Art Blog/Eric Whollem

Thursday, February 11, 2010

PARVATI/ A Figurative Ceramic Goddess Sculpture Painted With Volcanic Pumice From Mt.Shasta

Parvati

1992

by Eric Whollem

pumice from Mt. Shasta on terracotta

Collection of the artist.

11"

Photo copyright by the artist.

A GODDESS OF THE HIMALAYAS

Parvati is an important Hindu Goddess. She is the consort of Shiva.

Insofar as she is associated with the Himalayas, it seemed appropriate

to color her with earth pigments that I gathered at Mt. Shasta. She is

called the Daughter of the Mountain.

_______________________

BELOW IS A VIDEO

THAT SHOWS MORE OF MY

GODDESS SCULPTURES

FEATURED AS A PART OF SOME OF MY

FAUX POSTAGE STAMP CREATIONS

ERIC WHOLLEM

MOTHER OF SERPENTS/ A Figurative Ceramic Goddess Sculpture Painted With Pumice From Mt. Shasta

Mother of Serpents

1992

by Eric Whollem

pumice from Mt. Shasta on white clay with copper

Collection of Michael Stratton

10"

Photo copyright by the artist.

The Metaphysical Symbolism of the Serpent

In the lore of the Goddess the serpent is very sacred. In ancient

times water snakes were released when people were looking for

a site to establish a temple. When the snake found a spring, that

site was chosen for the temple. Temples were established for

healing and dreaming. Temples used to be the hospitals of the

ancient world.

Red Snake Goddess

1995

by Eric Whollem

red iron oxide in

acrylic emulsion with Vibhuti

on white earthenware clay

Private collection

5.5" x 4"

PHOTO COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

The healing gods Aesculapius and Hygeia were both associated

with the serpent. The two serpents entwined on a staff are today

still a symbol of the medical profession.

Marija Gimbutas said that the coiled serpent was a water symbol.

Water is often considered a primary attribute of the Goddess

insofar as water is powerful, yet soft and malleable. Water also

is a symbol of emotions and feeling.

The White Goddess

1995

by Eric Whollem

white granite earth pigment on

white earthenware clay

Private collection

5" x 4"

PHOTO COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Moses raised a brazen serpent in the wilderness to guide the

Israelites in their wanderings. In the New Testament it is said:

"Be wise as serpents, but harmless as doves."

In India, the serpent energy is called Kundalini Yoga, a basic

practice for illumination.

A sculpture video by Eric Whollem, 2011

THIS VIDEO PRESENTS A VARIETY OF MY

CERAMIC GODDESS SCULPTURES IN THE

FORMAT OF FAUX POSTAGE STAMPS

____________

Readers interested in my Ceramic Sculpture may want to see these posts:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/ceramic%20sculpture

This sheet of Poster Stamps shows the variety of sculptures

that I have created; the multicolored pieces

best reflect the use of my

earth paints.

My posts on the topic of the Goddess can be found here:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/goddess

My articles that deal with Earth Paints can be found on these posts:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/earth%20paints

If attracted to the lore of Mt. Shasta you can find what I have to say here:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/Mt.%20Shasta

ATARGATIS/ The Starwhale: Goddess of Dolphins/ A Figurative Ceramic Sculpture Painted With Natural Earth Paints

Atargatis

1992

by Eric Whollem

earth paints on terracotta

Private collection.

14"

Photo copyright by the artist.

THE MOTHER OF THE ZODIAC

"The Mother of the Zodiac" was just one designation of Atargatis, the

ancient goddess of the Near East.

Her name means literally Star Whale. Derceto is her Babylonian

prototype. She also relates to Tara of Tibet and India.

The Greeks called the Aegean Sea, the Sea of Goats; these "goats"

were, in fact, the dolphins, the goats of the sea--playful beings.

The Babylonian god Ea, was anciently depicted with a goat's body

and a fish tail. He was a prototypical dolphin spirit. Interestingly

enough in Chinese astrology the sign Capricorn is the Dolphin.

I gave my sculpture of Atargatis goat's horns to symbolize her

connection to the Sea Ram, her husband, also known as Dagon,

the merman. This sculpture is painted with earth paints that I

gathered myself.

Atargatis was associated with the dolphins, and also was worshipped

at shrines with fish pools in the arid deserts of what became Palestine

in later times.

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See my complete online image gallery of CERAMIC SCULPTURE:

https://picasaweb.google.com/earthpaint/FigurativeCeramicSculpture#

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

CERAMIC FIGURINES

by Eric Whollem

Mythology, anthropology, mermaids, Star Whale.

WINDOW OF THE GODDESS/ A Figurative Ceramic Wallpiece Painted With Natural Ash Paint

Window of the Goddess

             2003
              by Eric Whollem
              filtered wood ash in acrylic emulsion on white clay
             Private collection.
                 Photo copyright by the artist.

Ceramic Wallpieces

Light and shadow are basic in appreciation of bas relief
sculpture. This wallpiece was colorized with some of my
own homemade paints.

DANCE OF THE KUKSU/ Maidu Indian Religion: The Dream Lodge & the Crane Dance

Dance of the Kuksu

1985

by EricWhollem

watercolor and plastic emulsion and wax resist on paper

Collection of the artist.

9" x 6"

Copyright by the artist.

The Dream Religion of the Maidu Indians of California

This painting is a thumbnail of a larger work that was exhibited at the
Crocker Art Museum in the Crocker-Kingsley Show in 1986 in
Sacramento California.

The painting was bought by Herb Puffer of Pacific Western Traders
in Folsom, California. Mr. Puffer is a patron of Caliornia Indian art,
having helped tribal groups sustain traditonal dances, and supporting
the artists and craftsmen among them. He respected the fact that I had
interacted with Maidu cultural leaders in addition to making paints from
natural earth pigments in accordance with old traditions of painting.
Although I am not Maidu, I am friend of a Maidu family, having lived
off and on at Chi Chi Te, a Maidu village, for thirty-five years.

CONCOW MAIDU LORE IN THE PAINTINGS OF ERIC WHOLLEM

BIG HEADS

The Kuksu Religion is a dream-based metaphysical movement. Dreams
are considered the source of wisdom and foreknowledge. The best
dreamers among the people rise to become tribal leaders. Dreams are
netdim. Those who are dream doctors are netdim maidem.

Special power dreams dreamed at special dreaming places are the
basis of initiation as a warrior.

The Big Heads are so-named because they are dancers with huge
masks. They are featured in sacred dances of the Kuksu. The Big
Heads are related to the Kakinim, or spirits. The Saltu are another
order of spirit being. The word Kakinim is related to the Hopi word
Kachina.

CONCOW MAIDU RELIGION

REED BOATS

The Maidu were originally reed boat builders and are distant relatives
of the Mayans. Thor Heyerdahl made reed boats famous after his
legendary Kon Tiki Expedition out of Peru--and also his Ra Expedition
with a reed boat built of Egyptian papyrus that sailed across the Atlantic
Ocean. The Indians of the Tule Lake area north of Mt. Shasta and
various coastal tribes were also reed boat Indians of California.

Kuksu himself was the Maidu Adam. His wife, Morningstar, was the
Maidu Eve. They were born on Table Mountain above Oroville,
California. The Kuksu religion began in Oroville and spread to tribes
as far north as Mt. Shasta and as far south as Yosemite.

Some of the dancers in the sacred ceremonies wore fishing nets.
Such a net can be seen in the painting above. A sacred clown
named Sili wore mud plastered over his body; raven feathers
were placed in the fishing net that he wore.

CONCOW MAIDU CULTURE IN THE ART OF ERIC WHOLLEM

THE CRANE DANCE

The crane dance is one important dance of the Kuksu dance cycle.
The crane dance is an archetypical dance and forms of it are found
in cultures around the world. The ancient Greeks called the crane
dance the Geranos. Marija Gimbutas, the anthropologist, said that
the movements in the crane dance are the basis of patterns found in
the form of the labyrinth. The Huichol Indians of Mexico also have
a crane dance.

The Maidu call the crane wukwuk or doritu. Crane feathers form
the cloak of Moki, the highest spirit in the Hesi dance cycle. Aki,
the duck, rules many of the dances in the Hesi group.

_____________________

See my posts about the Maidu Indians on this link:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/maidu%20indians

See my posts on the topic of the Kuksu Religion on this link:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/kuksu

Maidu Indians, mythology, anthropology, abstract art, dreaming, Marija Gimbutas, Geranos, crane dance.
FIGURATIVE ABSTRACTION.

*

FLOWERS AMONG THE STONES/ A Visionary Mixed Media Painting/ FIGURATIVE ABSTRACTION

Flowers Among the Stones

                                     1985
                                    by Eric Whollem
                                    watercolor and parafin resist on paper
                                      Collection of the artist
                                    15' x 20 5/8"
                                         Copyright by the artist.

The Goddess From Out the Rocky Cleft
Encourages the Flowers Among the Stones

The 1980's was a decade marked by advances in social
thinking. "The Goddess" was discovered for the first time
by many.

Thunder Prayer

                                         1984
                                         by Eric Whollem
                                         gouache and wax resist on paper
                                        Collection of the artist.
                                          9" x 6"
                                                 Copyright by the artist.

THE BLESSING OF RAIN

Thunder Prayer is a work created in a synthesis of Native
American pictographs and modern art. Shown is an Indian
shaman, or medicine man, praying for the end of drought.

THE ABORIGINAL TRIAD/ Expressionism in Art: Watercolor Painting/ NEOPRIMITIVISM

The Aboriginal Triad

1987

by Eric Whollem

gouache on paper

Collection of the artist

16 " x 11 7/8'

Copyright by the artist.

NEOPRIMITIVISM

This painting, "The Aboriginal Triad" is an "Australoid"
fantasy. Painted with thick watercolor paint called gouache,
light colors over dark, it bears a measure of resemblance
to Aboriginal art.

ORPHIC NEOPHYTE/ Symbols of Initiation Into the Eleusinian Mysteries/ FIGURATIVE ABSTRACTION

Orphic Neophyte

1983

by Eric Whollem

earth paints, gouache and bronze powder in acrylic emulsion on paper

Collection of the artist.

17 7/8" x 14 1/8"

Copyright by the artist.

In the Abaton

The Abaton is the name given to the chamber of initiation in
the old cultures of the Mediterranean. It relates to terms
like the abyssos, or the sea. Much aquatic symbolism is
found in the Eleusinian Mysteries. Apollo, the Sun Fish,
was the chief hierophant. The neophyte was symbolically
taken into the abyssos in his descent into the Abaton,
which was also called the Pit.

Mexico

1977

by Eric Whollem

mixed media on paper

Collection of the artist

15" x 20"

Copyright by the artist.

The Artist's Trip to Mexico

This painting gives some highly stylized images of Mexico,
colored by the artist's imagination.

I had gone as far south as Guadalajara, but spent most of
my time near Mexico City, viewing the ruins of Teotihuacan
and also the famous Anthropology Museum.

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See my complete online image gallery of ABSTRACT ART:

https://picasaweb.google.com/earthpaint/AbstractArtByEricWhollem#

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

SIRENS OF THE QUAY

a painting based on memories of

a trip to Mexico

by EricWhollem

BELOW IS A VIDEO THAT

PRESENTS PAINTINGS

BASED ON CONCOW MAIDU INDIAN

CULTURE

ERIC WHOLLEM

Abstract art, mixed media painting, Mexico.

CERES/ Goddess Art: Mixed Media Painting Using Earth Paints/ FIGURATIVE ABSTRACT PAINTING by Eric Whollem/ Figurative abstraction

Ceres

                                                   1997
                                                   by Eric Whollem
                                                   earth pigments, acrylic emulsion and gouache on paper
                                                   Collection of the artist.
                                                         Copyright by the artist.

The Cloud Garden

                                                   1985
                                                   by Eric Whollem
                                                   watercolor and wax resist on paper
                                                   Collection of the artist.
                                                   6" x 9"
                                                     Copyright by the artist

A VISION OF THE CLOUDS
FLOATING OVER THE SEA

A few people have mentioned that this work reminds them a
bit of Monet's lily pool paintings. I have taken a different route
artistically than the Impressionists in that I have given a visionary
or surreal texture and colorization to the cloud masses in this
picture.

MAP OF ATLANTIS/ A Micronation Faux Postal Administration by Eric Whollem

MAP OF ATLANTIS

2004

by Eric Whollem

Copyright by the artist.

THE STAMPS OF ATLANTIS

ISSUES OF THE ATLANTEAN POSTAL UNION

In the days of yore, when the salt sea washed the

shores of magical Atlantis, mermaids were seen

delivering the mail. In these olden times thin strips
of blubber from the white narwhal were used to

protect the mails from the damp corrosion of

the tides.

Stamps from Atlantis.

The outposts of Atlantis were worldwide; and

many colonies were established in lands across

the globe.

It was in the Late Atlantean period that the

Atlantean Postal Union issued the stamps we

see here. The Union's headquarters were in

Alcyone, the city of the dove on the continent's

eastern shore.

Amongst the Atlanteans the monetary unit was

the Comb, one hundred of which equaled

a Mer.

The stamps of Atlantis have been preserved to

our time by the Mermaid Philatelic Society that

meets every 700 years in the Cave of the Masters.

This cave is now somewhere under the sea.

Atlantis stamps, part two.

Collectors will note that a variety of stamps from

Atlantis can be found. Different Atlantean princi-

palities have established Atlantean post offices

and issued stamps over the years. The Atlantean

Postal Union recognizes them all as valid for

postage by virtue of the treaties established between

various Atlantean Kings and Queens and their

respective domains.

Also the designation of "Mermail" can be found

on artist stamps created by other artists. I came

up with this label in 1999, before I had my first

computer. This is an example of separate minds

discovering the same idea independently of the

other.

_________________

See more stamps from ATLANTIS on this link:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/atlantis

BELOW ARE SOME

SAMPLES OF MY

ATLANTEAN FAUX POSTAGE STAMPS

The Ships of Atlantis

(Copyright by the artist)

See more VIDEOS of stamps and art:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/videos

Artist stamps, artistamps, cinderella stamps, fantasy stamps, faux postage, mail art, micronation stamps

by EricWhollem

SHIP OF ATLANTIS/ Faux Postage From the Atlantean Postal Union

"SHIP OF ATLANTIS"

2003

by Eric Whollem

A Set of Two Stamps

Editions of 100, plus ten artist's proofs each

Copyright by the artist

HONORING THE TEXTILE ART OF ATLANTIS

These stamps were issued to commemorate

10,000 years of Atlantean weaving.

Depicted is the dragon boat motif found

in the classical art of Atlantis.

Artist stamps, artistamps, cinderella stamps, fantasy stamps, faux postage, mail art, micronation stamps

by Eric Whollem

Sunday, February 7, 2010

THE PYRAMIDS OF AZTLAN/ Atlantis/ Figurative Abstract Painting by Eric Whollem/ Mixed Media

The Pyramids of Aztlan

                1983
                by Eric Whollem
                earth pigments, polyvinyl resin, wax medium and gouache on paper
               Collection of the artist.
                18' x 14"
                     Copyright by the artist

A PRIEST OF ATLANTIS

This mixed media painting depicts an Atlantean priest holding a
tablet with an image of the Goddess.

Reminiscences of Aztlan

                                            1977
                                            by Eric Whollem
                                            earth paints, casein and watercolor on paper
                                            Collection of the artist.
                                            14" x 10 7/8"
                                               Copyright by the artist

.

A SHAMAN OF TEOTIHUACAN

The antler crowned figure in the painting above is my fantasy rendition
of an Altantean shaman. The meandering blue form represents the
canals of Teotihuacan, which was an island city, now found near Mexico
City. Aztlan is the legendary island home of the Aztecs. Some say that
Aztlan was Atlantis.

Viking Village

                                             1977
                                             by Eric Whollem
                                             earth pigments, casein and watercolor on paper
                                           Collection of the artist.
                                            14" x 10 7/8"
                                               Copyright by the artist.                    Click on image to enlarge

A VIKING SETTLEMENT

This painting is a fantasy rendition of an old Viking village.
The Vikings were the aristocratic class of old Scandinavia.
They were worhsippers of Odin. The commoners often
were devotees of Thor, the popular god.

Nothing Upon Awakening

                                      1988
                                      by Eric Whollem
                                      mixed media on paper: wax resist and India ink with plastic
                                         emulsion crayons
                                      Collection of the artist.
                                      15" x 10"
                                         Copyright by the artist.

REFERENCES TO SCULPTURE

It was in 1988 that I began a large series of ceramic
sculptures. Many of my ceramic works have been posted
on this blog.

I admire the sculptor Henry Moore's subway drawings
from WWII. Nothing Upon Awakening is a tribute to
this British sculptor who has inspired generations.

The Reclining One

1986

by Eric Whollem

mixed media on paper

Collection of the artist.

8.5" x 11"

Copyright by the artist.

BOLD COLOR AND FORM

The German expressionists from the 1930's left us
with an intruiguing legacy of figurative art. Kirchner,
one of their leading artists, is one of the great
creative spirits.

Abstract Expressionism in America began in the
midcentury. In this school of art, the figure largely
disappeared. Exceptions include the art of Gottlieb
and de Kooning. In de Kooning's approach the
treatment of the human figure became even less
naturalistic than the German Expressionists.

What is being expressed in "expressionism?"

Everything from existential anxiety to Zen
meditation. The wild calligraphy of Buddhist
artists from Asia is considered a prototype
for modern expressionistic art, which covers
the gamut of human feeling.

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See my posts about FIGURATIVE EXPRESSIONISM:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/figurative%20expressionism

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

DANCING COLOR

mixed media on paper

by Eric Whollem

Saturday, February 6, 2010

THE BASKET BEARERS/ Early Works of Eric Whollem: A Visionary Watercolor Painting

The Basket Bearers

                                                    1974
                                                    by Eric Whollem
                                                    watercolor on paper
                                                    Collection of the artist
                                                    11 1/16" x 9 7/16"
                                                           Copyright by the artist.

The Celestial Farmer

This painting may well be a quintessential example of
whimsy. We see here a curious blend of technologies:
basket weaving and a mechanical contrivance of the
divine husbandsman.