Rosemary Wessel‘s work addresses the meeting of the spiritual and physical aspects of life’s experiences, translating the patterns and tone of spiritual and emotional energy in different situations into a visual language. Not wanting to repeat the heavily abstracted and stylized symbols used in traditional religious art, Rose provides a more direct, visceral depiction of energy patterns pertaining to particular states. Using plaster casts of people, life sized and accurately proportioned, to represent the physical state of being, they’re shown immersed in textures and colors of energy that permeate all of existence. The plaster casts are embedded and surrounded by sculpting made of shredded paper/latex molding material and whatever other materials lend the desired texture. Colors relate to the energy of the subject, permeating the aura around the individual, sometimes reflecting those hues traditionally associated with the chakras. Rose works with a broad base of models to provide a wider range of face and body shapes, sizes and types and leaves them relatively free of any cultural trappings to reinforce the idea that these spiritual interactions apply to everyone.
“Bereft”, plaster cast, shredded paper, latex, oil on canvas, 83″x49″x10″. (c)Rosemary Wessel.
“Breakaway”, plaster cast, shredded paper, latex, oil on canvas, 48″x22″x6″. (c)Rosemary Wessel.
“Clarity”, plaster cast, shredded paper, latex, oil on canvas, 24″x22″x6″. (c)Rosemary Wessel.
“Contentment”, plaster cast, shredded paper, latex, oil on canvas, 26″x22″x8″. (c)Rosemary Wessel.
“Controlled Release”, plaster cast, shredded paper, latex, oil on canvas, 21″x80″x10″. (c)Rosemary Wessel.
“Giddy”, plaster cast, shredded paper, latex, oil on canvas, 34″x16″x5″. (c)Rosemary Wessel.
“Introspect”, plaster cast, shredded paper, latex, oil on canvas, 29″x18″x7″. (c)Rosemary Wessel.
“Overcharged”, plaster cast, shredded paper, latex, oil on canvas, 30″x22″x3″. (c)Rosemary Wessel.
“Watchful Mind”, plaster cast, shredded paper, latex, oil on canvas, 19″x14″x4″. (c)Rosemary Wessel.
“Wisdom Of The Healing Heart”, plaster cast, shredded paper, latex, oil on canvas, 50″x26″x8″. (c)Rosemary Wessel.
