Alley Art: Genesis Creation/תהו ובהו (Order from Darkness) West 7th Neighborhood, St. Paul

The 'Formless and Void' spoken of in Genesis 1 (תהו ובהו) has always been one of my favorite topics both theologically and artistically.  This project started as a simple abstract light project, but as I worked on it over the past months it gradually changed into another of my תהו ובהו pieces.  The sculpture is meant to be seen at night (optimized during the winter months, especially with snow) with our alley representing the תהו ובהו and then the sculpture (from right to left) represents the starting point of creation through the mythical seven days of creation - one of the four creation narratives in the Hebrew Bible (note: myth does not mean "false" it's a certain type of grand narrative in literature).  The seven LED ropes represent the seven days of creation being ordered (contra the Enuma Elish of Mesopotamian fame), and then the far left of the sculpture represents moving from the ordering to the flourishing of creation. 

Materials used include steel pipes (formerly a swing set), cement, stainless steel screws and washers, fishing wire, LED rope lights, zip ties, and LED bulbs.    













Family Trees

 Commission included the request to have the roots of the trees intertwined.





Hospice Family Tree, 15" tall - completed 9.5.2021

 From time to time I create a tree for one of our hospice families if I have a really specific reason.  I won't post there reason for this one so that I don't even flirt with a HIPPA violation, but I will note that the silver (the bulk of the tree) represents our patient, and that the various colors represent specific family and friends.  















Updated Allina Hospice Trees - J.A. Wedum Hospice Home

A current photo of the hospice trees in their permanent location a J.A. Wedum Hospice Home in Brooklyn Center, MN.  Glass leaves created by hot glass artist Alli Luhmann 







 

St. Paul Street Light, 5.18.2021

 

Lens Lamp

 A friend of mine was getting rid of about 20 used/broken cameras, and so I disassembled them and decided to make the weirdest thing I've ever made - a lens lamp.  I don't even know what it means, but it took a long time to make.  The second photo shows the panel that opens to change the inner bulb.  





Lego Crown Graphic Prototype

 Lego "Ideas" are sets that are created by non-Lego employees, which I just recently found out.  Being a life-long Lego fan (mostly space Legos) I wanted to give it a shot, and I went with a 4x5 view camera since I loved doing 4x5 photography for so many years.  I based the prototype off of my camera, so it's to exact scale as can be seen in the photos.  An employee at the Lego store at the Mall of America by us said that the 4x5 camera was a good idea for the Lego Ideas as most people try to submit D/SLRs.  We'll see what happens.  Next I need to order the correct color parts to make a color-correct prototype and count the pieces, etc., to then submit to Lego Ideas.