chapter xiv: peace

Next up for lunar faces | feminine divine is Hanhepi Wi, also called Hanwi.  She is a moon goddess in Native North American religions, specifically among the Sioux and Lakota peoples. As a goddess of the moon she is intrinsically feminine and represents fertility, dreams, emotions, and transformations. She represents the rhythm of natural cycles. She is also the Goddess of motherhood, feminine power, and watches over women during their monthly cycle.

This was one of my favorite study sessions. Throughout this series, I’ve had friends and family pose as the goddess to give a more realistic body image and position. Through hanhepi I got to photograph a good friend while she was pregnant. It was a really beautiful moment and experience.

While researching this goddess I actually came across a lesson plan for Lakota elementary age students and it tells Hanwi’s story. It’s called “When the People Laughed at the Moon”. It’s a really powerful story, the main theme being jealousy. As a result the judgement given is the sun and moon can no longer share the same sky. If you’d like to read the lesson plan that shares the full story, check out https://www.wolakotaproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/01-Hanwi-Moon.pdf

Overall this piece was beautiful and powerful in the research but I found composing the work to be very difficult. So difficult that I put a pin in it to finish at a later time. Later turned out to be 2 years. In the end I’m glad I paused and came back to it because the finished product is so much better.

chapter xii: evermore

Next in my lunar faces | feminine divine series is Anahita.

Anahita was known as the Lady of the Waters and goddess of fertility, worshipped in what’s known today as Iran. At the time, it was the Persian Empire and she was one of the most revered deities of the ancient religions. She is described as a beautiful maiden, strong, tall and pure. She is depicted as wearing a mantle embroidered with gold. As her popularity spread, she picked up attributes to other goddesses of the regions she was brought to, soon becoming associated with the moon.

This is where she crossed into my research. So many of the moon goddesses also have water associations which I find to be incredibly fascinating as the moon has such strong effects on the tides.

Anahita in particular with her strong associations with purity and water led me to create this piece. Bringing forward that regal grace and giving her the pitcher of water she is so often said to be associated with. I loved creating a meteor shower type event with this background while still allowing the moon to be super prominent. I hope you enjoy her as much as I do.

chapter xi: long live

One of my biggest struggles with this process has been finding source material to research and understand the lore behind each goddess. The problem is some of them are so ancient that they existed at a time when their stories were told instead of written. This goddess is an example of that.

Chin in the mythology of the Muysca Indians of Bogotá, Colombia, is a moon goddess representing the power of female destructiveness. This attribute immediately sparked my interest— that powerful description of the goddess and her moon. While I have not found source material I’ve seen many descriptions of her and her lore. In one myth she was credited with flooding the earth when she was displeased. In order to appease her, men would dress up in women’s clothes and perform women’s duties in the hope that the goddess would not punish them for being men.  In other texts or descriptions she was the goddess of maize, magic, and a councilor to the kings. She was also closely associated with homo-erotic relationships and homosexuality.

The research on these goddesses has been both frustrating and fascinating. Learning about different early civilizations, especially those within the Americas is just incredibly cool. A lot of my early education focused mostly on the Mayans, Aztecs, and Incas. Through this research I’ve learned there were so many more. And past that, the discovery of the rituals and attributes that they associated with the moon and the goddess just made creating this piece so much more meaningful.

chapter x: the alchemy

I’m back into the studio and with that comes jumping into my series, Lunar Faces | Feminine Divine which I wrote about in my last post. Through this series I’ve been exploring the connections between feminine deities and the moon. Each piece in this series is a tribute to a goddess whose influence is intertwined with lunar symbolism. Among these divine figures, Al-Uzza stood out to me as a powerful embodiment of both female strength and the moon’s cycles.

Al-Uzza is a goddess whose name means “The Mighty One”. In pre-Islamic Arabia, she was revered as a protector, a deity of war, and a symbol of power. Her influence was especially strong among the Quraysh tribe of Mecca, there is even said to be a temple that was dedicated to her in Petra. Al-Uzza wasn’t just a distant figure; she was deeply involved in the lives of her followers, offering them the strength and protection they needed in times of conflict and uncertainty. Oftentimes coming through the acacia trees outside her temple. Al-Uzza is said to be the goddess of the morning and evening stars and also to have ruled over heaven.  Together with two other deities, Menat, and Al-Lat, they created the three goddesses worshipped as a triad. Some speculate that she started to become associated with the moon when Arabian myths blended with Grecian mythologies.

What drew me to include Al-Uzza in Lunar Faces | Feminine Divine was that intriguing connection. Although she is primarily associated with power and protection, there are hints in ancient traditions that suggest she may also be linked to celestial phenomena, most likely Venus, the morning star. But with the moon’s symbolism of change, cycles, and renewal it seems to resonate with Al-Uzza’s own attributes, making her a perfect figure to explore in this series. Through this connection, she embodies both the unyielding strength of a warrior and the subtle, cyclical power of the moon.

In Lunar Faces | Feminine Divine, I’ve sought to capture the essence of these goddesses, blending their divine attributes with the timeless symbolism of the moon. Al-Uzza, with her dual aspects of power and lunar mystery, is a compelling figure whose influence spans both the earthly and the celestial. Through this artwork, I aim to bring her story to life, allowing her strength and the moon’s quiet power to shine.

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Follow along as I finish and post about all the goddesses I’ve found that are associated with the moon. The research alone has been quite the journey. Feel free to comment who you’d like to see next!

chapter ix: are you ready for it?

It’s been a while guys! I’ve been out with a serious injury to my lower back, subsequent surgery and then we had the arrival of a new family member! Now that my little miracle, Dashel, is in school 3x a week I finally have the time to focus on something more than being a full time caregiver. I am so excited to reemerge into the art world with a renewed sense of passion and creativity. This time away has allowed me to reflect, grow, and gain fresh perspectives that I am eager to incorporate into my work. I am excited to share my new insights and showcase my latest creations starting with my series I’m calling lunar faces | feminine divine.

AL UZZA : the star goddess

fiercely protective and from Arabian mythology

This series that I’ve been working on to get back into art scene has led me down many different research avenues. I’ve been excitedly looking into different cultures and mythologies of moon goddesses and their associated powers and symbols. Many of my friends and family have generously given  their time posing for me, infusing their energy and movement into the study. Each artwork tells a unique story, capturing the essence of these divine feminine figures in a captivating and intriguing way. I am excited to continue growing this series, diving deeper into the rich history and symbolism surrounding moon goddesses from around the world. Each new piece is a journey of discovery and creativity, and I can't wait to see lunar faces | feminine divine come to life.

chapter viii: sad beautiful tragic

This whole pandemic has been a big anxiety inducing creative block. I had huge plans to finish the impossible cities series back in April and get it submitted for all the summer exhibitions. Except now everything is digital and I can’t seem to get the creative juices flowing in order to finish. However, what I’m learning is that I have to work at my own pace and there is no one putting any sort of pressure on me but me. This period of isolation has been a weird one for sure. While I’m having trouble putting material down to create, it hasn’t stopped my future creative plans. I’ve continued to submit my current works to different exhibitions and while they may mostly be digital/not hosting opening receptions/limiting people inside the gallery, they are still happening. In fact, my work The Unexpected was accepted into the ‘Unleashed’ exhibition by the Gallery Underground in Arlington, Virginia.

The Unexpected

detail

So I guess what all of this has taught me is that even when the world feels like its burning down around us, press on. Use those feelings of anxiety and creative blocks to grow my craft in other ways. I’m doing a daily sketch notebook, I’m sculpting, and I’m jotting down random ideas that may or may not turn into something one day. I’m doing anything and everything to move my creative process forward and on days when its too much I turn to something else; baking, gardening, exercise. And as I’m finishing up the Impossible Cities series way behind my internal schedule I will remember to be kind to myself.

chapter vii: wonderland

The last time I was here I told you about my epiphany and the art that came as a result. This is an expansion of that. I am so excited to venture outside of the box that I had put myself into. This new series is an exciting take on the idea of impossible cities. Through this theme I’m getting to explore my favorite materials (hello resin and gold leaf!), plus I am able to research through stories and talking to friends and family about what they would consider an impossible city to be. Through this I’m learning about collaboration and how to grow my interpretation of it.

The subtle color changes in the resin that makes up the clouds gives the illusion of a nighttime view of the castle.

A village of copper buildings within each hollowed tree stacked upon one another but still working within the confines of the forest.

Collaboration is important. I’m learning that it can help the creative process to talk things out—to hear other peoples perspectives. That collaboration, that meeting of the minds is necessary for growth. I’m learning that it doesn’t always require talking to other artists either. Talk to engineers, talk to counselors, teachers, retail workers, nurses, and everyone in between. I’ve started to gather all of these different viewpoints and then interpret it into my own art. There are so many interesting takes on the idea of impossible cities and I would love to hear what you would consider an impossible city to be!

chapter vi: everything has changed

I had this weird epiphany this summer. I realized that I was boxing myself into specific themes for my art and I was therefore feeling very restricted creatively. I was literally holding myself off from creating something because I was telling myself that it ‘wasn’t in my wheelhouse’. That realization came while on a trip to Mackinaw. I was missing Louisiana and biking around one of the islands. This got me thinking about the way water moves through the state—and poof! this idea was born.

Louisiana

These materials tell the story of how a state like Louisiana becomes recognizable with its rivers defining its boundaries

Colorado

When outlining all the rivers and tributaries, Colorado’s state lines become less recognizable.

I almost didn’t pursue making this. I almost talked myself out of it. I almost missed this crazy exciting exploration of water movements and boundaries. Realizing that I didn’t have to be within a certain theme in order to pursue art was a big moment for me. It makes me that much more confident in proclaiming “I am an artist” to those who ask what I do.

chapter v: shake it off

I have found that I need to take time to have a palette cleaning exercise after I finish a round of mixed medium. I need a way to focus on one particular skill rather than the scattered assembly of attaching things with my mixed medium adventures. With this need to cleanse the palette I have automatically been drawn to watercolors. Watercolors have a diverse range of colors and uses—but they also have a narrow skill set. Being able to focus on this one skill with essentially limitless color and design ranges gives me an outlet for my creativity without having to think too much about complex materials.

Moon Phases and Mountains

“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.”

— Maya Angelou

Full Moon Rising

“Creativity is the way I share my soul with the world.”

— Brene Brown

I don’t see myself becoming an exclusive watercolorist. I like to explore materiality too much for that. But I will say I love the small studies that I've gotten to do. Naming this series Creative Vibes allows me to set aside my glue, plaster, and acrylics to focus solely on this one medium. Watercolors give me a no consequence result. There’s no pressure for it to stand up to other works because all it is is an exploration rather than a finished work. 

chapter iv: call it what you want

All of those chapters leads me to this one. My current life chapter--the one where creation balance is important and overall designs mean something. I've come to realize that I don't have to recreate images of things that already exist because I have started to find my own voice. To design something purely inspired by the story, to extrapolate and interpret through design. This is what I've been searching for in my art.  A way to be a fan of something without just recreating what someone else has already designed.  I'm taking my passion of books and stories and creating my own imaginings around them. Forests of Fiction is the name of the new series. The book pages have taken on new meaning, they are no longer exclusively used as a background. All along I've been intrigued by the use of them as a material, and now that is finally starting to take shape--quite literally.

The Unexpected

“When they depart, they shake hands and embrace like old friends, even if they have only just met, and as they go their separate ways they feel less alone than they had before.”

— Erin Morgenstern, The Night Circus

Into the Unknown

“In a dark place we find ourselves, a little more knowledge lights our way”

— George Lucas, Star Wars

I want to create. I want to learn. I want to continue to grow as an artist and I want my designs to reflect that growth. This is just the current chapter that I'm living. Cheers to whats next.