Artist Statement: The word reliquary comes from the French word reliquaire, meaning “a receptacle, such as a shrine or altar, for keeping and displaying sacred objects. Reliquaries became an important part of Christian practices in Europe beginning in the third century. They could be made from metal or carved wood, often based on an architectural design, such as a church with a pitched roof or a Gothic style church window. They held precious stones, pictures, crucifixes and religious relics and were used as personal prayer altars.
The ancient pottery oil lamp, like the one in this piece, were in use well before the time of Christ and could be found in nearly every Jewish household to provide light at night. A cotton wick was placed in a hole at one end, while a center hole allowed the lamp to be filled with oil. These oil lamps are mentioned literally and metaphorically in numerous places in Holy Scripture. The title of this piece is taken from Psalm 119:105, “Your word is a lamp unto my feet, a light unto my path.” The idea is, that the word of God is like a torch or lamp to a man or woman in a dark night. The lamp is fed with the oil of the Spirit. It shows them the way; it is a light which shines on the road that one treads, so that they may see the path, and that they may see any danger which may be in their path. Those who make the word of God their guide, and follows its teachings, will be able to take the road in which they ought to go, avoid all those by-paths which would lead them astray, and see any obstruction which may lie in their path. People need such a guide, and the Bible is just such a guide.