Acrylic paint on linen with hand-colored stainless steel ferromagnetic pigment cast in magnetic fields on board

Squaring the Circle and Circling the Square:

The network of concepts this body of work drew upon, ties the material and spiritual to form and process. 

Following prior bodies of work where I controlled my magnetic/particulate process to control detailed composition and patterning, I wanted to strip composition to allow the process itself to conceptually merge with the process through symbol. The circle and square flashed into mind as an analogy.  Just as my artistic process relies on the opposing forces of magnetic pressure, the circle and the square have a rich history of symbolizing opposition and bridging the material and spiritual worlds. In this series, I explore these symbols across both ancient and modern contexts.

In alchemy, the symbolism of the "squared circle" or "circling the square" refers to the transformative process of "The Great Work." Similarly, Gesamtkunstwerk—or a total work of art—can be viewed here as a transformation of material and spirit to achieve physical and mental alignment. I view this process as a symbolic ritual rather than a religious practice. Using the ritual, I felt it energetically cultivate a deeper desire, even a subconscious pursuit of wellness and balance in daily life through mental and physical meditation. By utilizing external forces like magnetism to allow scatter patterns and mathematical potentials to resolve within a field, I believe I was able to activate this symbol in my psyche.

This symbolic tension echoes throughout history and culture:

• Architecture and Lore: The phrase "Rome was built as a circle in a square" traces back to the legendary founding of the city by Romulus. According to ancient tradition, Romulus plowed a sacred square boundary on the Palatine Hill, while a circular trench was dug at its center to connect the human settlement to the cosmos.

• Sacred Geometry and Society: This tradition extends into Western esoteric practices through the Masonic compass and square. Transforming the rigid, angular material world into fluid forms represents the spiritual labor required to attain the archetypal self, balancing the individual within the broader structure of society.

• Modern and Indigenous Signage: We see these dynamics in contemporary life; in U.S. Road signage, the square dictates strict regulations, laws, and restrictions, while the circle offers friendly guidance. Similarly, the Native American medicine wheel utilizes the square to denote the four cardinal directions, while the circle implies overarching balance.

In contemporary physics, scientists’ study micro-grids to trace minute orbits, ellipses, and oscillations. In this light, the square becomes a gridded map used to study the movements of the physical universe—a modern pursuit of enlightenment.

Ultimately, this symbology serves as a foundation, continuing to evolve and take on greater dimensions in my later works.