Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,
   and righteousness looks down from heaven.

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Psalm 85:11

 

Archaeologists have been digging in the soil for centuries to discover evidence of old places, people and objects from the past as proof those cultures and objects once existed. Though not an archaeologist I have been gathering and filing away articles and reading books that have been written about the unearthing of the ancient Scriptures I cherish so highly. This series of paintings references these hand-written pieces of parchment and papyrus scrolls that were discovered in eleven of the Qumran Caves from 1947-1956. 

 

My intention was to image a sense of digging deep into the soil, finding fragments and treasures like the archaeologists must have hoped for in their digs. I also wanted line and mark to represent but not translate language. I cannot read Hebrew or Aramaic so the words are just beautiful marks to me. My automatic drawings of line and mark bring that dimension to the work. The stitched pieces reference the Isaiah Scroll of parchment pieces sewn together.

 

Unearthing the Hebrew and Aramaic texts is evidence of a people who tirelessly copied the ancient yet relevant words on parchment and papyrus in order to pass on the proof and integrity of the Scripture that is eternal.

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Heaven and earth will pass away,

But my words will never pass away.

Matthew 24:35

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Acrylic on paper with stitching