Iconic Respite

24" x 48"  Mixed-media Mosaic.

Iconic Respite was born from the idea of re-creating that wonderful texture and form of the noble cypress tree out of clay and building a narrative around it.  The way that tree roots to the earth with its sturdy flared trunk gives me a sense of security.  The Gothic arch is reminiscent of an ancient mosaic-filled cathedral rivaling the awe-inspiring arched bows of a great tree.  I placed the cypress central in the picture plane as a saint would be in a Byzantine icon - important and revered.  

This piece was created while in residency in Breckenridge, Colorado.  This is what I saw outside of my studio where I lived for a month.