The History of the Acadian Janus
Janus was the Roman God during the classical period who was capable of looking upon the past and the future. His personification normally represents him as having two faces, one of which looks "forward", and the other which looks "backward", all of which allows him to accomplish important and unique tasks. In the above representation, looking upon the past, Janus contemplates the difficult hardships encountered throughout the early Acadian history.
His face, as it looks forward (to the right) contemplates the hardships which Acadians must still overcome in looking to the future. The latter Janus face shows us traces of a woman's features in recognition of the increasing role which they are called to play in the future history of Acadians.
Eight major themes or "ideas" of the past are interwoven with four major themes for the future between the two faces. Each of these themes or ideas are available as silver broaches, of varying weight, and have been sculptured in wax and later molded in sterling silver.
The broaches are completely original, and bring out the artist's talents in areas of drawing, sculpture, and jeweler, while drawing upon techniques of molding and others. The artist traces her ancestry in the history of Acadians.
For a more indepth look at the broaches found in the Janus, click here