ONCE UPON A TIME… THERE WAS A PLANET CALLED EARTH
Once Upon a Time …there was a Planet called Earth
Magic Square, Pine Barrens Collection by Maggie Simonelli
Encaustic (cosmetic grade beeswax), smalt, bark, Japanese coral, lichen, silver leaf, seawater (Atlantic Ocean), garnet stone, deer fur, fox fur, duck feathers, human tooth, smoke, cranberries, Japanese dyed cranberry silver leaf, chrome ironstone, bog iron ore, 23 kt gold leaf, 16 kt gold leaf, grasses, glass beads, glass slag from Martha (old glass factory site in Pine Barrens), copper leaf, pine cones, artist hair, cosmetics, pigments, fresh water, peat, aluminum leaf, pine needles, charcoal, cedar, cedar swamp water, sphagnum moss, crushed blueberries, flame, sand, ground copper pigment, rose madder, casein, imprint from stiletto heels, and mica on floating birch panels
25 @ 9 “ x 9” (Private commission)
** organic materials collected in Pine Barrens, NJ
DETAILS, MAGIC SQUARE : Once Upon a Time…there was a Planet called Earth
LEFT: detail, Stone, Mica
Encaustic, mica, stiletto heel imprint, aluminum leaf, rose madder, lipstick, pigments and casein
RIGHT : detail, Fire, Pine Cone
Encaustic, 22 kt gold leaf, pine cones, flame, smoke, lipstick, artist hair, oxidized copper leaf, aluminium leaf, pigments and casein Both on floating birch panel each 9" x 9”
detail, Water, Cranberry Bog from Once Upon a Time… there was a Planet called Earth
Magic Square, Pine Barrens
Encaustic (cosmetic grade beeswax), water (Pine Barrens), cranberries, smalt, Japanese dyed cranberry silver leaf, ochre and pigments on floating birch panel One of 25 @ 9 “ x 9”
(organic materials collected in Pine Barrens, NJ ** )
** COLLECTIONS in the Pine Barrens used to make these paintings was researched by
Pine Barrens Ecosystem and Landscape by Richard T.T. Forman
Pine Barrens: Ecosystem and Landscape focused on Pine Barrens of New Jersey was a groundbreaking study and the beginning of Landscape Ecology in a multi-displinary sciences. The book focuses on the relationship between the ecological and landscape aspects of Pine Barrens of New Jersey. The idea in this book is based from the discussions of Rutgers University botanists and ecologists at the 1975 American Institute of Biological Science meetings, and from the interest generated by the 1976 annual New Jersey Academy of Science meeting, which focuses on the Pine Barrens.
INDIGO & GOLD
Indigo & Gold Magic Square 2001 by Maggie Simonelli **
Encaustic, Japanese Indigo from Kyoto *, vermillion, French pale gold leaf 23 kt , German gold leaf 22 kt on custom floating birch panel
25 @ 7" x 7 " x 1 3/4”
** Indigo & Gold series was inspired by Japanese Buddhist hanging scrolls - made with gold ink on dark blue paper from the 12th (Heian period) and 13th centuries that I saw on my travels in Japan. This came from a tradition of using precious metals as "sacred remains" of Buddha, here beauty and holiness are synonmous. The indigo used in this series was obtained in an old world painters shop Saiun-do in Kyoto * . My dear friend Miako Katoh was my translator in our travels Japan. The gold leaf is French pale 23 kt. gold leaf and the orange/red is vermillion inspired by the orange of the Torii gates leading to the Shinto shrines in Japan. The vibrant orange color is called vermilion as seen in Torii Gates is believed to have protective qualities, warding off evil spirits and disasters. This is my homage to the cosmos in Red, Yellow and Blue from the most simple separation of color Red/Orange vermillion for Fire (action) Indigo for Space (meditation) , and Gold for Spiritual Light to the most complex combination in the center like a flower unfolding.
* The Japanese indigo pigment is from the old world Kyoto art supplier (Painted Clouds).
The pigments are mixed by hand using secret recipes from 1863 when the shop was opened by Tsukio Fujimoto, the current owner's grandfather.