Kindred Spirits: The Installation: Los Platos de Santos: St. Eligius
St. Eligius is an acrylic painting on a terra cotta baking dish. I decided to supplicate to St. Eligius for several reasons. Not only is he the patron saint of metalsmiths, but he is also a patron saint of engineers.
It may not be well known, but I myself am a metalsmith, having spent a good deal of time with my head bowed over a foredom flex shaft or bench pin. I first ventured into metal working to help me heal from PTSD associated with a traumatic childbirth experience and damages caused by my epidural to my spinal cord and central nervous system. Learning how to create amazing fine art in metal certainly lead me down a deep healing journey. Although I am not currently sitting at a bench regularly, I am sure I will return to the world of Metals when the time is right. As a Shaman who works with the Elements regularly in alchemical ritual and ceremonial practices, I listen to their lessons and move with materials as Spirit guides me. Spirit was very adamant about me stepping away from metal work when the pandemic hit. I then was able to finally get an MRI for my brain injuries, and was told any metalworking could have left shards in my eyes that the machine would pull out. But spirit had prepared me and I had not done any fine metal work in 9 months. This is why you supplicate!
Additionally, my fiancé is a Process Controls Technician for an engineering company, as well as being an electrician by trade. It was fascinating to me how St. Eligius brought us together on the left-brain wave-lengths, and is a guide to either side of your brain (left or right) in the creative processes of life.
I learned later that he is also best known in the UK for being a patron saint of horses, and those that work with them. No surprise, I moved into a home right next door to a horse ranch when my previous home was flooded and uninhabitable. This is why you supplicate!
Installed at Kindred Spirits 537A N Trade St. Winston Salem NC 27101
kindredspirits.ws @kindredspirits_ws
See more of my art on insta @whaplesantonina
Available for purchase on Saatchi Art
Prayer to St. Eligius *Also called St. Eloi
St. Eloi, with your hands you wrought beauty and with your heart you won friends and through both you glorified God. Befriend us, dear saint, and pray that we will use our God-given talents to serve Him. Amen.
Los Platos De Santos is a collection of found plates and kitchen wares, many of them abandoned with me by their owners, and completely forgotten.
Like many of my found-object pieces, I am focused on elevating objects and transforming their energy.
This Collection is deeply tied to my roots and education in Catholic traditions. More encompassing than Catholic culture, this collection has grown to be expressive of the shared cannon with the Voudou tradition. My shamanic apprentice and Vousidant RJ Walker is often giving me ideas of new Loa to add to our growing collection of patrons.
Personally, this collection stemmed from financial insecurity & abuse, which has unfortunately been a major part of my lived experience of the past decade. With each painting, I prayed for a new life.
