CATALOG NO. B66 2015
Vessel of Secrets
Book closed
Specifications Edition of 2
Size - 6.25” x 7.25” x 7.5” closed; 13.5” x 20” x 2.8” fully open
Structure - Aluminum and Tyvek.
Exterior panels - embossed copper sheet with patina.
Interior - Twelve paintings in alkyd medium and dry pigments on paper pyramid structures outlined with Venetian marbled paper.
Digital printed text.
Collections
Permanent collection - Baylor University Libraries, Special Collections
See also Vessel of Secrets - 12 drawings, edition
Vessel of Secrets - 12 drawings, unique book
Vessel of Secrets is a dodecahedron, a twelve-sided perfect solid,
which represented the universe in the ancient world. It was inspired by "The Nature of Things"
written c.50 BC by the Roman philosopher and poet Lucretius.
From this ancient book I distilled twelve ideas, or secrets, I consider to represent some of the
fundamental ways the universe functions. The ideas deal with the physical sciences,
biology and philosophy, and are personal observations.
Each of the twelve secrets is represented by an embossed copper plate on the exterior
of the structure and a paper pyramid supporting a miniature painting on the interior
of the corresponding side. The rear of each pyramid contains the text of the secret.
The structure is held closed by small powerful magnets and can be easily opened when
rotated to the proper angle. Once opened, the entire structure can be flattened for
display or partially flattened to show exterior and interior surfaces.
Book partially open
Book fully open
Secret No. 1
Secret No. 2
Secret No. 3
Secret No. 4
Secret No. 5
Secret No. 6
Secret No. 7
Secret No. 8
Secret No. 9
Secret No. 10
Secret No. 11
Secret No. 12