From the Earth

Creator

Eddie Walker

Preview

Creation Date

1997

Medium

wood, paint

Exhibition Label

This scene conveys an overall impression of earthly heaviness and of gravity turned into a still-life. It seems as if the burly and crouching figures had only recently and painfully emerged from earth and rock. They have heavy feet and heavy faces. They are creatures of the earth, but rock solid, reliable and trustworthy. They do not resent bending and bowing, for they are themselves close to the earth from which they have come. And so they are close to the baby who is himself one with the earth. So called crèche mountains place the holy family in a cave at the bottom of the mount. The incarnate God had to conquer all realms and strata of reality. The last realm he conquered was that of matter. The dirt and clay we all come from and to which we shall return. These plump and heavy figures, in color of sand and soil, interspersed with a few dots of color are a timely reminder of human condition, its predicament and hope-filled destiny.

Description

Handcarved and handpainted wooden figures depicting the nativity of Jesus, created by Eddie Walker in 1997, in the United States. Exhibition label originally written by Fr. Johann G. Roten, S.M. for exhibit entitled "At The Manger" and 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.