EVENING HIGHLIGHT: DIVINATIONS BY SADIE SHELDON

ONE NIGHT ONLY!

During an August 2023 residency at Stove Works, I created a divination system based on a series of objects I’ve collected over the past 4 years. The genesis of this project was intuitive, a magnetic pull towards the discarded and overlooked fragments of our material world, each one bearing the weight of untold stories and uncharted experiences. Each piece was encased in silver, transforming them into mystical rings adorned with profound potential.

Eight distinct categories emerged organically, reflecting the inherent order within chaos. The rings, now organized within a custom-crafted box, became the building blocks of an original divination system that transcends the boundaries of the ordinary. The amalgamation of chance and choice is enacted by a pair of dice, inviting participants to roll within the recessed mirror well, where the dance of reflections and shadows mirrors the intricate dance of fate. With 1/64 possible outcomes, each roll unveils a unique narrative, accompanied by a meticulously sewn collage and a text-based reading. These collages, born from the fragments of the forgotten, offer visual portals into the realm of the unknown, bridging the gap between the seen and the unseen.

While I make no claims to possess divine powers, this project is a celebration of our shared quest for meaning. It stands as a testament to the idea that the specific is the universal—each found object, now a ring, holds a microcosm of stories that resonate with our collective human experience. Within the distinct environment of Stove Works, this project found its form, voice and purpose. As the development of the work nears completion, I am pleased to share it with the Stove Works community, offering readings that might shed light on our material and interior worlds.

-Sadie Sheldon, August ‘23 Artist-in-Residence