Only icicles are for real?

Creator

Hanneke Ippisch
Les Ippisch

Preview

Creation Date

Unknown

Medium

wood

Exhibition Label

A kayak in the skies, three wandering sled dogs roaming free, the dog master pushing his sled, and two mighty polar bears nudging a tiny red fish: Where is Alaskan wintry realism in this nativity set? From the beginning representations and descriptions of the nativity paint a world upside down, a moment of awe and wonder, nature losing its grip. In one of the first descriptions of Jesus’ birth, Joseph experiences nature, heaven and earth, animals and people, coming to complete standstill (Protogospel of James, 18). The nativity suggests a new realism, the realism of the marriage of heaven and earth. It must be… because not even the icicles in this nativity are real.

Description

Set is made of planed wood and painted. Exhibition label written by Fr. Johann G. Roten, S.M. originally for exhibit entitled "Elisabeth's Nativity House: The van Mullekom Collection" held at Roesch Library, University of Dayton.

Rights

This material may be protected by U.S. (Title 17, U.S. Code) and/or international copyright law. The material is available for personal, educational, and scholarly use. It is the responsibility of the researcher to locate and obtain permission from the copyright owner(s) or heirs for any other use, such as reproduction and publication.