Reinhard Ziegler’s recent body of work, "Gardener of Peace," reveals new artistic territories intertwined with the artist’s deeply held spiritual practice. Ziegler was asked by a longtime friend and collaborator to create images to accompany the text of his freshly translated and reinterpreted "Peace Prayer" (attributed to St. Francis of Assisi and here named "Gardener of Peace").

After several disappointing attempts to fulfill the request, it became clear to Ziegler that an entirely different approach was called for: namely, interpretation, not illustration. Rather than trying to depict the antithetical phrases (hatred-love, despair-hope, discord-music), he began to develop new work inspired by the underlying intentions of the prayer. Weaving together materials and imagery related to both gardening and peace-making brought cohesion to the project.

Photographically-based art (using current technology as well as vintage processes) continues to be a central medium, along with the exploration of a wide range of new materials and processes including metals and patinas, wood working and furniture design, found and collected objects, book design, and digital media animation. Ziegler’s dominant use of the specific blue pigment "International Klein Blue" in this exhibition draws on Yves Klein’s association of the color with “Pure Spirit” and speaks to both artists’ connection to the natural world.

Following the opening reception, the exhibit will be on view through October 7.