Artwork of the Week: April 7
“I associate pattern with devotion. With my art, pattern is this manifestation of order and structure of this life. There is structure, there is purpose, there is plan, it isn’t just random events being thrown together. Life is more than that.”
Inspired by the intricate Moorish decorative patterns of the Alhambra palace (Granada, Spain), Elise Wehle explores the intersection between legible forms and geometric designs. Originally, she found herself drawn to the process of papercutting but in recent years has gravitated towards organic materials—such as pressed plants—to achieve a similar effect.
Through a Corridor of Laurel includes wildflowers, palm, fern, aspen, and laurel leaves ordered in the form of a human archway. Associated with victory, the laurel is of special significance as it communicates triumph over difficulty. This composition includes a silhouetted figure whose arms cross in humble submission and prayerful acceptance—a gesture often associated with the Virgin Mary. Its architectural structure suggests a portal, a “corridor” through which the viewer may pass through. With earthy materials and meticulous craft, Wehle’s work invites us to consider our own victorious passage through mortality and eternity.
