Exhibit Guide
Hypatia of Alexandria
The Cultivation of Wisdom
Hypatia (hy-PAY-shuh) was one of the most extraordinary women in recorded history. As a mathematician, philosopher, inventor, and astronomer, she explored the world’s mysteries, and it was through her understandings of these mysteries that she began to cultivate an ease within herself. Hypatia was revered as a Divine being and teacher in her time; men and women traveled from all over the known world to study with her, with the intention of unlocking the mysteries within themselves in order to achieve peace, and to live in harmony with the One. Hypatia is not known for any truly innovative thoughts within the history of philosophy. Her attainment of peace did not come through new insights into herself or the world, but through her perfect implementation of the existent teachings within the Neoplatonist philosophical tradition. She became aware in her lifetime that she had all she would need in order to fully realize herself. She is depicted here as kind, knowledgeable, strong, aligned, and purposeful. Hypatia devoted her life to illuminating herself and all of the inquisitive minds around her.
Confucius
The Cultivation of Virtue
This sculpture portrays Confucius, the teacher of teachers & leader of leaders, at an earlier stage in his life, when his inspired thought would lead to great action, to bring upon betterment for all human beings. One of the greatest thinkers to have ever lived, and whose thinking lead to the establishment of the very pillars of thought that have supported Chinese culture for 2,500 years, Confucius believed in our innate goodness and taught to nourish it through respectful action in life. He believed that to cultivate harmony within a society, one must begin with establishing virtue within oneself; then the family, the city, and the nation will follow.
Leonardo da Vinci
The Joy of Learning
This work of Art was created to celebrate the joy of learning and the cultivation of knowledge. Leonardo da Vinci, throughout his life, was one of the greatest embodiments of this joy and appreciation for knowledge. When one is engrossed in the process of learning to increase understanding of the world, knowledge of self expands, and the ability to navigate in the world with greater richness, appreciation, and harmony ensues. For each unique individual, there lies a path for their cultivation of knowledge, and this sculpture is an inspiration for all who wish to embrace the opportunity to learn and develop themselves.
Leonardo has been a guiding light for me for many years. I have studied thoroughly with the mind of an artist all of his drawings and paintings, which have awoken within me a richer appreciation for the subtleties of the world in which I live. Through my intimacy with Leonardo’s work, coupled with having lived for many years in the center of Florence, Italy, the city that supported Leonardo’s early artistic development, a spiritual kinship was fostered between myself and the Renaissance master. This enabled me to endow the portrait with a sense of his spirit, in addition to a physical likeness. - Jonathan Sherman
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