Seshat
This body of work, which includes both assembled paintings and sculpture, was a featured solo exhibition in 2010 at Walker Fine Art in Denver, Colorado. It has been inspired by mysticism and alchemy through the lens of Seshat, the ancient Egyptian goddess of writing and, in a broader sense, the Scribe archetype. In these works, Stumpf deals directly with the process of transformation.
As the scribes of our own lives, each of us has a significant responsibility in how we perceive and write our history, our story. Stumpf believes that for healing and transformation to occur we must get in present time. Where we put weight into thought is where we are stuck in our past and are hemorrhaging energy. It is up to the individual to take the weight out of his or her thoughts and become a congruent being - to become whole.
In Egyptian mythology, Seshat was the ancient Egyptian goddess of wisdom, knowledge, and writing. Her name means she who scrivens. She was seen as a scribe and record keeper and was credited with inventing writing.
She was given the epithet "Mistress of the House of Books," because she oversaw the library in which scrolls of the most important knowledge were assembled and spells were preserved. In addition, she was also called "Mistress of the House of Architects" due to her association with foundation rituals, which were conducted during the laying of new structures. To Stumpf, it becomes a metaphor for the building of one's new life.
Simply and elegantly put as Spell 10 of the Coffin Texts states, "Seshat opens the door of heaven for you."
As the scribes of our own lives, each of us has a significant responsibility in how we perceive and write our history, our story. Stumpf believes that for healing and transformation to occur we must get in present time. Where we put weight into thought is where we are stuck in our past and are hemorrhaging energy. It is up to the individual to take the weight out of his or her thoughts and become a congruent being - to become whole.
In Egyptian mythology, Seshat was the ancient Egyptian goddess of wisdom, knowledge, and writing. Her name means she who scrivens. She was seen as a scribe and record keeper and was credited with inventing writing.
She was given the epithet "Mistress of the House of Books," because she oversaw the library in which scrolls of the most important knowledge were assembled and spells were preserved. In addition, she was also called "Mistress of the House of Architects" due to her association with foundation rituals, which were conducted during the laying of new structures. To Stumpf, it becomes a metaphor for the building of one's new life.
Simply and elegantly put as Spell 10 of the Coffin Texts states, "Seshat opens the door of heaven for you."
Interview segment from The Untitled Art Show during my solo exhibition of the Seshat work.
This slideshow enables you to see the whole body of work in-process from start to finish.
This video shows clips from early in the process of creating the Seshat work.
Experimenting with the rust paint in the studio. The work is closer to completion in this video.
Seshat (Love Letters)
Slip, book covers, plastic foliage, doll hands, shells, costume jewelry, champagne cork, misc. wood and metal objects, nails, pearls, tulle, acrylic paint, reactive paint, oil paint, beeswax, pencil, color pencil, charcoal, sand, string, wire, glue, on wood panel.
90 x 55.5 inches
2010
Slip, book covers, plastic foliage, doll hands, shells, costume jewelry, champagne cork, misc. wood and metal objects, nails, pearls, tulle, acrylic paint, reactive paint, oil paint, beeswax, pencil, color pencil, charcoal, sand, string, wire, glue, on wood panel.
90 x 55.5 inches
2010
Lady of the House (Truth)
Slip, book covers, plastic foliage, doll hands, film negatives, baby spoon, shells, costume jewelry, misc. wood and metal objects, nails, pearls, tulle, yarn, acrylic paint, reactive paint, oil paint, beeswax, pencil, color pencil, charcoal, sand, string, wire, glue, on wood panel.
90 x 55.5 inches
2010
Slip, book covers, plastic foliage, doll hands, film negatives, baby spoon, shells, costume jewelry, misc. wood and metal objects, nails, pearls, tulle, yarn, acrylic paint, reactive paint, oil paint, beeswax, pencil, color pencil, charcoal, sand, string, wire, glue, on wood panel.
90 x 55.5 inches
2010
Mistress of the House Books (Remembrance)
Slip, book covers, plastic foliage, doll hands, shells, costume jewelry, teething beads, misc. wood and metal objects, nails, pearls, tulle, acrylic paint, reactive paint, oil paint, beeswax, pencil, color pencil, charcoal, sand, string, wire, glue, on wood panel.
90 x 55.5 inches
2010
Slip, book covers, plastic foliage, doll hands, shells, costume jewelry, teething beads, misc. wood and metal objects, nails, pearls, tulle, acrylic paint, reactive paint, oil paint, beeswax, pencil, color pencil, charcoal, sand, string, wire, glue, on wood panel.
90 x 55.5 inches
2010
From Them Flow the Contacts of Man With the Earth, Like a Text for All Troubled Lyricists (Artifact)
Found run-over book, wax, oil paint, wasp, glass case
1.75 x 37 x 9.5 inches
2010
Found run-over book, wax, oil paint, wasp, glass case
1.75 x 37 x 9.5 inches
2010
The Narrow Gate 1
Plastic foliage, suction cups, paper, piano parts, twigs, metal mesh, beads, metal objects, eraser, acrylic paint, reactive paint, sand, string, glue, on canvas.
42 x 64.5 inches
2010
Plastic foliage, suction cups, paper, piano parts, twigs, metal mesh, beads, metal objects, eraser, acrylic paint, reactive paint, sand, string, glue, on canvas.
42 x 64.5 inches
2010
The Narrow Gate 2
Plastic foliage, suction cups, paper, piano parts, twigs, metal mesh, beads, metal objects, eraser, acrylic paint, reactive paint, sand, string, glue, on canvas.
42 x 64.5 inches
2010
Plastic foliage, suction cups, paper, piano parts, twigs, metal mesh, beads, metal objects, eraser, acrylic paint, reactive paint, sand, string, glue, on canvas.
42 x 64.5 inches
2010
Apis
Plastic hairdryer case, wood and metal object, canvas strips, tulle, acrylic, wax, pigment, nails, and washers.
17.5 x 17.5 x 5.5 inches
2010
Plastic hairdryer case, wood and metal object, canvas strips, tulle, acrylic, wax, pigment, nails, and washers.
17.5 x 17.5 x 5.5 inches
2010
Strewing of the Besen
Slip, plastic foliage, suction cups, paper, doll hands, metal objects, nails, pearls, tulle, acrylic paint, reactive paint, oil paint, beeswax, color pencil, charcoal, sand, string, wire, glue, on canvas.
92 x 72 inches
2010
Slip, plastic foliage, suction cups, paper, doll hands, metal objects, nails, pearls, tulle, acrylic paint, reactive paint, oil paint, beeswax, color pencil, charcoal, sand, string, wire, glue, on canvas.
92 x 72 inches
2010
Chrysalis
Slip, cloth, wire fencing, metal object, foam core, wood, acrylic paint, reactive paint, sand, twine, glue, gold leaf.
92 x 25 x 16 inches (variable)
2010
Slip, cloth, wire fencing, metal object, foam core, wood, acrylic paint, reactive paint, sand, twine, glue, gold leaf.
92 x 25 x 16 inches (variable)
2010
