Once the black mesh was in place, I had a second bout of stage fright. Aesthetically, Terra Ignis could easily stand on its own. Without the red! The realization unsettled me for awhile, as I walked through the installation. I was mesmerized by the black mesh and flowing shadows, the spare aesthetic power.

After waffling, however, came the knowing: I didn’t want to mesmerize, I wanted to captivate! To do that, I had to pump life into the bare, black bones of the installation. The work needed the passion I associate with the fiery of a volcano. “Follow the work,” I told myself, “follow the work.”

Here are images from Stage Two: Adding the Red.

See also Stage One:  In the Beginning was Black.