Above Rubies
Above Rubies
by Dale Copeland, 1996
Mixed media assemblage - book, lens, light, bolts
700 X 500 X mm
| I used the AGE from the old weathered
sign of a land agent. The New Book of Knowledge is hollowed out
(and changed to read OLD - this is old knowledge, this) and inside, under
the tree of life and the large lens bolted down (no escape) is the
colonoscopy photo from a good friend. A beautiful thing, but the cancer
will kill her. Glowing like rubies, but what's that Biblical bit - a good
woman is above rubies. And that other one, the price of wisdom is above
rubies. She's both of those, and not old. Age hasn't had a chance to do
its damage. But that's no consolation. There's a light inside the encyclopaedia, worked by a push switch in the computer game keys (Cross-shaped? Read it how you will). She was a mean player, keen logic and fast fingers. There's a ruby on the switch, but she deserves more. And handwritten on the book is "For Wisdom is Above Rubies, but Gaelyn will die. And Gaelyn will die." There's a really good poem which says what I feel about death, far better than I can find words for. "...I know, but I am not resigned...". Click here to read it, or email me and I'll send you a copy. And if you want to know more about Gaelyn (a New Zealand author, and a good one) click here. She died, May 1997. |
Dale's studio can be found on Surf Highway, Taranaki, New Zealand
More of her work can be seen on the Virtual TART site at http://virtual.tart.co.nz/Dale
email Dale