Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Mermaid Goddess Faux Postage/ Cretan Ceramic Sculptures by Whollem/ Earth Pigments From Nature




"MOERA"
Empire of Amphora
2001
by Eric Whollem
edition of 100, plus ten artist's proofs
48 x 79 mm.
Copyright by the artist.

CYCLADIC AND CRETAN INFLUENCES
IN THE SCULPTURES OF WHOLLEM

On the faux postage stamp above is a sculpture I created in 1992.
Like many modern sculptors, I have been an admirer of the Cycladic
art of the ancient Aegean, and of the related culture of Minoa in
Crete.
Moera is a Greek goddess of foreknowledge. She is related to
Aphrodite. The name Moira is a variation on Moera, which stems
from ancient terms for the Mother.

Moera is a Fate, or Fey, or Fay, an oracular goddess, associated
through Aphrodite to the sea, and as such could be designated a
mermaid. In Europe the Fata Morgana were considered prophetic
spirits of lakes and springs.


EARTH PAINTS

Moera is painted with earth pigments that I gathered in nature. The
red is an iron oxide. The beige is from volcanic pumice from Mt.
Shasta. The ochre color is from a sandstone deposit in the
Sacramento Valley near Pentz, California.

The clay body is terracotta. This sculpture currently is in a private
collection.


SYMBOLS IN THIS STAMP'S DESIGN

Stylized seahorses can be seen in the border elements of the stamp
above. Also a goddess can be seen in a ship with her long hair
flowing. The ship is horse-headed and has a fish-tailed rudder. This
sort of design was common in Phoenician ships of the Mediterranean.

The horse represents the power of the tides, the strength of Poseidon.
The two golden fish at the bottom of the stamp are the Abtu and Ant
fishes out of Egypt. These were considered very sacred. In Tibet
the two golden fishes are considered symbols of enlightenment. Carl
Jung, the modern psychoanalyst, wrote a classic work dealing in large
part with the symbolism of the Fish. Aion is thus one of this thinker's
better books.

My own book, The Mystery of the Mermaids, expands Jung's ideas.
I develop the idea that the mermaid is not just a symbol of the
unconscious, but may represent superconsciousness. Silver is the
symbol of the unconsciousness, according to Paul Foster Case; but
gold, and especially the golden mermaid, is a symbol of higher
awareness and realization.

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Readers interested in my GALLERY of Amphoran Stamps should see:

Those who wish to view my posts of Ceramic Sculpture should look at:

My posts that deal with the topic of Cycladic Influences in my work should see:

If you wish to view my entire online presentation of Faux Postage Stamps see:

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Artist stamps, artistamps, cinderella stamps, fantasy stamps, faux postage, mail art, micronation stamps by Eric Whollem.

MYTHOLOGY
Mythographic art.
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A Map of the Micronation of Amphora/ Cinderella Stamps by Eric Whollem/ A Metaphor for the Aquarian Age





                           A MAP OF THE EMPIRE OF AMPHORA
                                               by Eric Whollem

A CONTINENT OF THE FUTURE

Amphora is a term that comes to us from the ancient
Greek language. It means chalice or vessel. Usually
amphorae were used to store water, oil, or wine.

In astrology Amphora is the old name for the sign of
Aquarius. Aquarius is designated as the Water Bearer,
and symbolized by a female figure holding a clay vessel.

Parvati, A Goddess Stamp From Amphora/ Ceramic Sculpture/ Earth Paints





"PARVATI"
Empire of Amphora
2001
by Eric Whollem
edition of 100, plus ten artist's proofs
48 x 79 mm.
Copyright by the artist.


PARVATI, DAUGHTER OF THE MOUNTAIN

This stamp depicts Parvati, consort of the Hindu God, Shiva.
The ceramic sculpture shown is painted with volcanic pumice
from Mt. Shasta. This is appropriate as Parvati is called "the
daughter of the mountain." This pumice is one of the many
earth paints that I use in my art.

Minoan Goddess Artistamps/ Figurative Ceramic Sculpture/ Cycladic Influences





"MARINA"
Empire of Amphora
2001
by Eric Whollem
editon of 100, plus ten artist's proofs
48 x 79 mm.
Copyright by the artist.

MARINA:  MOTHER GODDESS
AND MERMAID

This stamp from the land of Amphora, features a sculpture
I created in 1989. It is ceramic, glazed with a green raku glaze,
but also finished with oxides gathered by the artist in nature.

Dolphin Goddess Artist Stamps/ A Ceramic Sculpture With Earth Paints/ Atargatis







"ATARGATIS"
Empire of Amphora
2001
by EricWhollem
edition of 100, plus ten artist's proofs
48 x 79 mm.
Copyright by the artist.


ATARGATIS THE STARWHALE

Atargatis, meaning "Starwhale," was a Neareastern Sea Goddess.
She ruled the Zodiac and the fertility of the crops. She was mother
of the dolphins and the whales. She is of major importance in world
mythology.

Scandinavian Mythology on the Artistamps of Amphora/ The Golden Mermaids






        
  "SKOGSRA"
  Empire of Amphora
  2001
  by Eric Whollem
  edition of 100, plus ten artist's proofs
  48 x 79 mm.
   Copyright by the artist.

SKOGSRA, A PAINTING BY WHOLLEM
ON THE STAMPS OF AMPHORA

The Amphoran Postal Administration celebrates the
painted works of Eric Whollem, their postmaster general,
in this stamp issue.

Cat Goddess Stamps/ Ceramic Sculpture With Earth Paints





     
"BASTIS"
Empire of Amphora
2001
by Eric Whollem
edition of 100, plus artist's proofs
48 x 79 mm.
Copyright by the artist.



THE CAT GODDESS

This stamp from the Empire of Amphora depicts
Bastus, or Bast, the cat goddess of ancient Egypt.
This whimsical rendition relates to the styles of art
seen in the ceramic folk art of the Mediterranean,
of Sardinia and elsewhere.

Visionary Digital Art/ Contemporary Figurative Art/ Vessel of the Flame

     
                                                   

















  Vessel of the Flame
   2009
   by Eric Whollem
   mixed media digital art
   Copyright by the artist.

An Allegory of Hope for Our Time

Here the Muse bears a rose, a symbol of love. The vessel of flame
represents our spiritual aspirations in the Aquarian Age.

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