EMELINE EXHIBITION AND RESIDENCY

CHARLESTON, SC

STEPHANIE FORBES
**Divine Armor From the Lowcountry**

On New Year's Eve 2020, I learned of the passing of my beloved grandmother, a deeply sacred woman
who had transcended to the Divine.

In creating this body of work, my primary intention was to establish a profound connection, both in flesh and spirit, with my grandmother. I earnestly desired to experience her presence again, and I even pleaded for her to reveal herself to me, whether in dreams or subtle moments in my waking life, to bring me peace. To my surprise, she did so unexpectedly, leading me into the presence of Divine wonder, where she conveyed, "Not me, God." The loss of a pillar of love, a constant source of support, and a tangible embodiment of embrace and compassion can leave us adrift. In the face of such a loss, we grapple with how to move forward and maintain a path of intentional goodness when the guiding hand we once relied on is no longer present. As I contemplated these challenges and the potential of navigating life after profound loss, my collection of oysters began to grow. What began as a decades-old hobby evolved into a practice of examining these shells with a newfound perspective. I started to view them not merely as objects but as carriers of human qualities. These shells, fragile and precious, held layers of significance—their role in nature, their symbolism in various cultures, and their sacrifice for the sake of environmental clarity. In their layers, I saw a capacity for human connection and, perhaps, a symbolic connection to God.

In the face of trials, we must press forward, sifting through what is given to us. We must discern what we can fully embrace with delight, extracting the nourishment from it and discarding the remnants in a way that positively impacts others. Much like Saint Paul, who wrote a crucial letter to the Ephesians while in a prison cell, I am fascinated by the concept of survival against all odds—a parallel to the resilience of the oyster, the life of Jesus, and the lives of those who intentionally choose goodness amid chaos. My sculptures are a manifestation of this intent. Using oysters I've gathered, I crafted helmets inspired by Saint Paul's letter—a plea to navigate life with a metaphorical Helmet of Salvation in the face of pervasive evils. These ten helmets were meticulously constructed, paying homage to the analogy that has brought solace to many.

Alongside these sculptures, I've captured quiet moments on specific shores, featuring select shells representing the waters I've spent years within. These compositions serve as meditations that inspired the sculptures. Each work is composed of shells collected from specific sites and dates. For instance, Helmet no.1 comprises shells from Jekyll Island, March 2018, low tide, while Helmet no. 6 incorporates shells from the same shores, the same time of year, but after the capsize of the Golden Ray in May 2022, low tide. Nature, much like God, magnifies resilience in ways challenging for the human mind to grasp, yet the intention to align with these notions remains within reach.