Native Heart

Description

Native Heart is a visceral, mixed-media study in texture, balancing the rustic warmth of organic geometry with raw, structural metal. It is a sophisticated artifact that uses material tension to create a powerful, silent narrative. The centerpiece is an imposing, raw-edged heart, forged from a heavy-gauge, oxidized steel plate with a distinct deep rust patina. This industrial heart, which contains a perfectly formed negative heart-shaped cutout, symbolizes resilience and foundational truth. Affixed to the heart are two metal figures, likely steel, held by invisible magnetic tension. The figure on the left is crowned by a striking, large yellow sunstone/citrine gem, set within a gear-like bezel, representing the light, the conscious mind, and clarity. The figure on the right, also capped in a metal detail, represents the body, the intuitive, and the anchor. Small polished metal dots draw the eye down the figures, mapping a path of alignment. Guarding this central union, two hand-wrought metal lizards sentinel the composition—one at the top, one at the bottom—grounding the piece with a direct, Southwestern connection to the earth and ancient wisdom. The Chassis: Carved Architectural Cedar The artwork is mounted to a massive, beautifully grained cedar plank substrate. To emphasize the piece's integrity, rather than enclosing the art in a separate frame, the outer border of the cedar has been hand-carved away. This integral frame creates a structural, deep-toned boundary that naturally frames the aged ochre-yellow interior, ensuring the artwork feels self-contained and of one piece. Specifications & Features Title: Native Heart Medium: Mixed Media (Sculpted Steel, Magnets, Citrine/Sunstone, and Carved Cedar) Mounting: Recessed heavy-duty hanging hardware included Design Aesthetic: Ideal for industrial modern, rustic contemporary, southwestern, or high-end artistic spaces that value deep tactile, textural contrasts. Artist’s Note Native Heart is an exploration of invisible alignment. By anchoring hard, reclaimed metal against the aromatic permanence of a hand-carved cedar chassis, this piece captures the tensions that bind us. It is rugged, deliberate, and engineered to provoke a quiet fascination.