110 x 40cm
'Heaven on earth would be working towards a common vision of peace, with people of the same heart.' Anon
The 'Heaven Spreads', 'Patch' and 'Quilt' series seeks to articulate an expansive concept.
Once, when I was praying for someone, a clear picture sprang to mind. It was as though I were high above the surface of the earth. It was covered in a dark, thick vegetation. Like bull rushes. It occurred to me that this vegetations nature was to be burned up. To be removed.
It looked like quite a bleak scene, until a flame appeared, seemingly out of nowhere. It was a single person fanning the tiniest flame in front of them. The flame grew and grew. Suddenly, another flame appeared, then another, and another.
The flames burned with a controlled increasing intensity. They were slowly and inevitably burned away to reveal an incredible patchwork quilt beneath it. A mosaic of stunning richness and colour.
The mosaic is figurative of a world network of balanced harmonious relationships where our differences are accepted and respected, and perceived as our balancing strengths.
The bull rushes represent the destruction of the worlds natural resources, and the breakdown of humanities relationships.
We are being given a choice to fan our individual gifts into flame, to be all or to finish it all.
'Love each other or perish.' W H Auden.