Melanie Spinks Fine Art

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Spoils of War was inspired by folk Pacific Island art-making.  Since ancient times, when a soldier wins a victory over an enemy, they take a token from the dead as a commemoration displaying the triumph publicly.  For me, these images hold personal symbolism of spiritual battles fought and won.  The jars of clay are more representative of the soul.  Though intact, the fragile vessels, though not devastated, nevertheless show the burn marks of battle.  All pieces are pit-fired ceramic. 

 

The title comes from an ancient war lament by a writer only known as Micah:

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Rejoice not over me, O my enemy;
   when I fall, I shall rise;
when I sit in darkness,
   the Lord will be a light to me.

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