From my statement about this piece:

The title, Ex Corpore (literally “from the body”), comes from the designation for a type of relic derived from the body of a saint.  This piece was inspired by a collection of reliquaries in the medieval collection of the Metropolitan Museum.  It calls into question the arbitrary nature of what is sometimes held as sacred.

 

Part of the collection of reliquaries in the medieval collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

 

 

A reliquary for bones of St. Valentine in the Met collection

 

 

I bought these on eBay years ago. Like other objects, they are never the same after being used in a project.

 

 

This was the outside board on the bundle at the lumber yard. It was water-stained, sun damaged, and had some strap marks - but it looked like it had potential. Once planed down, it was beautiful.

 

 

 

A little off at the elbow

 

 

Can't believe that I actually cut that pretty straight.

 

 

There is a real Zen to cutting dovetails by hand with saw and chisel. This is a truly amazing piece of mahogany - it made the process easy.

 

 

Pins and tails cut

 

 

Glazing the front glass panel.

 

 

OK enough "making of" pictures.

There is not really too much that I can say about this piece. It reflects my trying to come to terms with my early Catholic upbringing and seminary experiences. The intent was to humorously examine some of the more bizarre Church traditions. I find it interesting that the Church tried to distance itself from pagan traditions, yet remained so deeply steeped in pagan roots (anyone who has seen the complete Holy Saturday liturgy knows what I mean).

I am not mocking things like holy relics - but I am trying to deconstruct the tradition via a reductio ad absurdum.