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Mary Antonia Wood
Transcending the past and the
present, Mary Antonia Wood's paintings and constructions also
transcend the boundaries of painting and sculpture. Her work
reflects a deep interest in the eternal mysteries of existence,
which know no beginning or end life and death, darkness
and light, time and space, nature and the supernatural. "My
work is an act of discovery a journey through mystery,
legend, and myth. It is a sort of spiritual archeology, which
eventually leads to the barest elements, the hidden essence within,"
the artist states.
Wood grew up on the Arizona/Mexico
border, spending time with family on both sides. The movement
between these two worlds has added a richness and perspective
to her life and work. "Among my inspirations are the Pre-Columbian
civilizations of Mexico and Central America, particularly their
amazing use of symbolism and ritual in their art and everyday
lives. These cultures were able to transform literal realism
into objects and structures that became metaphors universal
symbols with a profound sense of power that can still be felt
today. I'm striving for a similar balance of passion and precision
in my work."
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portrait © Jennifer Esperanza |
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Wood's two and three-dimensional
work is created using plaster applied to wood panels. The process
is time-consuming and exacting. A single piece can take several
days or even weeks to create. Each layer is carefully dried and
polished before the next is applied. Several coats of natural
beeswax protect the finished pieces and add a subtle luster.
The results are rich, tactile, patinaed surfaces, which can be
experienced with the hand as well as the eye. "I love to
encourage people to touch the pieces that they find intriguing
their carved, satiny surfaces reveal deeper levels of experience
beyond the purely visual."
In summarizing her work, and
the creative process, Wood recalls Octavio Paz, the legendary
Mexican author who stated, "Art is not an end in itself,
but a bridge or talisman ... a medium of transmission of forces
and powers that are sacred. The function of art is to open for
us the doors that lead to the other side of reality."
Mary Antonia Wood received a
BFA degree in 1981 from Northern Arizona University. She has
participated in several museum exhibitions, including "Flor
y Canto Reflections from Nuevo Mexico" at the Museum
of International Folk Art in Santa Fe, "Ahora New
Mexican Hispanic Art" at the National Hispanic Cultural
Center in Albuquerque, and is preparing for a solo exhibition
at the same facility in 2005. Wood was the exhibit designer for
"Flor y Canto," and will design her own upcoming exhibition
at the National Hispanic Cultural Center. She resides in Los
Ranchos, New Mexico, and her work is represented in Santa Fe,
NM and Scottsdale, AZ by Chiaroscuro galleries. For more information,
or for photos of works available please contact the artist or
the galleries.
REPRESENTED BY
Chiaroscuro
439 Camino del Monte Sol Santa Fe, NM 87501 505.992.0711
7160 E. Main St. Scottsdale, AZ 85251 480.429.0711
chiaroscurosantafe.com
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