Finding balance in our daily lives

Like most artists I tend to create series of works - well if you think you are onto a good thing why not stick to it for a while at least. I have decided to do a series called Finding Balance. Basically it is about pausing each day and reflecting on a word that might help to give a focus to the day.

Barry Smith © Finding Balance 1

The pieces are cubes of timber that are balanced on a trimmed point. I have created a triangular pocket in the front face by cutting a vee into the balanced cube and covering it with metal.  The piece above is a 200mm cube of Rose Gum.

Barry Smith © Daily reflection words

Barry Smith © Daily reflection words

Words that have been stamped into recycled fingers of metal are placed into the pocket - 7 in all - one for each day of the week.

Barry Smith © Finding balance 2-4

Barry Smith © Finding balance 2-2

The pieces above are 90mm cubes of Blackbutt and 110mm cubes of River Oak. Copper nails and tacks courtesy of Hiro, Tatebayashi, Japan.

In an ideal situation I would envisage that the owner of one of these pieces would put it in a place that is calming and inspirational. In the morning before things get too busy they would visit the quiet place draw out a word for the day and reflect on it for a moment before going about the daily chores and business. Hopefully the word and its influence could stay with the person for the day.