Sometimes I think about art as something more than a wall hanging just to glance at, or to complement a room. I think that art should have meaning or purpose.

Past generations dealt with illiteracy and used paintings and sculptures to tell the story. Understanding what the art was saying was important. The art needed to be “read” or studied carefully. Color, shading, symbolism, and the expression on faces helped make the message known.

For example, the Statue of Liberty, just off the coast of New York City, rises up out of the sea, to speak to generations of Americans. She tells us a great deal about what our country values. For those who emigrated through New York, it stood for freedom, colossal freedom. Liberty’s sculptor, Bartholdi, studied colossal sculpture with size in mind. A Frenchman, Bartholdi formed the idea of a massive sculpture to be gifted to the United States by France, signifying their mutual friendship and recognizing the American centennial in 1886.

Years ago, we could climb up the twisting staircase inside Liberty, to peer out of her crown toward Europe. That diadem has seven rays, symbolizing the seven continents and the seven seas of earth to which the light of freedom extends. The sculpture holds a tablet, inscribed July 4, 1776, in Roman numerals. At her foot, a broken shackle and chains, remembering also the end of slavery.

Lifted high, a torch is held up by Liberty, for all to observe.

Art speaks. It brings to the eyes, the intangible, the unseen, making it tangible, understandable.

Recently, I began a new type of project, featuring fiber art (cloth, thread, yarn, etc..) to create a replication of the endangered Florida coral reef system. You can follow its progress on Instagram. Once again, my medium is 99% recyclable and repurposed. Trying a new technique, I made large sequins from plastic Pellegrino bottles for the sea turtle’s body!

Take a look at my work. What am I saying?

(C) KJadon, 2024

The Mosaic