Thursday, February 18, 2010

THE FAIRY'S BLISS/ a figurative ceramic sculpture by eric whollem





                                                    
                                                        The Fairy's Bliss
                                                        2007
                                                        by Eric Whollem
                                                        oxides and copper carbonate on earthenware
                                                        Collection of the artist.
                                                        5 7/8"
                                                              Photo copyright by the artist.

SALMON MOTHER/ A ceramic sculpture based on California Maidu Indian lore

   



         
              Salmon Mother
              2006
              by Eric Whollem
              natural iron oxide in acrylic emulsion on white clay
              Collection of the artist
              10.5"
                       Photo copyright by the artist.

Mako Kollem

"Mako" means salmon in the Concow Maidu Indian
language. "Kollem" means woman. In my interaction
with the Maidu I never heard a story about Mako
Kollem. This is my own storytelling here, as it is
winter and the time for tales. . . .


SUPI POBOKU: A RIVER OF MYSTERIES

Below the ridge where I lived in the Feather Falls
area runs Supi Poboku, the Middle Fork of the Feather
River.

SHRINE OF THE GODDESS OF SEA SERPENTS/ a figurative ceramic sculpture





                                     
                                          Goddess of Sea Serpents
                                          2005
                                          by Eric Whollem
                                          earth paints on white clay; ceramic oxides
                                          Collection of the artist.
                                          6" x 5"
                                                Photo copyright by the artist.

SEA SERPENTS
FACTS AND FANCY

Various authors such as Erik Ludvigsen Pontopiddan and
Bernard Heuvelmans have written about sea serpents, but
have given those of us who prefer the delights of imagination
a rather stale tale of "scientific" nomenclature.

MASK OF POSEIDON/ a ceramic sculpture by eric whollem




                                        
                                             Mask of Poseidon
                                             2002
                                             by EricWhollem
                                             oxides on white clay, a mask with ceramic beads by the artist;
                                                     with flax cord.
                                            Collection of the artist.
                                            5" x  5"
                                                  Photo copyright by the artist.

THE SACRED MERMAN
AND THE TRUTH ABOUT THE SIRENS

Poseidon legendarily bore the trident, or three-pointed
fisherman's spear. This was more than a spear, but was
a symbol in the ancient mysteries. It represents the power
of initiation, the transformation of an individual to enlighten-
ment. Poseidon was one of many Greek sea gods, but
came into prominence in his day.

Mermaids and mermen are considered very sacred in many
cultures. In Hungary, for example, churches are filled with
images of mermaids. A Hungarian woman told me that
mermaids are angels to the mind of the Hungarian.


Mermaid
2004
by Eric Whollem
oxides on white earthenware clay
Private Collection
12"
PHOTO COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE


THE SIRENS IN THE ODYSSEY

The mermaids have gotten a bad image due to a false reading
of Homer's epic poem, the Odyssey. The Sirens that tried
to lure Odysseus to his doom are said to have been vile
seductresses by many. But when one reads the Odyssey
with a clear mind one sees that Odysseus was a rapist,
a thief, a murderer of the son of Poseidon, and a blasphemer
of Athena, a chief goddess of the Greeks.

The Sirens were doing their duty as the "scourges" of the gods.
Such scourges are the policewomen of the world of the gods.

Mermaids today have a poor track record due to unfair
and inaccurate belief that Sirens are seducers of sailors.


Nereid
2004
by Eric Whollem
oxides on white earthenware clay
Private collection
12"
PHOTO COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST



THE NEREIDS: SAVIORS OF SAILORS

In fact the Greeks regarded mermaids as saviors of sailors.
The Nereids, the true Greek mermaids, were said to be
helpers of sailors at sea.

What the mermaids need is a less mythological account
of ancient mythology.

The Sirens are featured in the Eleusinian Mysteries as the
Chorus of the Naiads. They are offspring of Achelous, the
River God.

____________

Readers interested in my posts on Mythographic Art may want to view:

See more of my Ceramic Masks on this link:

CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE


MASK OF WOCTOLLY
by Eric Whollem


 
My gallery of Ceramic Sculptures may be seen here:



Ceramic sculpture video.                          

Those interested in my posts on Mermaids may want to see:


PORTAL OF THE SEASKY
digital art
by Eric Whollem


And those especially interested in Poseidon may want to see my faux postage stamps from Amphitritonia--especially my articles on the mysteries of the Sea God:



   Amphitritonian stamp video.                  
*

MANCO CAPAC, FATHER OF THE INCA DOLPHIN PEOPLE/ a ceramic sculpture





                                           
                                                Manco Capac
                                                2007
                                                by Eric Whollem
                                                oxides on white clay
                                                Collection of the artist
                                                1.5" x 3"
                                                  Photo copyright by the artist.

THE LEGEND OF LAKE TITICACA
MYSTERIES OF THE DOLPHIN PEOPLE

A Peruvian woman once told me that every school child in Peru
knows the story of Manco Capac and Macma Ocllo, the first
Incan king and queen.

FAY/ a figurative ceramic sculpture by eric whollem





                    
                         Fay
                         2007
                         by Eric Whollem
                         oxides on white clay
                         Collection of the artist.
                         9.5"
                                          Photo copyright by the artist.

A FAIRY GODDESS

The fairy goddess prays for the restoration of the
pollinators of our planet. Insects such as butterflies
are diminishing in great numbers due to the neglect
of human society. Insecticides are killing them.