Peaceful Setting

Last week I escaped the chaos at my house and found a peaceful scene under a Russian Olive tree in Lander. I first noticed the sculpture when I drove by on an errand and later decided to stop and take a photo from the driveway; however, God had other plans.

As I approached the driveway, I saw a woman mowing the grass. On impulse, I asked permission to photograph the sculpture and commented on the beauty of the piece.

As we visited about the sculpture, I learned that the woman was the artist and that her goal when creating the piece was to depict Mary in her later years.

The three jars on Mary's right represent Christ's first miracle (turning water into wine at the wedding in Canaan), and the crown of thorns Mary clutches to her heart is from Christ's crucifixion. The piece gently pulls the observer into Mary's world and is simply stunning.

Mary from Canaan to Calvary
Sculpted by Beverly Paddleford

I would have missed the opportunity to visit with the artist and to learn more about the sculpture if I had not gone back to photograph this work of art.