"A talisman is an object that someone believes holds magical properties that bring good luck to the possessor or protect the possessor from evil or harm."
A couple of years ago, I started sculpting on a significantly smaller scale. Most of my work is created with reverence to its subject, and it felt like making a piece that could be carried with you was a way to maintain that connection and respect throughout the day.
At first I tried imposing fashion on the work, turning the pieces into heavy and bold belt buckles, pendants and earrings. Some time after, I followed an impulse to add structural elements that included color and different materials to the mix.
After recently experiencing a sound bath and discussion about crystals, I thought about how small hand held items are able to take on meaning for their owners. Whether or not the crystal has absorbed the energy is not as significant as whether or not you believe it has. This is how objects start to take on meaning, and I believe art functions in a similar way. I cannot separate these small sculptures from the intention that I had while making them; that is, to honor and to hold these creatures sacred. Perhaps this is why their use as adornment fell short for me. As an accessory, they are simply decorative. As small relief sculptures, they begin to stand on their own.
"According to the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, a magical order active in the United Kingdom during the late 19th and early 20th century, a talisman is 'a magical figure charged with the force which it is intended to represent.' The Order also cautions that one must take great care in creating a talisman and ensure that the physical item's symbolism closely represents the intended purpose of the talisman. The Order notes that the forces depicted by the item 'should be in exact harmony with those you wish to attract, and the more exact the symbolism, the easier it is to attract said force.' "
Whether or not you (or I) believe in magic, I want to believe that these small sculptures could attract forces that help spread and protect the spirit of the wild. I promise, I have taken great care in creating each one of these pieces.
-Colleen