,
documentation, fog, rain and bogs all play a part in reaching an understanding
of these mysterious and elusive forms.
I am fascinated with the distant past, the passage of
time, and the marks that humans leave behind.
I strongly believe that the presence and sounds of all the people who
have made or visited these sites throughout time remains within their
sphere—intangible, untouchable, unintelligible, but always present.
Echoes of past lives, past desires, nameless, but not hopeless, seekers
of understanding, coconspirators in the creation of human history are all
present in the sites and the art that they inspire.
The works that result are simultaneously sad and
hopeful, elusive but enlightening. They
speak of primordial landscapes without words.
Although I do not seek these sites as scholar or druid, they represent
the search for knowledge and spiritual awakening. In representation I often include ladders as symbols of this
quest; they variously allude to travel, change, DNA, and they are always
reaching for something that transcends time.
The solid stones coupled with their fragile ladders speak of discontent
and instability, of ritual and religion, of memory and thought, of hope and
permanence, and of life and death.
*All things ephemeral *C'est la vie *Circles *Early figures *Earth vessels *England *France *Hudson *Ladders *Ladder paintings *New sculpture *Oregon *Seeds *Signs *Trophy room *Vanitas *Vessels