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JessicaMDouglas — Slag
#forest #decay #postapocalyptic #slag #spirit #stag #white
Published: 2016-01-27 21:13:10 +0000 UTC; Views: 3773; Favourites: 372; Downloads: 0
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I'm exploring some pretty heavy thoughts about religion lately. I'm not at the point yet where I can fully articulate what I am thinking, and where I'm going with this, because I'm using my art to help me fumble through this question that's been tapping on the back door of my mind.It's no secret that we're destroying this planet. We're killing off damn near everything, we're polluting everything, we're just .. pretty toxic messes. But a lot of me thinks that we're not 'killing the planet', we're just killing ourselves. Nature adapts, even if it's only to be a desert wasteland that cockroaches rule. The planet will still be here when we are gone. But will all our gods follow us? Are gods a creation of mankind, or are there natural dieties, spirits, creatures that we don't understand that exist regardless of us? If there are... what will they do with what we leave them.
Slag is the cast off metal drippings when we do metal work. The drops that pool to the ground with unexpected beauty all their own. What remains when we leave.
Done with watercolors, goauche, slag that's silver and tin I believe (I may have to recheck), peridot, apatite, sunstone, czech glass beads. Silver enamel.
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Comments: 22
well I have my beliefs quite grounded and private but I like your deer like creature coz recently I made one as well
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Beautiful!! I agree we're polluting everything and we are bound to pay quite soon for all the damage. I presume you have seen Princess Mononoke which deals with this, if not, I highly recommend it!
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Oh my goodness. That's one of the most beautiful things I've seen o.o. Your use of mixed media is astounding.
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Stunning work! Your use of color and materials is always so thrilling.
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The metal slag is beautiful. And so is the sentiment behind it.
Actually, the thought that the planet and nature itself will continue gives me great reassurance.
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I..... find myself in a similar space at times... My life though is near the far end, so there is much that is going to happen I will not see. Still, I mourn for the lost.
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This is very lovely. I think the geode-look of this piece reflects the depths of your thoughts behind it. I personally do believe that there is a God, and angels, and magnificent creatures we haven't yet had the opportunity to see ... honestly, I wouldn't be surprised to find that dragons and unicorns do exist, but our mortal eyes can't discern them. So much of religion sounds like an escapist's dream ... I find that very beautiful, but I don't think those magical characteristics make it any less believable.
And speaking of the pollution of the Earth, I do think she's hurting. I think she has a spirit, and that she suffers not only physically from our abuse but spiritually from our sins—hatred, immorality, selfishness. I find the following scripture heart-wrenchingly tragic:
"And it came to pass that Enoch looked upon the earth; and he heard a voice from the bowels thereof, saying: Wo, wo is me, the mother of men; I am pained, I am weary, because of the wickedness of my children. When shall I rest, and be cleansed from the filthiness which is gone forth out of me? When will my Creator sanctify me, that I may rest, and righteousness for a season abide upon my face?" -Moses 7:48
The Earth is mourning. But I agree with the thought that the she will adapt—and someday, in her final adaptation, she will be cleansed from her vile abuse (both physically and spiritually) and be reborn to a higher, perfect state—the Celestial Kingdom. Then, she will rest forever. Then, I also believe, we will see all the wonders before hid from our eyes. Everything will be so much more vivid, so much more glorious. But until that day, all we can do is endeavor to give the Earth at least one season of physical and spiritual rest. I think that's a lifelong journey worth pursuing.
Sorry for rambling. I found your comment extremely thought-provoking. Thanks for sharing you thoughts and giving me an opportunity to ponder my own.
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There is beauty in the twilight at the end of the world, too (absent the humans), and I think you captured that idea here to a great extent.
The baroque shapes and the beads surrounding them are starting to look like natural rock formations in and of themselves. I really like that effect.
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Beautiful, Jess. Earth-keepers is what we are called to be. We've done a woefully bad job of it. "All creation groans."
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