2009

16" x 24" | 41cm x 61cm

24kt mosaic black, gray, and white gold, smalti, vitreous, granite

inspired by chopin's nocturne in c# minor, op. 27 no. 1.

To me, this nocturne, after a pensive and foreboding introductory "a" section, goes into its "b" section and takes me on an emotional descent into despair... then torment... then hysteria... and then back through it all again but at a higher and more intense pace... frenzied. Then, as though I am falling off a razor-sharp edge of sanity... octaves take me down, down, down into the abyss. I am back where I started with the returning "a" section... but quieter... subdued... I am completely spent. Did I survive? Then... ahh... minor goes to major. The door cracks open... the sun gently filters through... and the final measures are so sweet... so light... full of hope... all is resolved.

I was not trying to express that emotional turmoil, but instead focused on the broader concept of making our way through darkness to reach the light. The center bumpy white gold represents a door, which is the image that I have at the end of this nocturne... the door opens and the sun shines in and the air is fresh and all is new and hopeful. The two smaller bumpy white gold "doors" coming down from the top represent false doors... or the two rounds of turmoil that are expressed in the "b" section. They also represent distractions/addictions/obsessions that tempt us and may seem to lead us somewhere... but are just false paths. The true door is inside, and sometimes we have to go through the darkness to reach it.

not a great photo, but i had to take it inside as we have too much snow and ice that wants to stay around. unfortunately, my photographic skills are more limited inside as i don't have studio or lighting appropriate for mosaics. i'll take better pics... i hope... once i can get outside.