Earth Sanctuary, a sculpture garden and nature reserve on Whidbey Island, has introduced the first in a series of outdoor minimalist sculptures called “Veils of Reality.”

The sculptures were designed by Chuck Pettis, founder of Earth Sanctuary, and his wife Claudia Pettis, a classically-trained and award-winning artist. The pieces use a reclaimed, transformed sacred object as a contemporary mirror uniting the principle of Tibetan Buddhism with modern minimalistic art, according to a recent press release.

The sculpture incorporates a black steel square plate with a multi-layer translucent fabric. The steel plate was part of a sacred Tibetan Buddhist fire ceremony conducted by His Holiness Jigdal Dagchen Sakya, head lama of Sakya Monastery of Tibetan Buddhism at the Earth Sanctuary Buddhist stupa monument.

“The use of paired opposites creates a balancing force that facilitates transcendental experience, that is, the ability to comprehend phenomena that cannot be explained objectively,” said Chuck Pettis in a press release. “This principle is integrated into all the sacred spaces at Earth Sanctuary.”

“If we look hard and long at a pure piece of art, we will be looking at ourselves in a new light,” said Claudia Pettis. “‘Veils of Reality’ encourages viewers to view their lives with new insight and perspective.”