Making Contact

There’s a reason Michelangelo’s “Creation of Adam” has never lost its power to move people.

One of the beautiful things about existence is that no matter your religion or beliefs, we are always trying to touch God. To understand our universe. To get closer to the source.

It’s a lifelong endeavor and we never fully understand what we’re chasing after, but I’m positive that this desire is deeper than simply a need for purpose. It’s knowing that we actually have one.

Old objects like this Coca-Cola crate inspire me because I see a portal to another world, not just something old. I wanted to highlight outer space in this painting because it’s so vast and unexplored. It represents something so great that it can never be fully comprehended.

I chose to use baltic amber and pyrite to enhance the story. Baltic amber has a warm, semi-transparent glow that looks very earthy to me, so I chose to place it beside the lower hand to represent humanity. Pyrite, on the other hand (pun intended), looks otherworldly, so I chose to use it to represent the higher power, or God.

Originally when I received this crate, I wanted the artwork to be about togetherness. That’s what the Coca-Cola brand has historically been about. Sharing something… together. Clearly, that sentiment morphed into exploring life’s bigger questions.