Mixed Media Mosaic Sculpture by Dianne Sonnenberg
Inner peace can be a fragile, elusive thing. In this work of art, the sculpture creates strong support, balance, and a gentle embrace, protecting the delicate inner world portrayed by the mercury glass globe (which also calls to mind the expanse of the universe). The spiraling design and shape reflects the golden spiral of Sacred Geometry, as well as the duality of yin and yang.
The flow and direction of the exterior mosaic arises from Canadian Shield granite, the oldest known stone in North America. Some of these pieces are over 2 billion years old. Granite is considered very dense and strong. However, under the artist’s hammer, it yields to the touch and becomes quite malleable. The small individual pieces are easily broken, but together, they are strong. The stone foundation evolves into the more refined Byzantine glass smalti and 24K gold “streaks”, culminating in a beautifully rich and saturated cobalt blue. Thousands of pieces of hand cut materials are pieced together one by one by the artist to create the exterior of this piece.
Lepidolite, a form of mica, lines the interior of the sculpture, reflecting the light from the surroundings, as well as the inner sphere. The soothing lilac color of the stone lines the soft inner core of the sculpture and enhances the feeling of inner peace. In metaphysical lore, lepidolite represents calmness, joy and serenity.
Scientists combined colors from the light spectrum across galaxies, and computed that the color of the universe is turquoise. This concept has intrigued me and I love representing the universe (both inner and outer) in this way with the beautiful illuminated glass sphere, protected by its gently spiraling embrace.
The above paragraphs are the Artist Statement I created for this piece of art. This is what I present to the general public. There is so much more to the story though, as it pertains to who I am and what my story is about.
I am an adoptee who has recently reunited with my biological family, this is a very personal glimpse into my story.
It is one of the first pieces in my “Truth and Reconciliation” series. I am Anishinaabe, from Rama First Nation in Ontario, Canada. The Canadian government recently published the “Truth and Reconciliation” document, along with a formal apology to First Nations people about the wrongs and atrocities done in the name of “assimilation”.
My work is about this, as people on both sides learn and heal and look for resolution and a balanced “peace”. It’s also about my personal Truth and Reconciliation as I find my people – my family, my community, my culture, and my place within it. It’s about the joy and the grief and all of the emotions in between as I see that I DO truly belong somewhere, and I always have. To have been denied that knowledge and experience as a child, and through most of my adult life has been a real source of deep grief and sadness for me. I deeply crave the inner peace that I signify with the fragile globe in the center of my art, and hope this for my community as well. It is all connected. As I get to know my family, there are many ups and downs and twists and turns. I feel like the embrace is SO close, but not quite there yet.
I remain full of hope for myself, my family, my community, and my people. Keeping hope alive can change the world.
