Enchanted Response
The "Enchanted" exhibit proved to be an amazing collection of works! I particularly was engaged in viewing the video "Catch and Release" as well as "The Price of Freedom". Another work that stuck out to me due to my curiousity about it, was "Divination Altar" (2007) by Carol Lumpart. It appeared as a table with two large butterfly wings resting on it (in flying position).
However, there was also an item made of aluminum resting on the table and against the left wing. It looked like a small branch and the aluminum made it stick out from the wings and table. The wings had swirling lines of metal on them and they were all just the color of the metal. However, the branch was lighter and caught the light quite differently from the rest. I was curious what the artist's background was and what this work meant to her. There was nothing written on the labels by her works. I wonder if her concepts for "Divination Altar" have anything to do with ideas surrounding sacrifice. The small branch almost reminds me of how at times, I have much to offer others and at other times, I have nothing to offer. The range of beautiful butterfly to small branch comments on this
idea for me. It also speaks of the significance of seemingly "small" ideas/thoughts/actions. How important are they in reality? In different spaces, does the significance lessen, alter or multiply? Can
ideas/thoughts/actions even be "small'? What if it concerns something we offer (as one would at an altar)? Do we have anything to offer there, at a divination altar? This sparks a discussion on divinity in my mind. Divine thoughts/ideas/actions? It interests me to think on these things. I have to say that I know I have nothing to offer as divine and most of the time I have nothing to offer that is even purely good (mixed motives, etc). Only through my relationship with Jesus Christ have I been able to consider how I am constantly seeking myself even in what seems to be good/moral.. even in things one might consider to be "offerings". When I come to the altar of the Triune God, I have nothing to offer. I have no control and He has it all. All I can do is trust that He is good and I can do that because my life is already a living example of how nothing was wasted. Everything came about because of His plan for my happiness. He gets the credit, I get the joy in life. "Divination Altar" may address completely different issues in the mind of others but it brings me back to the only thing that has brought me true happiness, a personal relationship with Jesus.