Zodiac Queen & The Magical Silver Spoon

Sculpture anyone? Harkrader's 'Zodiac Queen' with delicate feather wings stands tall on her throne of wooden bowl, porcelain knob, metal ring, silver spoon, blue glass, glass eye and surrounded by a halo composition from an antique pastry cutter. Lion is a symbol of constellation, sign of zodiac, symbol of sun gods, Bali funeral sarcophagus and a core in Babylonian artwork. Venice, Italy is known as the “City of Lions”. Lions were used for thousands of years in mostly religious contexts of Christianity, Celtic, and Gospel of Mark. Winged lions may represent the Divine (angels) and denote strength, aggression, and power. Harkrader experimented with multiple composition possibilities before assembling this found object sculpture. (10"x6"x6")

Small Onyx With A Large Heart

From the Onyx series, a message of love (& death?)... 'Xo' with meaning, among other things, hugs and kisses or kisses and hugs. The X may represent the symbolic textural gesture of an embrace (arms in hug) or the cartoonist symbol of an animated kiss (peck-lips-x). The O may represent the circling embrace of a hug or the shape of one's lips in a pucker. Either or vice versa...they both work in the text messaging; this revolutionary, vocabulary changing, end of the Queen's English as we know it culture. These two shapes (XO) also found their way into historical cave drawings and the history of the future as artist continue to use them in their paintings as Harkrader has done on this 5"x5" mini-canvas of mixed mediums. Collage of black paper on the top left side provide texture and composition. The double X (white & gray) provide additional language and bright red O or swirl complete the message. But meaning contiues as one ponders the religious meaning of the cross. There seems to always be an artistic language of love, life, death, religion, environment or war within much of our art. What does it mean when the artist did not mean to imply any social or religious message, but the viewer finds otherwise? Is the language valid?

Politix Religionx & Artx

Politix Religionx & Artx

War & Religion

Religion & Politics

Politics & Life

Life & Art

Art & Communication

Communication & Peace

Harkrader