Mystic Sky w/ Self Portrait
Date1992
MediumOffset lithograph; collage; construction
DimensionsImage: 21 1/2 × 25 3/8 inches (54.6 × 64.5 cm)
Sheet: 21 1/2 × 25 3/8 inches (54.6 × 64.5 cm)
Matted: 32 × 40 inches (81.3 × 101.6 cm)
Credit LineMuseum purchase in honor of Courtney McNeil with Telfair Museum of Art acquisitions endowment funds.
Object number2021.7.10
Copyright© Courtesy of the artist and Roberts Projects, Los Angeles, California.
The images and text contained on this page are owned by Telfair Museums or used by the Museum with permission from the owners. Unauthorized reproduction, transmission or display of these materials is prohibited with the exception of items deemed “fair use” as defined by U.S. and international copyright laws.Label TextIn Betye Saar’s work, a vast array of mystical symbols and spiritual iconography open viewers’ imaginations to the mysteries of the celestial and terrestrial planes. Viewing art as a bridge across time and space, and between people of different cultures and experiences, the artist features in this work a pair of dice to stand for the notion of chance, an eye in a pyramid as representative of the all-seeing eye of God, a lightning bolt to reference sudden enlightenment, and shooting stars as a harbinger of change. Other symbolic elements include a flaming heart, a floating mask, and a pair of lips. Saar’s self-portrait emerges from the bottom corner, while an open palm reaches towards the warmth of a red, blazing sun. These cross-cultural symbols open a pathway into curiosity and imagination that Saar sees as vital to creativity.
Text written for 'Contemporary Spotlight: New Acquisitions from the Brandywine Workshop' on view February 4 - May 1, 2022.
