Public & private commissions & sculptures
Prima Mater ("First Mother")
rammed earth amphitheater
48 ft. diameter x 5 ft. high
From an aerial view, the image of the earthworks suggests the head, shoulders, and encircled arms of a person rising from the earth. The sculpture was constructed on a lower grass field of the Arts Exchange in southeast Atlanta, with the "head" & "shoulders" serving as a stage, and the "arms" as 4 rising rows of seating. Symbolically the image was intended to suggest the birthing of a new humanity, one that is vitally connected to the preservation of the sacred earth.
Ninety people, many of whom were artists volunteering their time, were involved in the construction process of the 250 tons of earth. North Carolina artist Steve Midgett was invaluable in helping with the rammed earth construction.