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During my decade-long quest of stonelight in
cathedrals and other churches throughout Europe and the United States, I have come to appreciate the multifaceted artistic nature of these
sacred structures. Particularly appealing to me is the woodwork adorning the doors, pulpits, pews and choirs of many medieval European
churches, be they large or small. Although I could have included in this exhibit artistic examples of wood from many countries, I have
confined myself to some of my favorites from France, a country my wife and I have visited frequently over the years. Hence, the French title
for this exhibit.
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In waiting for the light to enhance the objects of my exposures, I
often have extra time to wander, wonder and admire the unbelievably expressive nature of the worked wood in these sacred places. Of
particular interest to me are misericords - small carvings that often adorn the undersides of the seats in the choir. Like their stone
cousins, the gargoyles and grotesques adorning the upper reaches, misericords are often more eccentric, personal, even secular creations
adorning the lower, darker and less obvious nooks of a church. Viewing them for me is like looking through a window of time and communing
directly with their makers, otherwise lost in the shadows of anonymity. It is a great pleasure, and privilege, for me to enable you to
experience vicariously this "esprit du bois.".
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