I hope to portray the courage and strength of mothers. With one arm she holds off forces that try to destroy her and/or her child. With the other she tenderly protects her child all the while kneeling because she knows where her strength comes from.
Resin
11"x 7" x 5"
$99 available at Deseret Book stores nation wide or online. Just click the link below
*note- the statue is temporarily out of stock for online purchases, I hope the new shipments will arrive soon.
It is available in some of the physical Deseret Book stores.
Endorsement
"Motherhood-Greater Love" bronze
This small figurative sculpture conveys profound spiritual and aesthetic strength that belies its diminutive scale. It could well serve as a finely wrought maquette for a larger - even life-size - work. The mother is seen on her knees in a contained pose as she rests on her forelegs that are tucked beneath her. She is depicted in a defensive posture as she hugs her infant close to her bosom.
The mother extends her right arm defensively in a protective gesture to thwart the swirling dark mass that threatens to envelope both her and her child. Her head is turned away from this foreboding cloud-like mass as she bends her body toward her infant in a demonstration of motherly love. The amorphous dark shape represents the forces of Satan that threaten to confound the efforts of those that valiantly strive to fulfill their Divinely appointed commissions to “be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth” (Genesis 1:28) and in this case to preserve and nurture a new life against the threat of destruction by evil forces
Formalistically, the dark cloud-like shape acts as an effective foil behind the figure of the mother and child and serves to focus our attention on the expression of love by the mother for her infant. The dark form contrasts against the light patina of the mother’s dress, focusing our attention and charging the static pose of the figures with a sense of dynamism. Just as the mother protects her infant by shielding her with her love, so they are both protected by Heavenly Father and are “encircled about eternally in the arms of his love” signified so effectively in this case by the finely turned circular frame that encircles and contains the tableau
Technically the anatomies of the figures are finely modeled and the patinas of the respective surfaces are masterfully controlled with well-appointed textures and coloring. The bronze flesh tones of the figures harmonize well with the color of the circular wooden frame and help to integrate the piece. It was a delight to see this work receive an award at the October 2019 ACA exhibition and symposium. Hopefully it will inspire other sculptors as they work to refine their talents and techniques in order to give expression to more finely executed reverential and devotional artworks, such as this, in the future.
Herman du Toit, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Alliance of Covenant Artists, Inc.
* Artist * Educator * Peace Builder * Super Connector * Creative Thinker
Art Works (partial list)
1992 “A Gift From the Islands” – bronze sculpture. The Church History Museum – Salt Lake City, UT
1994 “Women of the Spirit” – bronze sculptures – at General Relief Society Women’s Conference, Provo, UT
1999 “Because Joseph Asked” – bronze life size bust for BYU Idaho Student Housing
1999 “Emma” – bronze life size bust for BYU Idaho Student Housing
2000 “Borgstrom Brothers” – bronze bas relief North Box Elder County Veterans Memorial, Tremonton, UT
2008 Father’s Story” - oil portraiture, Best in show, Sovereign Gallery art competition, Portland, OR
2008 “Encouronne to Life” – oil, 1st place American Mothers National Art Show, Washington, D.C.
2010 “The Tree of Life” - oil painting, Chronical Artists show, Lake Oswego, OR
2012 “Ascencion – Ascending One Step at a Time” - bronze sculpture for Mentors International fundraising Gala, Salt Lake City, UT
2019 “Angel Mother” – bronze sculpture, International Art Show, Church History Museum, Salt Lake City, UT also at Deseret Book, Salt Lake City Utah
2019 “Motherhood – Greater Love” – bronze sculpture, Deseret Book, Salt Lake City, UT
2019 " Motherhood - Greater Love" , Merit Award - Alliance of the Covenant Artists, Salt Lake City, Utah
2020 "Motherhood-Greater Love", "Angel Mother" -Best and Brightest Show 1st place winner, Scottsdale, Az.
Galleries
2019 to present- Deseret Book Store, “Angel Mother”, “Motherhood – Greater Love”, flagship store downtown Salt Lake City, Utah
2019 – “Angel Mother” Church Museum of Art and History, Salt Lake City, Utah
1997-99- Kokopelli Gallery, “Women of the Spirit” series, Phoenix International Airport
1997-99- Maya Gallery, “A Gift from the Island” bronze sculpture, Waimea, Hawaii
1996-98- Utah Artists Gallery, “Women of the Spirit” series, Salt Lake International Airport
Selected Awards and Recognition
2018 – Acceptance into International art show - Church History Museum, Salt Lake City, UT
2011 – Oregon Mother of the Year
2011 – “Women in American History” award recipient from Daughters of the American Revolution, Beaverton Chapter
2010 – Selected as a Chronicle Artist , Lake Oswego, Oregon Art Festival
2009 - 1st place Best and Brightest, Scottsdale Art School show – bronze “In Her Mothers Footsteps”
2009 – Education Award: “Women and Their Influence For Good”; the Worldwide Organization for Women
2010 – selected as a Chronicle Artist , Lake Oswego, Oregon Art Festival
1992- Acceptance into 150thyear celebration show, the Relief Society, Church History Museum, Salt Lake City, Utah
