Jim Kelso Posted May 23, 2017 Share Posted May 23, 2017 (edited) Over the past 10 years I have wanted to make a sculpture based on the nyoi scepter as found in Chinese and Japanese art (Chinese is ruyi). During that time I considered the form and thematic details. Finally I was inspired to make the form based on a piece of driftwood I found in one of the streams I frequent in the local Vermont mountains The nyoi form is appealing to me as it implies a focused attention. Most sources consider that it likely developed from a “talking-stick” which gives the holder the right to speak without being interrupted. Later it was associated with Buddhist bodhisattvas. For me, the significance of this nyoi became clearer as it progressed. Initially I saw it only as a portrait of nature with one of my favorite creatures, the Red Eft, in a kind of dream landscape. As the piece developed, the actual life-cycle of the Eft struck me as symbolic of transformation, with him emerging from the passage. The Red Eft is the terrestrial, juvenile stage of the Eastern Newt. It is born in water, migrates to land for five to seven years and then returns to water to mate. Somehow it occurred to me that this life-cycle could represent the soul’s transmigration, and furthermore be influenced by blessings sent from the spiritual realm. Hence I thought to introduce this theme with references to the legend of Kikujido My carved nyoi has both an ura (private) and omote (public) side connected by an open passage through the wood. The passage is symbolic of the connection between the earth-plane and the spiritual plane. In the Kikujido legend, blessings are sent down-stream on Chrysanthemum petals. I have expanded this to include leaves. On the ura side, carved simply to represent flowing water, is a pristine Chrysanthemum leaf presumably set in motion down-stream by Kikujido. On the omote side, carved in more tangible landscape detail, are the Red Eft, pristine Chrysanthemum petals, a decayed leaf, and a tiny stone. The Red Eft represents the ten-thousand created beings of the earth-plane. The pristine petals represent the blessings abiding in the earth-plane and the decayed leaf represents the ultimate dissolution of all earthly objects. The tiny stone represents the action of time. Edited May 26, 2017 by Jim Kelso more complete description 3 My website and INSTAGRAM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wes Detrick Posted May 23, 2017 Share Posted May 23, 2017 I wish I was able to see this in person. I know that there are many things that I can just not appreciate looking at a picture no matter the quality of the picture. I love the message and I love the execution even more. Stunning work Jim; seriously impressive. “In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer." -Albert Camus http://www.krakenforge.net/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris C-S Posted May 24, 2017 Share Posted May 24, 2017 Great looking piece. Lovely lines. Thanks for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Kelso Posted May 25, 2017 Author Share Posted May 25, 2017 Thanks very much Wes and Chris. Here are some close-ups: 2 My website and INSTAGRAM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Dougherty Posted May 25, 2017 Share Posted May 25, 2017 I keep looking at this, but don't know what to say. Bravo! -Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noah M Legel Posted May 25, 2017 Share Posted May 25, 2017 Beautiful! Karate ObsessionWasteland LeatherworkThe Wasteland Crow Project Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Kelso Posted May 30, 2017 Author Share Posted May 30, 2017 On 5/25/2017 at 9:48 AM, Brian Dougherty said: I keep looking at this, but don't know what to say. Bravo! Thanks Noah and Brian. Brian, "Bravo!" works for me! My website and INSTAGRAM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter johnsson Posted May 30, 2017 Share Posted May 30, 2017 Fenomenal carving and sculpting. So satisfying and exiting to see. Jim, just today I received your book of collected work. I am very happy that you put this together so that I can have some images of your work neatly at easy reach within the covers of a book. It is curious how observing your work can be at once so calming and deeply stirring. Thank you!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karim Posted May 31, 2017 Share Posted May 31, 2017 All of the above! Totally different then knifes, keeps me staring at it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jesus Hernandez Posted May 31, 2017 Share Posted May 31, 2017 "Simply" beautiful and elegant. The lighting of the photos is excellent to turn the work alive. Enjoy life! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Kelso Posted May 31, 2017 Author Share Posted May 31, 2017 On 5/30/2017 at 3:15 PM, peter johnsson said: Fenomenal carving and sculpting. So satisfying and exiting to see. Jim, just today I received your book of collected work. I am very happy that you put this together so that I can have some images of your work neatly at easy reach within the covers of a book. It is curious how observing your work can be at once so calming and deeply stirring. Thank you!!! Thanks very much Peter, Karim and Jesus! Peter, I'm sorry the book took so long to get to you, but glad you like it. Thanks so much! My website and INSTAGRAM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Kelso Posted June 1, 2017 Author Share Posted June 1, 2017 A better overall of omote side: My website and INSTAGRAM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Kelso Posted June 1, 2017 Author Share Posted June 1, 2017 (edited) And the better photo of ura side: Edited June 2, 2017 by Jim Kelso 1 My website and INSTAGRAM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howie Posted June 2, 2017 Share Posted June 2, 2017 Wow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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