A friend of mine asked me to do a commission for her and her husband's library in their West Philadelphia apartment, and of course I was glad to do it. The title for this piece is "Salt & Light", which stems from a Bible verse in the book of Matthew, where Christ is telling his disciples that they are both salt and light of the world. When Christ is referring to salt, he is referring to its ability to preserve; and when He talks about being a light, He says, "A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither
do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on
its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:13-16). The library in their apartment does not get very much natural light, being that it is closely neighbored by another building, so I wanted to make something that would harvest what light there was, and reflect it for the rest of the room. Painted with an iridescent acrylic, the surface carries a very metallic shimmer, and compliments the coral walls with its light blue-green tint and bright aqua colored crevasse. In the end, the piece could be a light in a dim place, much like Christ and His disciples in the world.
Salt & Light, 2013
Acrylic and iridescent acrylic on canvas
37x48"
