The Masks of the Goddess Project
(1998-2019........and sometimes Continuing)
In traditional societies masks are “vessels for the holy powers”. Inspired by Balinese sacred mask traditions, I wanted to offer The Masks of the Goddesses as contemporary "Temple Masks, created to re-claim and re-invent universal stories of the Divine Feminine, as well as empowering women to explore each archetypal presence within herself. As I and colleagues used the collection, the masks filled with story and energy. In APRIL, 2019 THE ENTIRE COLLECTION was on exhibit, and the 20 year project was formally closed at Arise Gallery at HerChurch in San Francisco. It has been a profound privilege to work with all of the people who used the masks, wrote and performed their stories, and brought the many Faces of the Goddess to life. No artist could ask for more.
(1998-2019........and sometimes Continuing)
In traditional societies masks are “vessels for the holy powers”. Inspired by Balinese sacred mask traditions, I wanted to offer The Masks of the Goddesses as contemporary "Temple Masks, created to re-claim and re-invent universal stories of the Divine Feminine, as well as empowering women to explore each archetypal presence within herself. As I and colleagues used the collection, the masks filled with story and energy. In APRIL, 2019 THE ENTIRE COLLECTION was on exhibit, and the 20 year project was formally closed at Arise Gallery at HerChurch in San Francisco. It has been a profound privilege to work with all of the people who used the masks, wrote and performed their stories, and brought the many Faces of the Goddess to life. No artist could ask for more.
A Shrine for the Lost: The Sixth Extinction
(For Dia de los Muertos 2022 and beyond)
Funded by the Puffin Foundation, my SHRINE FOR THE 6TH EXTINCTION was installed November 1, It includes a Book, four 8 foot tall wall-hung Panels, and an accompanying Video made in collaboration with Tucson artist Kathy Keler. It will be shown at the 2023 Parliament of World Religions, and it is my hope that the installation will travel to other venues as an educational Memorial.
To view the accompanying 10 minute video on UTube: https://youtu.be/5GE5kxwhxFw
(For Dia de los Muertos 2022 and beyond)
Funded by the Puffin Foundation, my SHRINE FOR THE 6TH EXTINCTION was installed November 1, It includes a Book, four 8 foot tall wall-hung Panels, and an accompanying Video made in collaboration with Tucson artist Kathy Keler. It will be shown at the 2023 Parliament of World Religions, and it is my hope that the installation will travel to other venues as an educational Memorial.
To view the accompanying 10 minute video on UTube: https://youtu.be/5GE5kxwhxFw
OUR LADY OF THE SHARDS
(2018- Present) "Our Lady of the Shards" lies among the broken shards, debris and resurfacing mythos of the past. She has been buried by time, history, war, and often the co-option of what was once sacred. She is the Black Madonna: the dark, generative Mother Earth found in the presence of sacred springs and cave. She is the numinous Spirit of Place. And she is also the forgotten, yet vital, work of those unknown women who wove the ancient stories, who birthed our ancestors, the memory keepers and the comforters, arising into the world again, insisting that we remember and reclaim. |
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The Guardians: Earth, Air, Fire and Water
(2022)
Inspired by Native American "Shields of Power", I made these 4 leather sculptures to symbolize and invoke the Guardians of the Directions: North, South, East and West, and the elemental Powers related to each Direction: Earth, Air, Fire, Water. I am not sure why I felt the need to make these leather sculptures, but I see now that, with so much loss due to ecological destruction, and climate change, these Powers need to be called upon to Protect the Mother, to Protect the great Hoop of life. May they live inside of each of us.
(2022)
Inspired by Native American "Shields of Power", I made these 4 leather sculptures to symbolize and invoke the Guardians of the Directions: North, South, East and West, and the elemental Powers related to each Direction: Earth, Air, Fire, Water. I am not sure why I felt the need to make these leather sculptures, but I see now that, with so much loss due to ecological destruction, and climate change, these Powers need to be called upon to Protect the Mother, to Protect the great Hoop of life. May they live inside of each of us.
Quontum Mandala
Spider Woman's Hands
(2007-2022)
"How might we live, how might we act,
if we saw the world with a Webbed Vision?"
Catherine Keller, Theologian
An Investigation of the ubiquitous legend of Spider Woman,
the native American Great Weaver, as She appears in today's world.
(2007-2022)
"How might we live, how might we act,
if we saw the world with a Webbed Vision?"
Catherine Keller, Theologian
An Investigation of the ubiquitous legend of Spider Woman,
the native American Great Weaver, as She appears in today's world.
"Dawn" in 2013 performance
NUMINA: Masks for the Elemental Powers
(2013)
The Romans believed nature was inhabited by elemental forces they called Numina, and Roman sites had shrines dedicated to the "genius loci" of a particular place. Being in a reciprocal relationship with the Numina was important to the well-being of all. How can we regain this “communion with place” - the healing springs, mysterious forests, or generous orchards - that are the true wellsprings of myth? In the past "Nature" was not a "backdrop" or a "resource" – the World was a conversation. Numina Masks were made in Collaboration with Ann Waters.
(2013)
The Romans believed nature was inhabited by elemental forces they called Numina, and Roman sites had shrines dedicated to the "genius loci" of a particular place. Being in a reciprocal relationship with the Numina was important to the well-being of all. How can we regain this “communion with place” - the healing springs, mysterious forests, or generous orchards - that are the true wellsprings of myth? In the past "Nature" was not a "backdrop" or a "resource" – the World was a conversation. Numina Masks were made in Collaboration with Ann Waters.
RESTORING THE BALANCE
(2004)
A ritual theatre event as part of the Global Art Project.
" Myth comes alive as it enters the cauldron of evolution,
itself drawing energy from the storytellers who shape it."
.....Elizabeth Fuller, Playwright and Actress
THE RAINBOW BRIDGE ORACLE A Divination System 1989-2015 Inspired by a long fascination with the Tarot, the "Oracle" evolved to reflect my personal "iconography". The Rainbow Bridge is being created by a global society, and reflects an evolving multi-cultural vocabulary for the sacred. The RAINBOW BRIDGE ORACLE DECK and accompanying book is available for sale. |
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Gaia
Earth Shrines, Reliquaries and Personal Icons
On going..............
"She will seal us with Her seed."
......Robin Williamson
A SHRINE is a place to honor and to in-voke the presence of the divine.
A RELIQUARY is a container for sacred artifacts. A relic can be many things - the pebble that becomes a touchstone, found on a long ago beach, emanating still the essence of that day. A feather left behind by a blue jay, or the flight of a Phoenix. Twigs that remember a face you saw among the leaves, whispering your name, the sweet residue of an incomparable Summer Solstice.
On going..............
"She will seal us with Her seed."
......Robin Williamson
A SHRINE is a place to honor and to in-voke the presence of the divine.
A RELIQUARY is a container for sacred artifacts. A relic can be many things - the pebble that becomes a touchstone, found on a long ago beach, emanating still the essence of that day. A feather left behind by a blue jay, or the flight of a Phoenix. Twigs that remember a face you saw among the leaves, whispering your name, the sweet residue of an incomparable Summer Solstice.
"Joanna Hearing Music (for Joanna Brouk)" 2020
PAINTINGS
My background is in Painting. I dreamed of being a Painter when I was just 5 years old, and I still remember the luscious color of a crayon I adored (I now know it is called "cerulean blue", a kind of turquoise). Although my Journey has led me through many mediums, collabortions, and explorations, I still come back to Painting as the most challenging of all for me. The color dance.........
I felt like sharing a selection of my paintings, all of them "touchstones" along the pathways of my life.
My background is in Painting. I dreamed of being a Painter when I was just 5 years old, and I still remember the luscious color of a crayon I adored (I now know it is called "cerulean blue", a kind of turquoise). Although my Journey has led me through many mediums, collabortions, and explorations, I still come back to Painting as the most challenging of all for me. The color dance.........
I felt like sharing a selection of my paintings, all of them "touchstones" along the pathways of my life.
Photographs are by courtesy of: Jerri Jo Idarius, Ileya Stewart, Thomas Lux, Peter Hughes, Ann Beam and Lauren Raine
All materials are COPYRIGHT 2015, and may not be reproduced without permission.