Tuesday, August 31, 2010

THE BEAN SIDHE/ The Story of the Banshee/ The orgins of the term 'fairy'/ THE PERIS OF PERSIA AND THE FENIAN MIGRATIONS/ Ceramic Goddess Sculpture/ Copper carbonate on white earthenware clay/ A MYTHOGRAPHIC STUDY OF CELTIC ART AND CULTURE




Bean Sidhe
2007
by Eric Whollem
copper carbonate on white earthenware clay
Photo copyright by the artist

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE
The Irish Legend of the Bean Sidhe

The Banshee, well known from folklore, is referred to in the Gaelic
language of the Irish as the Bean Sidhe. The term Bean means 'Goddess'
and the expression 'Sidhe,' pronounced 'Shee,' refers to those elemental
beings who are sometimes considered 'fairyfolk.' The term 'fairy' is said
by some Celtic scholars not to apply to ancient Irish folklore. However,
some speculate--on phonetic similarities--that insofar as 'fir' means 'man'
in Gaelic, a 'fir sidhe,' may have been original roots from which 'fairy'
sprang. Usually the fairies have been associated more with British legend,
according to some students of mythology, who advance the preeminence
of the leprecaun with respect to the Irish. The concept of the 'wee people'
did not arise until Shakespeare's time, with the advent of the popular
Midsummer's Night's Dream.

However, we will see below a presentation of ideas that may give us
other etymological roots for the term 'fairy' and reasonably
demonstrate that the fairies are indeed related to Celtic legend.




ELVES, FAIRIES & GIANTS

In the lore of old Europe, beings such as the elves and fairies were
said originally to be about the size of normal humanity.

There are, however many myths that deal with the Giants. These were
called the Aesir in Scandinavia. The original Irish giants were the Fomors.
The Titans were the race of giants in ancient Greece. While in Persia
there were tales of the Ocean Devs, huge sea giants from the Sea of
Vourukasha.


THE PERIS: THE ORIGINAL FAIRIES

The Persians called their fairies Peris. And insofar as Persia is the
motherland of the Indoeuropean peoples, the Peri seems to me to be
the original lexeme from which the word 'fairy' seems to have arisen.

The Celts of Ireland have historical roots in Persia. The Fenian Migration
began in Persia, where one Fenius Farsa lead a group of peoples to new
lands. Farsa means Parsee, or Persian. Fenius was a Scythian, from
that group of  Central Asian tribespeople whose art recalls the coiled
and intertwined arts of the Celts of Europe.

The Fenians travelled to Phoenicia, Egypt, Carthage and Spain before
embarking on a sea journey to the north countries. Spain is called
Iberia; and one old name for Ireland is Iberiu.

It seems to me that the term fairy as is used by modern Celtic and
British people could in fact be derived from the Persian 'Peri.'  To
augment this argument, the Persians have a legend of the Peri
Mergiana, whose name means Sea Wisdom. She may have been
mythically transformed into the Morrigan, or Sea Queen, of Celtic
legend.

There is room to speculate that Morrigan was a Bean Sidhe, as she
is said to have appeared in the form of ravens on the battlefields
after a war to take the souls of the departed to the Otherworld.
The Banshee's wail is considered to be the mourning cry of those
sidhe whose function it is to transport the departed souls to Emania,
the Celtic Heavenworld.


CELTIC CERAMIC TRADITIONS

My sculpture exhibited on this post blends Celtic stylization with
Hellenic art, and is thus a syncretic mythographic work of art for our
modern times. The feet placed together at the base are found in many
Greek sculptures of the Kore. The Greeks colonized Ireland at one
time. . .the Milesian migration of many centuries ago.

The Irish had a tradtion of ceramic masks, but these are now lost,
having been thrown into lakes after the time of St. Patrick, when
the pre-Christian arts of Ireland were placed in disrepute in keeping
with the new wave of spiritual teachings.

_____________

See my posts on Mythographic Art on this link:

This link will take you to my posts on Celtic Myth:

BELOW IS MY VIDEO
ABOUT THE VOYAGES OF ST. BRENDAN
AND THE LORE OF
 MANANAAN MCLER
FROM IRISH MYTHOLOGY


ERIC WHOLLEM                                

View what Wikipedia has to say about Fairies on this link:

Take a look at my posts on Fairies here:

SOME OF MY FAIRY
ART INVOLVES
FANTASY STAMPS FROM
IMAGINARY FAIRY LANDS


GROVE OF THE NAIAD
faux postage stamp
by Eric Whollem
To access my post about the Fairyland of Persia see:

BELOW IS A VIDEO
FEATURING MY
CERAMIC ART

ERIC WHOLLEM                                


For my posts on Ceramic Sculpture see:


*
Ceramic sculpture, Goddess art. Mythology; mythographic art.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

FIGURATIVE CERAMIC SCULPTURE/ A Concise Definition of Mythographic Art/ A Discussion of the terms 'primitive,' 'neoprimitive,' 'faux-naif,' and 'autochtonous' as they might be used in application to modern art/ Copper carbonate and oxides on white earthenware clay/ A CERAMIC FIGURINE by Eric Whollem




The Scribe of Kells
                                                                             2006
by Eric Whollem
copper carbonate and oxides on white
earthenware clay
Photo copyright by the artist

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Mythographic Sculpture
A DISCUSSION OF THE TERMS 'PRIMITVE,' 'NEOPRIMITIVE,' 'FAUX-NAIF' & 'AUTOCHTHONOUS' AS THEY MIGHT BE USED IN APPLICATION TO MODERN ART

Mythography is the science of mythology. It's practitioners are
a type of ethnographer or anthropologist. There have been many
terms and labels applied to the work of artists who have incorporated
ethnic materials into their art.  Not all of these designations are completely
satisfactory. For example, the term 'neoprimitive' rings false because the
expression 'primitive' is now passe in anthropology and archaeology,
as it is perjorative to cultures outside the range of modern society.




                  A video of my ceramic sculptures.


It has been demonstrated seen that so-called 'primitive' peoples are in
fact quite sophisticated. Logically 'neoprimitive' should be just as
unsatisfactory as 'primitive;' so the use of both these terms is, in my
opinion, not entirely appropriate for a proper description of a work
of art.

FIGURATIVE CERAMIC SCULPTURE/ 'Devotional Figure' by Eric Whollem/ METAPHYSICAL ART/ Oxides on white earthenware clay/ A ceramic figurine from the twenty-first century




Devotional Figure
2007
by Eric Whollem
oxides on white earthenware clay
Photo copyright by the artist

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

A Figure in Prayer

This sculpture reflects devotional sentiment. Many of my
sculptures are metaphysical. And the shrines that I create
are used by many people to generate sanctity in their homes.

__________________________

View my online image archive of CERAMIC SCULPTURE:

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

GRAY SEATED GODDESS
by Eric Whollem

THE VIDEO BELOW
SHOWS MORE OF MY CERAMIC SCULPTURES
AS FEATURED ON SOME OF MY
FAUX POSTAGE STAMPS


STAMPS FROM AMPHORA by Eric Whollem             


*
Ceramic sculpture; spirituality; metaphysical art.

Saturday, August 28, 2010

A METAPHYSICAL ARTIST STAMP/ 'Portal of the Seasky' by Eric Whollem/ The lore of the 'seasky' from mythology/ A cinderella CYBERSTAMP from Amphora, the Continent of the Future/ FAUX POSTAGE MYTHOPOETIC MERMAID ART




Portal of the Seasky
Amphora
2010
by Eric Whollem
copyright by the artist

The Seasky in World Folklore

The legends of the world about in mystic interfusions of the
elements of nature. The concept of the Sea Sky stems back at
least as far as ancient Sumeria, where astrologers of old conceived
the starry sky of night to be a great ocean.

A MERMAID CINDERELLA STAMP/ 'Portal of the Seasky' by Eric Whollem/ A CYBERSTAMP FROM AMPHORA/ A faux postage artist stamp




Portal of the Seasky
Amphora
2010
by Eric Whollem
copyright by the artist



To read my posts about mermaids see this link:

*
Artist stamps, artist stamps, cinderella stamps, cyberstamps, fantasy stamps, faux postage, mail art, micronation stamps.

MERMAID ARTIST STAMPS/ 'Portal of the Seasky' by Eric Whollem/ A block of four faux postage stamps from a sheet of nine stamps from Amphora/ DIGITAL SERIAL ART/ From the micronational offices of Cinderella Printing House Ltd.




Portal of the Seasky
Amphora
2010
by Eric Whollem
copyright by the artist

For a view of my collection of stamps from Amphora see this link:

*
Artist stamps, artistamps, cinderella stamps, fantasy stamps, faux postage, cyberstamps, mail art, micronation stamps. Mermaid art.

Friday, August 27, 2010

MYTHOGRAPHIC SCULPTURE/ 'Shrine of the Goddess' by Eric Whollem/ A figurative ceramic sculpture/ Oxides and found earth pigments on white earthenware clay/ The Guardian Dogs of the Goddess




Shrine of the Goddess
2006
by Eric Whollem
found ochre and oxides on white earthenware clay
Photo copyright by the artist

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

The Role of the Dog as Guardian of the Hearth

In Eastern Europe the old matriarchal cultures were met with
an invasion of raiders from the steppes of Asia. The household
dog arose as a protector of the farms and homesteads. Eisler's
book, 'The Chalice and the Blade,' is famous for presenting this
forgotten part of history.

Thus one sees images of Artemis, the Greek Goddess of the hunt
protected by dogs at her side.

My sculpture celebrates the role of the dog as the Guardian.


MYTHOGRAPHIC ART

Mythographic art, as I conceive it, is art that utilizes the elements
of myth in a creative way. It is a synonym for 'mythopoeia.'

_________________


To view more of my Goddess art, see this link:

See also:

For an informative article on Artemis see:


*
Ceramic sculpture; goddess; mythology; mythopoeia; mythographic art.

'SEATED CANINE'/ A figurative ceramic sculpture by Eric Whollem/ Oxides on white earthenware clay





Seated Canine
2006
by Eric Whollem
oxides on white eartthenware clay
Photo copyright by the artist

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

*
Ceramic sculpture; mythographic art.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

PORTAL OF THE SEAKY/ A strip of three cyberstamps demonstrating digital serial art techniques/ MERMAID FAUX POSTAGE STAMPS/ Cinderella artist stamps from the micronation of Amphora




Portal of the Seasky
Amphora
2010
by Eric Whollem
copyright by the artist

Saturation Varieties in the Digital Medium

These artist stamps demonstrate the wide variations possible in
digital art. They are examples of 'digital serial art.' My faux postage
stamp art provides a good focus for this sort of artistic pursuit.

_____________

See more of my serial art images on this link:

*
Artist stamps, artistamps, cinderella stamps, cyberstamps, fantasy stamps, faux postage, mail art, micronation stamps.

PORTAL OF THE SEASKY/ A sheet of nine faux postage stamps from Amphora/ DIGITAL SERIAL ART/ A cyberstamp cinderella edition by Eric Whollem/ MERMAID ART





Portal of the Seasky
Amphora
2010
by Eric Whollem
copyright by the artist

A Short Overview of the Stamps of Amphora

Amphora is styled as 'The Continent of the Future.'  In the year 2000
I issued various stamp books with stamps from Amphora. One was
entitled 'The Mermaids of Amphora.'  It featured ceramic Goddess
sculptures that I created in the 1990's. This book was followed with
a humorous stamp book showing my ceramic seahorse sculptures.
This latter book was called 'The Seahorses of Amphora.'


DIGITAL SERIAL ART

The sheet above, entitled 'The Portal of the Seasky,' displays a series
of digital variations on a recent drawing.

'Serial art' is defined as any sort of art, painting, sculpture, or photography,
etc. that renders an image in multiples, usually with color or textural variations.

_____________

To view more of my stamps from Amphora see this link:

For more about serial art see:



*
Artist stamps, artistamps, cinderella stamps, cyberstamps, fantasy stamps, faux postage, mail art, micronation stamps. Mermaid art.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

FIGURATIVE CERAMIC/ GODDESS SCULPTURE/ 'Shrine of Bird Woman' by Eric Whollem/ MYTHOGRAPHIC SCULPTURE/oxides and found earth pigments on white earthenware and terracotta/ MYTHOLOGICAL CERAMIC ART





            

           
        Shrine of Bird Woman
         2006
         by Eric Whollem
         oxides and found earth on white earthenware
        and terracotta
                     Photo copyright by the artist

CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE

To view my posts on the topic of the Goddess AND BIRD WOMAN see this link:


A video about Goddess Sculpture, 2011            


*

FIGURATIVE CERAMIC SCULPTURE/ 'The Sea King' by Eric Whollem/ Oxides and coppercarbonate on white clay/ MYTHOLOGY/ Neoprimitive Art From Twenty-first Century California






The Sea King
2007
by Eric Whollem
oxides and copper carbonate on white earthenware clay
Photo copyright by the artist

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

See more of my thoughts on Mermaids AND MERMEN on this link:

Those of you intersted in Mythology might enjoy my posts on that topic:


*

FIGURATIVE CERAMIC SCULPTURE/ 'Seated Figure' by Eric Whollem/ Oxides on white clay/ EARTHENWARE POTTERY/ Neoprimitive Sculpture





Seated Figure
2006
by Eric Whollem
oxides on white clay
Photo copyright by the artist

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

To view more of my posts about Ceramic Sculpture see this link:

*

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

AETHERNET ARTISTAMPS/ 'The New World'/ A visionary faux postage stamp from the United Aethernet Nations/ CYBERSTAMPS/ A stamp from a sheet of nine cinderella stamps by Eric Whollem





The New World
United Aethernet Nations
2011
by Eric Whollem
copyright by the artist

A Cyberstamp for 2011

This stamp exists only on computer file, and as such could be defined
as a 'cyberstamp.'  Another term for this sort of issue is an 'aethernet
stamp,' a concept that I have coined to apply to artist stamps that relate
to fairy micronations, or fantasy countries from the Aetheric dimension.

Depicted is the Golden Sun of the New World. This stamp and others like
it are affirmations of a positive futurity.

____________

See the link below to learn more about Affirmations:

And for data on Micronations see:

To view my complete GALLERY of Faux Postage Stamps check out:

The following is a link to my GALLERY of Figurative and Abstract Art:

Those intersested in my GALLERY of Ceramic Sculpture should view:

*
Aethernet stamps, artist stamps, artistamps, cinderella stamps, cyberstamps, fantasy stamps, faux postage, mail art, micronation stamps. Metaphysical art.

Monday, August 23, 2010

AETHERNET ARTISTAMPS/ 'The New World'/ A visionary poster stamp from the United Aethernet Nations/ DIGITAL ART by Eric Whollem/ Cinderella Cyberstamp editions from the Amphoran Postal Union/ CLEAN WATER FOR THE PLANET





The New World
United Aethernet Nations
2011
by Eric Whollem
copyright by the artist



Visionary Art For the New World

This stamp was designed originally in inks on paper, but the design was
digitally enhanced to create a poster design. The stamps are of two general
types: the stamps of day, showing the sun; and stamps of night, showing the
moon.

These artistamps were designed help promote the ideal of Clean Water
For the Planet.
_____________

See more of my Poster Stamps on this link:

*
Aethernet stamps, artist stamps, artistamps, cinderella stamps, cyberstamps, fantasy stamps, faux postage, mail art, micronation stamps, poster stamps.

AETHERNET ARTISTAMPS/ 'The New World'/ A visionary cinderella stamp by Eric Whollem/ DIGITAL ART/ Clean Water for the Planet/ New Age Faux Postage Stamps/ FIGURATIVE ABSTRACTION




The New World
United Aethernet Nations
2011
by Eric Whollem
copyright by the artist

Clean Water for the Planet
A VISION OF THE NEW WORLD

This stamp is one of nine from a sheet of 'aethernet stamps' designed
to promote positive visualizations of a new Earth.

_____________

Readers interested in my GALLERY of Visionary Art should see this link:

Those interested in my GALLERY of Artistamps should look at this:

My GALLERY of Ceramic Sculpture can be seen here:

My GALLERY of Figurative and Abstract Art can be found on this link:

*
Aethernet stamps, artist stamps, artistamps, cinderella stamps, cyberstamps, fantasy stamps, faux postage, mail art, micronation stamps.

AETHERNET ARTISTAMPS/ 'The New World'/ A sheet of nine CYBERSTAMPS for the year 2011/ Cinderellas by Eric Whollem/ VISIONARY SERIAL DIGITAL ART/ Mermaid Artist Stamps/ FIGURATIVE ABSTRACTION





The New World
United Aethernet Nations
2011
by Eric Whollem
copyright by the artist


United Aethernet Nations Stamps for 2011

These cyberstamps are a projected issue for next year. The U.A.N.,
a micronational organization whose Postmaster General is Eric
Whollem, continues to promote concepts of world peace through
visionary postal issues.

CLEAN WATER FOR THE PLANET

________________

View my other posts that treat of the theme of Clean Water for the Planet:

My gallery of Artistamps can be seen here:

Those intersted in my Figurative and Abstract Art may want to view my gallery:

Anyone with a special interest in Serial Art might want to check out my posts:

My gallery of Visionary Art is on this link:

*
Aethenet stamps, artist stamps, artistamps, cinderella stamps, cyberstamps, fantasy stamps, faux postage, mail art, micronation stamps, serial art.

Saturday, August 21, 2010

AETHERNET ARTIST STAMPS/ Stamps of the New World/ 'The Aetheric Realm: A DISCUSSION OF THE USES OF THE TERMS AETHERIC AND ETHERIC/ 'Vale of the Vine' by Eric Whollem/ VISIONARY CINDERELLA STAMPS/ A faux postage stamp from the United Aethernet Nations/ Figurative digital art





Vale of the Vine
United Aethernet Nations
2010
by Eric Whollem
copyright by the artist

The Aetheric Realm
A DISCUSSION OF USES OF THE TERMS AETHERIC AND ETHERIC

The world of fairies is sometimes described as the Aetheric Realm.
The term 'ether' has been varyingly used by both scientists and
metaphysicians for many years.

The 'Aethernet' as I use the term refers to that portion of the internet
dedicated to the world of nature spirits, fairies, nymphs, elves and
other entities traditionally a part of mythology.

__________________

See what Wikipedia has to offer on the subject of the Aether:

And for a scientific tack:

To see what is said about the Ether see this article:

AETHERNET ARTIST STAMPS/'The Vale of the Vine'/ 'AFFIRMATIONS AND HUMAN CONSIOUSNESS'/ A cinderella CYBERSTAMP from the micronation of the United Aethernet Nations/ FIGURATIVE DIGITAL FAIRY GODDESS ART/ Visionary faux postage stamps celebrating the New World




The Vale of the Vine
United Aethernet Nations
2010
by Eric Whollem
copyright by the artist

Metaphysical Artist Stamps
AFFIRMATIONS AND HUMAN CONSCIOUSNESS

This series of stamps allows me to practice the art of affirmations.
An affirmation is a positive statement or image that allows the
collective consciousness a chance to actualize one's hopes and dreams.

Too often we get mired in the News or other ideation charged with
negativity. It is my aspiration to remedy this with visions of a New
World, a realm of peace and plenty, clean water, and freedom from
strife. The stamps from the United Aethernet Nations are dedicated to
this effort.

                                                                                                                 *
Aethernet stamps, artist stamps, artistamps, cinderella stamps, cyberstamps, fantasy stamps, faux postage, mail art, micronation stamps. Visionary art; metaphysical art; digital art; fairy art.

Friday, August 20, 2010

AETHERNET ARTIST STAMPS/ A cinderella souvenir sheet from the United Aethernet Nations/ DIGITAL SERIAL ART/ Fairy faux postage stamps by Eric Whollem/ 'The Vale of the Vine'/ More New World CYBERSTAMPS from the Amphoran Postal Union






The Vale of the Vine
United Aethernet Nations
2010
by Eric Whollem
copyright by the artist

The United Aethernet Nations

The U.A.N. was first established in 2010. It is a micronational league
of nations whose stamps have been created by Eric Whollem. The organization's
headquarters is in the city of New Urak, which exists on the Continent of
Amphora. The various countries who belong to the U.A.N utilize the Amphoran
Postal Union as an agency to regulate mail service between member nations.

The stamps above are the first issue of the U.A.N. Post Office. They are
dedicated to the peace and harmony of the New World.

______________

A micronation is a fantasy country. See Wikipedia for more information:

To view my complete collection of  artistamps from member countries of the U.A.N see:

*
Aethernet stamps, artist stamps, artistamps, cinderella stamps, cyberstamps, fantasy stamps, faux postage, mail art, micronation stamps. Fairy Goddess. Visionary art. Metaphysical art; serial art.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

AETHERNET ARTIST STAMPS/ A Fairy Goddess From 'The Vale of the Vine'/ A VISUALIZATION OF THE NEW WORLD/ A metaphysical faux postage stamp by Eric Whollem/ A CYBERSTAMP from the United Aethernet Nations/ FIGURATIVE DIGITAL ART





The Vale of the Vine
United Aethernet Nations
2010
by Eric Whollem
copyright by the artist



The Reginae Amphorae

The Reginae Amphorae are the Fairy Queens of the Aquarian Age.
Amphora is the old name for the sign of Aquarius in astrology.

According to the pronouncements of the Faery Queene of the New
World, the vale of the vines are charged with the delightful duty
of immeasurable productivity that all might share the joys of the
fruits of the earth.

____________

See my stamps of The Fairyland Post Office if interested in other fairy faux postage:

*
Aethernet stamps, artist stamps, artistamps, cinderella stamps, cyberstamps, fantasy stamps, faux postage stamps, mail art, micronation stamps. Digital art; visionary art; spiritual art; metaphysical art. Fairy Goddess.