AMERICAN MARBLE AT RUTH BLOOM GALLERY

Installation view at Ruth Bloom Gallery. Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A.

Cattle bones

During the 18th and 19th centuries, in the Spanish Colonies in the New World, the use of bone incrustation's in between ceramic tile floors was a sign of distinction. Lacking any other luxurious materials, they used cattle bone to adorn the house entrances. This animal material was called "American Marble".

600 tibias stand in the floor, arranged in geometric patterns. They resemble the designs of Colonial tile floors. This kind of ornamental geometry was transplanted from Spain to the Americas, but was originally Moorish. The tibia has a particularly geometric shape in the joint with the hoof. When incrustated in the floor, one think one is walking on top of vertebras.

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