St. Hildegard of Bingen, Patron of Gardeners, Musicians, and Women Physicians; Handmade Sculpture

I design, carve, and cast the pieces myself. I cast them in modified gypsum (a very strong building material) with bronze powder. The pieces come boxed, can stand or hang (there's a hook on the back, which is flat and unglazed), and can go outside. Each piece comes with a history card stating:

"St. Hildegard (1098-1179), an abbess and foundress of a Benedictine community, was also “an author and theologian; prophet and preacher; musician and composer; poet and artist; doctor and pharmacist.” Throughout her life she had a series of visions that she described in her illustrated book Scivias. The visions show human beings, the universe, and all creatures as “sparks” of God’s love. Her poetry and music are further expressions of this vision. She also wrote two treatises on medicine and “stands as one of the great figures in the history of women in medicine.” She did all this during a time in which women were accorded little respect as artists and intellectuals, yet the effects of Hildegard’s experiments and advancements in music, art, and healing continue to this day. This small statue of Hildegard was hand carved by Hank Schlau and hand painted by Karen Schlau."

Dimensions: 9.5 (h) x 2.5 x 2