Fire Sustainer
"Fire Sustainer"
part of a large-scale semi-figurative 5-sculpture series called "The Earth Sustainers.
" 3' x 2' x 9' approx. #300
Exterior sculptures are carved from recycled block polystyrene foam. Three individually applied and cured layers of alkali resistant fiberglass mesh & a proprietary mix of concrete are applied to create the mosaic surface. Professional grade Laticrete thinset and high performance Laticrete epoxy grouts are used. Sculptures will last for centuries in an outdoor environment. All tiles were custom made and word tiles are hand-stamped and created.
$50,000
Fire Sustainer- 2024
Our beautiful green planet is much more than we perceive visually or that our conceptual minds can imagine. I’m always curious about the mysteries that sustain our life here, that are unseen & likely unknown. How do we interact or pay homage to things we’re unaware of but are essential to our life here? The Earth Sustainers series is part of a family of five large sculptures which include Weather, Water, Tree, Plant and Fire sustainers. Their reverent postures offer an opportunity to consider our relationship to these energies in the greater scheme of life.
The Fire sculpture was created as a visual depiction of a “community bon-fire.” It contains ten words in over 30-languages that are synonymous for “Love,” such as Joy, Friendship, Playfulness, Community, Passion, Wonder, Sweetness, Child-like innocence & Fire itself. Within many indigenous traditions the elemental energy of fire is thought to embody these qualities. My intent was that people encountering this sculpture would see these words in their native languages, thereby creating a visual cohesiveness indicative of our human family here on planet earth.
Theresa Arico is currently a production mosaic artist of large-scale mosaic mural installations and outdoor garden/public sculptures. She also teaches project focused mosaic classes for students to become familiar with this art-form of antiquity. She has public art installations in municipalities throughout NC, NY and Boston. She is the recent VP of the Orange County Artist Guild and shows her work in galleries and shows throughout NC.
"I’ve worked in many mediums to express my creative visions, including modern dance choreography, theater/stage set design, and multi-media mosaic murals. Mosaic, as a specific expression is how disparate materials, shapes and colors are synthesized into a singular expression that tells a complete story. Mosaic is my favorite form of creative expression because it allows me to use both new and recycled objects to create a new vision and purpose. Reassigning value in cast-off objects that normally contribute to the waste stream is important to me. Reinvention and second chances are important aspects of our human story as well. Orphan plates or trinkets sometimes inspire a work, or later may become just what was needed in a given piece. I draw my creative inspiration directly from nature and the beauty that is present in the natural world. I think of my pieces as altars, or meeting places that combine aspects of the seen and unseen realms together as a means of tribute and homage. I often incorporate small shelves within larger pieces, so people can place candles, bouquets of flowers or something inspirational upon them. In this way, the work is not stagnant but changing and enlivened. I also love using mirror or mirrored outlines in my work, as it gives viewers the opportunity to see a part of themselves reflected in the assembled mosaic.
I love to create beauty and to tell an archetypal story through my work. Creating or contributing to an environment that is nourishing and healing is my primary focus. It is my desire that my work infuse others with hope, inspiration and passion. I would be honored to create a custom mosaic or glass on glass image for your home, business, public park or city center."