Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord
USA
(about Susan)

Spirit Book #27: Absorbed Prayer 2001
5"h x 9.5"w x 9.5"d Book of Lokta paper from Nepal,
Mashamba paper from Africa,
thread, and glass seed beads in a cradle of chestnut stems
and thread on a base of binders board and paper
I came across the phrase 'absorbed prayer'
in Time Sanctified,
a book about medieval Books of Hours
by Roger S. Wieck
.
 

  Spirit Book #43: Renewed Wisdom 2004
13.5"h x 18.25"w x 12"d
Book of Mexican amatyl paper, paper from Bhutan,
myrrh beads, glass seed beads, copper beads,
and thread in a cradle of lilac and blackberry roots
with beads on a base of binders board and paper
The book was recycled from a prior book (Spirit Book #15)
which is why I called it renewed.
Wisdom comes from the myrrh beads.
Myrhh was one of the gifts the Wise Men brought the Christ child
 

.
 
Spirit Book #13: Hope Offering 1998
7"h x 13.75"w x 8.5"d
Book of Mexican amatyl paper, Lokta paper from Nepal,
glass seed beads, and thread in a cradle of hawthorn twigs
with rue seed pods and horn beads
on a base of binders board and paper
The hawthorn is a symbol of hope.
In Ireland and Wales, women hang bits of cloth
on branches near sacred wells,
a custom that was originally an offering to the goddess.
Here the hawthorn is embellished
with beads and seed pods from the rue plant.
Rue is the symbol of all good things at weddings in Lithuania.
 

 
Spirit Book #30: Ixchel's Dream 2002
5.5"h x 12"w x 11.5"d
Books of amatyl paper, banana mesquite paper,
horn beads, wooden beads, and thread
in weathered coconut shells
with beads and corn on a base of board and paper
I found the coconut shells along a rocky rise
above a beach on Isla Mujeres in Mexico.
The name came to me instantly.
At the end of the island were the ruins of the temple of Ixchel,
who was the Mayan moon goddess.
 

   
Additional images of Susan's work, and contact details, can be seen on her website
http://www.susankapuscinskigaylord.com/

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