Genesis II

Genesis II

Genesis II is John's interpretation of creation, as seen through the eyes and soul of a Native American. Commissioned by John Melk, an Indian of the Northwest, and a holder of three presidential awards for excellence in his field, this bronze symbolizes birth and spiritual growth.

God lived in the sun, the moon and stars his necklace. His breath becomes the clouds. From His hand, birds descend to earth. The earth is connected to the sky as shown by His lower body becoming stone.

Many primitive cultures speak of the first people coming up from a hole in the ground, as portrayed by human figures emerging from God's wrist--His lifeblood. They emerge, they crawl, they stand up on two legs, they look up and reach.

The birth of invention is shown by one figure inventing the wheel, while another, a shaman, blows spirits from a sick person's head--symbolizing the birth of compassion and medicine.

Farther on in the cultural evolution, a family with a dog travois follows the animals.

At the end, standing on a flint spear edge indicating the precariousness of life, a lone human reaches up to receive the spirit coming down from the Creator.

Humankind struggles upward towards the ultimate home, a cliff dwelling in God's center, to sanctuary.