In Reliquary Spike, weathered barn wood forms the foundation of the composition, its surface bearing the marks of time, labor, and exposure. Grain, wear, and subtle tonal shifts remain visible, allowing the material’s history to speak as clearly as the artist’s hand.

A central vertical beam anchors the work, pierced by a 125-year-old, rusty railroad spike—an artifact that elevates the piece beyond painting into the realm of object and relic. The spike becomes both focal point and symbol, suggesting endurance, industry, and the weight of time carried forward.

Layers of muted paint echo the surrounding patina, blurring the line between intervention and preservation. Rather than concealing the past, the work integrates it—allowing original surfaces and added elements to coexist in quiet balance.

At its core, the piece functions as a contemporary reliquary: a place where material history is not only preserved, but honored. Through restraint and intention, the work invites reflection on permanence, transformation, and the stories embedded in objects shaped by use and time.