Golden Beginnings

(Iconostasis from a Greek Catholic Orthodox church in the Košice Region of Eastern Slovakia.)

Gold.  Throughout the ages, humans have been mesmerized by it, offered it to their Divinities, created jewelry, and adorned themselves and loved ones with it, gilded paper, art, objects, and buildings. Poems and songs are written about it, it was/is used as currency and entire nations have been built and destroyed because of it.

From science to myth, the luster of gold never tarnishes. It is the ultimate pirate booty, vitally used in space and on astronaut helmets, medieval alchemists devoted lifetimes to creating it, dragons hoard it, pharaohs filled pyramids with it, royals wear crowns of it, golden fleece was sought in ancient Greek mythology, countless religions revere it as a symbol of purity, holiness and forgiveness, it is found in meteorites, pure gold is edible, golden geese lay eggs made of it, Fort Knox is filled with it, Midas had its touch and leprechauns guard pots of it at the end of rainbows!

The wonder and fascination with this element for me began as a very small child, as far back as I can remember.  My primary ethnicity is of  Eastern European heritage, from my earliest beginnings, I was baptized as a baby in a glittering gilded Byzantine Catholic Church.  Trying to recall my first encounter with art, I could remember as a tiny child these early beginnings gave me my first glimpse into the majestic use of gold as a medium of reverence in worship expressed through the wondrous iconography and extensively gilded decor of the Orthodoxy. 

Gold is used plentifully in the architecture, iconography, and religious implements of the Eastern Orthodox Church as a representation of purity and holiness. The soaring Iconostasis (icon wall) common in Byzantine churches is a wondrous masterpiece of craftsmanship and worship to behold, lifting the viewer’s mind toward the pure golden streets of the Heavens and the throne room of the All-Mighty.

Gold is plentiful in the Czech/Slovakian mountains and Slovakia has a long history of gold production many people are not aware of. People have been finding gold in Slovakia dating back over 2000 years. The Carpathian mountains have gold and the most well-known site in Slovakia for gold is the volcanic gold fields in an area known as the Kremnica Mountains located almost in the direct center of the country. The first record of subsurface mining here dates all the way back to the 9th Century which makes Slovakia one of the oldest known gold-producing countries in Europe. Thus too, kings and wealthy nobles have built more castles in this little country than in any other part of the world.

In short, my ancestors have a long history with gold. Inspired by the church and country of my heritage and significant impression as a child, the love of gilding and the comfort of working with this golden medium is inspired through the love and use of gold for generations of my family lineage!  💛

Image Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korom%C4%BEa

Tags: gold, fine art, gilding, inspiration