Commission: Resilient
18x24 diptych | 2024 | Oil pastel, acrylic, pencil, cut paper
18x24 diptych | 2024 | Oil pastel, acrylic, pencil, cut paper
I created this piece for Greenhouse Scholars, an amazing organization providing low-income, high-potential students with eduction opportunities and support.
Unfortunately, one book was harmed in the making of this piece, which is molded from the pages of Simon Winchester’s The Map That Changed The World. It details the life of William Smith, the father of modern geology. He was a canal digger who realized that one could study layers of rock to understand the Earth’s history. He had humble beginnings, and was ignored by the scientific community when he published the first detailed, nationwide geological map of any country in 1815. He was plagiarized, and fell into ruin, spending time in debtor’s prison. However, justice prevailed; he was eventually honored for his achievement, receiving a pension from the king and an honorary doctorate. Ultimately, it’s a very human story of loss and endurance, grit, and hope. I thought it aligned well to Greenhouse Scholars’ value of resilience.
Classically, the genre of vanitas still life works centers around the transience of life: pleasure is fleeting, only death is certain. While the sentiment can be depressing, I hope this piece–honored by the story of a meaningful life–inspires you to seek out your own strength and resilience in the face of life’s fragility.
