"BORN TO DANCE" TRYPTICH
Born to Dance Next Born to Dance Back Back to Gallery
- Artist Notes -
- Born to Dance -
The Indian, Chinese, Brazilian and Pennsylvania slate
mosaic "Born To Dance" is a triptych, each panel
measuring 4 feet by 8 feet (the whole measuring 8’x12’). Born To Dance was
created from slate, garnets, and micaceous slates. The mosaic loosely
portrays the teachings of Paracelsus, a sixteenth century alchemist,
philosopher, mystic, astronomer and physician. The mosaic also reflects the
commonality and potentiality of the components of our universe. In this
case, the slates coming out of the ground closely relate to our above ground
earthly environs and to what we see in the sky. The sylph, the salamander,
the nymph and the gnome were imaginary beings inhabiting the four elements
once believed to make up the physical world.
The "Born To Dance" mosaic triptych was created by
the following method. Most of my custom stone commissions follow this
pattern. The client requests a theme or subject, if they have one in mind.
They are offered a choice of tesserae, which are compatible with the
architectural appointments. Depending on the size of the commission, 300 to
2000 stones are washed and sealed, then scattered at random about the room.
It is a challenging process to explain that the picture is already there on
the rocks: creative selection will allow the picture to develop and reveal
itself, piece by piece. It involves watching and listening so that the
stones can guide the picture along using the artists hand and eye to
audition each stone and execute an image that is preconceived but not
completely finished or assembled. No preliminary sketches are made or
offered.
Close examination of the "Born To Dance"stone mosaic will reveal numerous examples of mirror image stones which
offer symmetry to the piece. The slate is delaminated by striking it with a
hammer and chisel. Notice the masks, butterflies, faces, horns, and mirror
image pieces. No paints were applied to the natural stone coloration. This
piece is currently for sale including the three dimensional fire dancer and
fire wall. The price $120,000.
SANTA FE DESIGN STUDIO
ARTIST ERIC RATTAN
STONE AND TILE MOSAICS