"Starry Night Nativity challenged me to tell a story and engage the viewer in a small space. All the figures are carved in bas relief within an 8" box that opens up as a triptych and reveals a starry night encircling an intimate scene. My use of deep gradated blues and sparkly gold is a jewel-like reference to historical objects of art... I embellished the surfaces with gold dots —symbolizing light, or energy, hope inner strength... Gold connotes preciousness and enduring value, and I wanted this to be a special piece, that would be kept for a long time, or possibly handed down within families. The outside doors reflect nature and the cycles of life—regeneration, renewal, rebirth. These themes influence everything I make." –Susan Lordi