Golden Passages

Catherine Conrad

“Golden Passage” is centered on a pecan wood slab that
can be viewed in either direction. Both sides of the slab include painted and
drawn components (oil, colored pencil, and encaustic wax). The sculpture includes
sticks and twigs.

NFS
3D Medium: Mixed Media Sculpture
Dimensions: 11.25 l x 29.5 w x 43 h
Weight: 15 pounds

When I began working on this pecan slab, I was excited to
discover something that I never expected. As I picked sawdust out of the wood,
I discovered intricate passages created by beetles that had bored into the
tree. It almost looked like a written language to me: nature was trying to
communicate how we should live our lives as human beings. Even in times of
adversity and challenges, there is beauty and purpose. I explore this concept
with the gold paint which highlights the hole in the middle of the wood.