Rabbit Man of the Sea
1992
blue gray and red earthen oxides on white clay
by Eric Whollem
Private Collection
RABBIT MAN OF THE SEA
This work was inspired by meeting an Irish gentleman named
George, who related to me in Mendocino that he had lived on
the beaches of Ireland, and was well aquainted with the lore
of the selkies, or the mermaids.
He told me that the term Selkie means Shifter. The selkie is
legendarily able to take on any life form. George told me
that in fact he was going to come back as a rabbit in his
next life--"to aid the people." It could be that George was
referring to the Hare of Irish lore.
referring to the Hare of Irish lore.
The Hare in old Ireland was called Gearr, considered the most
adept of animals at shape shifting. The hare symbolizes Intuition
and Balance. As well the Hare is a representative of the
Spirit of Grain and the two equinoxes. Gearr was a sign of
Rebirth and Abundance.
In Celtic lore all the spiritual creatures dwelled in Emania,
the Otherworld, typified as a mystic ocean. Gearr is
thought to move in and out of the Otherworld at will.
*
Three Goddess Figurines by Eric Whollem 1992
Private Collection
and Balance. As well the Hare is a representative of the
Spirit of Grain and the two equinoxes. Gearr was a sign of
Rebirth and Abundance.
In Celtic lore all the spiritual creatures dwelled in Emania,
the Otherworld, typified as a mystic ocean. Gearr is
thought to move in and out of the Otherworld at will.
*
Three Goddess Figurines by Eric Whollem 1992
Private Collection
ON THE COLORIZATION OF MY CERAMIC SCULPTURES
I have followed the New World, or Mesoamerican tradition in the
pigmentation of my ceramic sculptures. I began making paints
from raw natural earth, sand, ash, charcoal and clay in 1973. These
