Oh Sweet Irrational Worship
Wind and a bobwhite
And the afternoon sun.

By ceasing to question the sun
I have become light,

Bird and wind.

My leaves sing.

I am earth, earth

All these lighted things
Grow from my heart.

A tall, spare pine
Stands like the initial of my first
Name when I had one.

When I had a spirit,
When I was on fire
When this valley was
Made out of fresh air
You spoke my name
In naming Your silence:
O sweet, irrational worship!

I am earth, earth

My heart's love
Bursts with hay and flowers.
I am a lake of blue air
In which my own appointed place
Field and valley
Stand reflected.

I am earth, earth

Out of my grass heart
Rises the bobwhite.

Out of my nameless weeds
His foolish worship.
Thomas Merton (1915-1968)

I started as an artist at the age of 6 in clay. These altars I built from clay I dug directly out of the earth are some of the most satisfying pieces of my career. There is an innate connection between God and earth. Clay is a meeting place, a doorway to Heaven.  For more on clay check this blog post. I built the sculptures, all the candles, money and adornment were spontaneous offerings by people passing by.

Scroll down for multiple views of all the altars and explanations.

The Faces of the Goddess Altar

Hildegard of Bingen

For more on Hildegard and her connection to the creative process, check this blog post and this video of my newest sculpture.

Pregnant Virgin

I see the the pregnant Virgin Mary as the ultimate artist's exemplar. For more on this see my blog post and my video of my new Pregnant Virgin sculpture. 

Plaster Altars

Angel Gabriel

Mary & Gabriel

Virgin Mary

The Stigmata of St. Francis
I planted aloe in the stigmata of his feet to show the healing power that wounds and pain can bring to our life. For more on St. Francis, his stigmata & his relationship to artists, check this blog post.

Virgin Mary

Sheltering Mary