Secular Sacrifice

A Tree Born from Nature’s Embrace

As a child, I spent my summers in the forrests of Northern California, finding solace among trees and rivers, much like Antoni Gaudí, who spent time studying nature the wild landscapes of Catalonia centuries prior. Those moments shaped us both, weaving a deep love for nature’s patterns, textures, and forms into our souls. This sculpture, *Secular Sacrifice*, is my tribute to that shared connection—a hand-carved clay tree, bone-white and skeletal, that holds jewelry like branches cradling leaves, blending beauty with a quiet critique of our materialistic world.

Gaudí’s Spirit in My Hands

Gaudí’s work, from the flowing curves of Casa Batlló to the towering spires of La Sagrada Familia, taught me that design should harmonize with nature, not dominate it. His philosophy, as I learned from *Gaudí His Life, His Theories, His Work* (Martinell, 1975) and *Gaudí the Complete Works* (Zerbst, 2020), was rooted in the organic—every curve, every texture inspired by the world around him. Like Gaudí, I believe art should honor nature’s aesthetics, its rhythms, and its imperfections. *Secular Sacrifice* echoes this, its gnarled branches mimicking the raw, living forms Gaudí cherished, while its function as a jewelry holder whispers a warning about our obsession with consumption.

Crafting the Story

Creating this sculpture was like telling a story with my hands. I started with soft clay, molding it into a tree-like form that feels both alive and decayed, inspired by Gaudí’s organic, almost otherworldly designs. I carved each branch by hand, letting the clay’s texture mimic the rough bark and smooth bones of nature’s relics. A bone-white glaze gave it an ethereal glow, as if it were a fossil from a forgotten forest. Every branch was shaped to hold jewelry, making the piece both a functional object and a quiet protest against the way we adorn ourselves at nature’s expense. The process was slow, deliberate, and deeply personal—a reflection of Gaudí’s own meticulous craftsmanship.

A Mirror to Our Ways

*Secular Sacrifice* is more than a sculpture; it’s a conversation. Its skeletal form, inspired by Gaudí’s love for nature’s patterns, invites you to pause and reflect. The jewelry it holds—symbols of our material desires—hangs like offerings on a tree that’s both beautiful and haunting. Like Gaudí’s works, which blend art, function, and meaning, this piece harmonizes with nature while asking us to look at the cost of our choices. It’s my way of carrying forward Gaudí’s vision, blending my own time in nature with a call to honor the world we live in.