Dancing Naked Ashwork

Donate your body to art! The disposition of bodies after they lived has captured my creative interest after working for a mortuary in Glendale, California. I was an art student taking courses at the local community collage and worked part time at the mortuary. The job entailed a little of everything from assisting the embalmers, picking up families in the limo, to picking up those who just died of natural causes in their house, which was called a First Call. I think it should have been called Last Call because it was.
Finished with college I ended up drafting professionally for Utility companies mapping the overhead and underground utility installations for field workers. The drafting career was enjoyed for over 13 years, and then I came down with a fatal liver disease and had to stop working and think about dying. I thought of that funeral home and of me being cremated in some creative way. In the process of me sleeping a lot and not having much energy to get up I had a dream. It was a beautiful day with blue sky and white billowy clouds. My body was laid out above the ground on a rustic wooden bed held up by wooden scaffolding and a pyre of wood under me ready to be torched. Dead and naked on the top of a grassy hill with boulders all around. It looked like I was sleeping, and in this repose I could see my body from above, circling it as if I were a vulture. I opened my eyes and I was looking up at an eagle circling my dead body. Suddenly I woke up and felt so happy I cried from seeing this vision. Never did feel the flames below me thank goodness!
The dream I had put perspective on my mortality and gave me a sense of acceptance for my fatal condition. Needless to say I lived to tell about it because the G.I. department discovered a new medicine that slowed down the liver disease to a trickle. That dream was about 15 years ago and I'm still kicking folks but now retired. This gave me time to work on a more creative death memorial for myself. I'm older and wiser and live each day as if it were my last.
When the September 11, 2001 event happened I started my Ashwork using volcanic ash in my medium to make a memorial statement. The ashes created from the destruction that morning as it took place on television burnt a vision in my mind, like my dream. As an artist I continue to use volcanic ash in my hand sculpted bas-relief artwork, which I call Ashwork. Through experimentation I came up with memorial artwork using the cremated remains of pets as an artistic alternative to the urn. I've designed a vault type piece to place human or animal ashes behind it. My memorial artwork is an aftercare artistic service to humanity. Finally I made that special vault for myself to have my cremated ashes put inside when I kick the bucket. My newest offer in memorial artwork is a not for profit venture called, Dancing Naked Ashwork (DNA). I will create the DNA with stained glass portals or windows on a canvas wood frame with the cremated ashes of anyone willing to work with me. Creating a permanent custom made work of art using "their" cremated ashes after they meet their maker so to speak. Your DNA will be titled, "Windows of Light" because I install battery operated LED's behind the stained glass for beautiful enhanced lighting in every work. As a designated agent for your ashes I will prepare the work as we agreed and give it to the person, family, or foundation of your choice. That's what a living will is for. You will have to fill one out stating your wishes in order for me to create your DNA. As an organic artist I finally found a way to get my art out there and give back to the community at the same time. Only time will tell where my Dancing Naked Ashwork will take me. It all started with a dream and heartfelt emotion from September 11, 2001.

Daniel R. Ortega