Seeing the Saint on the Forest Edge

Jean Arp's Saint of the Forest Edge; McNay Art Museum, San Antonio — Jean Arp‘s Saint of the Forest Edge; McNay Art Museum, San Antonio

As I was leaving the McNay Art Museum, I looked back and saw this sculpture by Jean Arp through the full length windows by the entrance. Sometimes art captures me, not because of the piece itself, but because of the artwork in it’s particular space. In this case, I was struck by the small sculpture framed in the giant portrait window with a flood of light that wasn’t directly behind it, but slightly off to one side. The image of the sculpture in its space became an artful vision of a piece of artwork. I shot this photo from outside the museum. If you look at the high res image you can barely see my ghost like reflection taking the picture.

Sometimes, the title of a piece adds to its impact. In this case, “Saint of the Forest Edge” was ironic, since it sits just inside the window looking out over perhaps the most beautiful grounds of an art museum I’ve ever experienced, yet forever trapped inside.