I have always been a lover of things past.  Some of my favorite places have been cities or towns that truly celebrate their history, even revel in it.  To walk into a building that has been repurposed and restored is such a delight.  But it seems that more often than not, older buildings and homes instead of being loved and revered are neglected and then torn apart to make way for the shiny and new.  The sculptural work of Aaron Moran uses pieces of found architectural wood to create works that are as complex and chaotic as our history.

Each piece becomes a small monument to our collective history.  Just scraps might be affixed to repair a dying structure, so these scraps from buildings long gone are bound together physically in each work and spiritually in their shared destiny.

Instead of languishing at the bottom of a landfill, these relics become sculptural harbingers of what we hope may be our fate– to leave behind a little of ourselves, to know that our existence is remembered and celebrated.

To see more of Aaron Moran’s work, please visit his website.  My husband and I used two pews from the church where my grandparents were married for our outdoor wedding last year.  It meant so to have that continuity and share in the past as we began our future.  Is there a building from your past you wish you had a part of?

Featured image is Tier 2, found wood, acrylic, house paint, graphite and varnish, 10x13x14.  All images are via the artist’s website.