✨ Liv S. ✨ To Hang ✨

Eye Formations: Crystal/Stone/Gem Chart - Gem in eye?

To Hang - Cosmic/Spiritual (unseen forces)

"Nahua rituals are designed to create harmony with the spirit forces that surround them. The people accomplish this critical goal by dedicating gifts to the spirits and by sacrificing their sleep, time, wealth, and heart-felt effort, and thereby show their deep respect for the cosmos and all of its inhabitants." (Mexicolore)

https://www.mexicolore.co.uk/aztecs/home/modern-nahua-pilgrimage#:~:text=Nahua%20rituals%20are%20designed%20to,and%20all%20of%20its%20inhabitants.

https://www.britannica.com/topic/spiritualism-religion

Spiritualism explores areas beyond the material world - be it the innate connection between living things (souls/Gaia Theory) or the lingering connection of the dead. Spiritualists (religion) believed that they could communicate with the dead. As part of the tetralogy, spiritual (to hang) invokes the unknown/unseen element behind life, and the work should reflect this. The hang is metaphorical for the soul's journey. Right now, my soul is hung on my body like a coat. Soon, it will be released. 

   To hang, like to pull, will be reflecting my life as intended. It will represent my goal of spiritual being rather than the reality, just as to pull will reflect my goal of legacy. 

I first took interest in the Nigerian artist Sokari Douglas Camp, who does her artwork in primarily metal. Something I've noticed with Nigerian art is that it is often very spiritualist - and looks at the inner self as well as presence, including motifs such as - heroism, inner beauty, self-love, self resentment, and so on.

Nigeria's art scene was ranked, in 2017, as Africa's largest economy.

For better or for worse, this has a large influence on the budding artists of Nigeria.

Yet, this project is not focused on Nigerian (Yoruba/Ibo) spirituality, it will be focused on my spirituality. It will be designed and made in a meditative process. Since Catholic schooling, my 'religion' has quite radically changed. Now, my Sunday mornings revolve around gemstones (mostly fluorite, serpentine, and agate) and incense. I would like to make a gem-like hanger that not only shows the spirituality hidden within the earth (minerals) but also my inner self-reflection and meditation. 

Im thinking it will be a natural-looking cavern-esque extension that hangs from the door, and the pointed crystal tips can be used as hangers. 

My Maquette:

It has a wire base (like the steel frame it will have) with clay standing in place for plaster. The ridges of the crystal are etched in, since they would be otherwise hard to see. The paint I use over the plaster will exaggerate the edges with false lighting. It has an eye at the bottom, which will also be more apparent with color. The rock ridges give it a nice bed to nest in. I also, like the maquette, want some of the frame to show through from the front. I want it to be dark as well, to emphasize the light crystals and blende in with the dark rock.