NED

Ned is a ceramic sculpture, a gift from the artist who created him, that sits on top of a wooden box/stand in my family room.  A friend's grandson christened him with the name Ned.

To me he appears to be a young boy, clad in light blue pajamas with a ruffle at his neck, wrists, and down the button placket.  He is kneeling with tiny feet behind him, and tiny hands held slightly above his thighs.  His face is that of an old man that at times seems to change with the light, and with my focus.  It morphs from old man, to child, and back to old man in the blink of the eye. 

I believe that art is to be interpreted by the viewer and this piece represents to me the ancient wisdom buried deep within each child.  There lies within the potential to know and recall all; it lies waiting to be tapped into.  Ned kneels in prayer to the unknown, his body that of a small child, but his face and head reflect the ancient wisdom within, that in the blink of the beholder's eye switches him from old man to child and back.  

He is the quintessential child posed at the threshold of awareness.  Perhaps in the moment of his kneeling to offer the prayer to the unknown he morphs into the wise old being that shows in the face of this sculpture.  I believe that this is a journey each child faces, and the worry that reflects in his face speaks to the decisions that will one day have to be made.  Will he choose himself or will he be swayed by society's pressure?  A choice each of us must make; to follow the dictates of society, or to be true to self?  No wonder Ned's face reflects the thought, worry, and hesitation as he considers his decision.

Ned is a strong artistic piece.  It reflects the turmoil that perhaps the artist struggles with moving into adulthood.  There are lots of shadows reflected in this piece, hesitation, and perhaps distrust that this child will make his journey safely to his destination.  In the subject and form of this work the artist seems to offer both caution and hope to the viewer.  Yes the journey may be difficult, but there is light in this tunnel.  In his prayer to the unknown he can rely on faith in himself and in the process to safely arrive.  That may be all any of us can do.  Since life offers no guarantees beyond birth and death then Ned's journey suggests a great deal to those who will take the time to stop and contemplate.

Within each child lies the seed of the adult he/she can become.  With nurturing and wise council this seed may grow into what it was intended to be.  And within each adult lies the seed of childhood; something we can always draw from in the journey to adulthood.  In a life thoughtfully lived nothing is wasted, wrong, or not relevant.

Ned kneels on his wooden box at the crossroad and moment of reflecting the possibilities of his path.  His face and head show both the wisdom and the struggle of such a journey. I feel he invites the viewer to consider their own path and journey through a lifetime. Do we want to give into the dictates of society or will we choose ourselves?