Chuck Niesen
Webster
Groves, Missouri
Traditionally in the visual arts, Mary, the mother of Jesus, is depicted as a mature, sedate, serious and holy madonna who expresses little emotion. In reality, Mary was probably a young teenager much like my high school-aged daughters and their friends were a year or two or three ago...playful, energetic, light-hearted, mischievous, silly...big girls, young women. Many times I have watched them...playing, running, dancing, singing, laughing, and crying. Two thousand years ago, in a male-dominated society where women and children were considered to be male property, it was Mary, a humble young woman, who was chosen by God to carry out His plan of salvation for all people. God did not choose Mary to be Jesus' mother because she was holy and deserving and moved in the right circles. God choose Mary because she was from a humble background, someone through whom God could turn the dominant system upside down and set up a new order whereby God's kingdom could be established. Mary became holy because she was obedient to God's plan for her. The angel, Gabriel, explained to her how all this would take place. Mary answered, "I am my Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said."
Miwa
Miwa
is a raku-fired stoneware portrait head. Most accidents during
the artistic process cause unsatisfactory, if not disastrous,
results. Sometimes "happy accidents" occur. The serene
expression of Miwa's face was marred by the crack which developed
during the bisque firing. Or was it? The crack, the unnatural
colors of the raku glaze and the wire marks all convey hardships
in her life that she has overcome and with which she has found
peace.
Mary's Song
The
marble sculpture is as much line and form as it is about the
gesture of the human figure, to try to take advantage of the
intrinsic beauty of the stone. The base is made of dunnage, the
rough-hewn, crude, humble timbers that are stacked in three or
four layers to support the block of marble while it is being
carved. This piece is intended to be ambiguous when viewed from
different sides. Mary rejoiced at being chosen to give birth to
God's son, yet later she grieved at his crucifixion and, then
rejoiced again at his resurrection.
How long, Oh, Lord?
"How
long, Oh, Lord?" is a question which would be hard not to
ask in some form during times of suffering. The unpleasantness,
the inconvience, the embarrassment, the isolation, the pain, the
disruption, the upheaval and the despair cannot end soon enough.
Yet the act of asking the question expresses hope; hope that at
some point the suffering will end, that life will get better, and
that growth and meaning will result from it.