Sanctum sanctorum agate alabaster

Comment

Comment by Ailene Fields on October 25, 2013 at 11:09am

Thank you so much for the wonderful comments on Sanctum Sanctorum ...the variation in color is in the stone..it is one of the most beautiful alabasters,and I use it when I can for this series of pieces I call "Sacred Spaces.I imagine them as places to be safe,to think,to dream...the size is 19"x 22"x22" But I hope that's big enough for someone's imagination.

Comment by Resident Curator on October 25, 2013 at 10:36am

Curator's Comment:

This is a superb piece. The relationship between the smoothly polished interior and rough, seemingly naturally  occurring rock formation on the exterior heightens the viewers appreciation of both process and material.  I love the warmer ochre coloration of the polished agate- it is luminescent- but I'm unsure if the shift in hue comes through the physical manipulation, or if this was a calculated choice in design.  The scale of the piece isn't indicated, but I imagine it to be relatively small, creating a personal object of contemplation and adoration.  The column and steps are temple like as the title of the work implies.  I  like the aesthetic choice in creating a wooden base for the sculpture.  It adds another warm element, and the thickness of the wood nicely echoes the proportion of the carved steps. I also think it visually lifts the object as it creates a visual transition to the ground platform.