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War Shield with broken arrows : Gallery installation. Materials : birch branches,earth,feathers and fabric (diameter 6ft). It was later ceremonially burnt at a Samhain (Hallowe'en) party in my friend Morelle's garden. The intention was to create ending (death) and transformation for the artwork at this turning point in the seasonal cycle. |
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The arrows survived! Materials : sycamore wood,leather,gull feathers and glitter paint. Happy Hallowe'en! |
15 comments:
Perfect Halloween post! Fascinating story as ever with your work, and the final picture of the arrows is lovely too.
I don't know much about Halloween, it is not so familiar here, but commerce is promoting it very much lately, so there are parties now and walks through Amsterdam. It is not a Dutch heritage and I am too old to start to like it. But it is interesting to read all the blogs about it. So have fun!
Thanks for lovely pictures and memories. It's funny in a way but it feels like a time of new beginnings
M xx
Hi ruby,
"ceremonially burnt" is associated with Guy Fawkes Night to me. You usually do the same thing at Halloween party?
Now that the comment above says "a time of new beginnings", that's the feeling I wanted to put my finger on about your work.
We are having warmer days here.
Have a nice week,Ruby.
Hello Ruby, my faerie friend!
It is so lovely to visit you again. I have really missed blogging.
I love your War shield with Broken Arrows. It is beautiful and I imagine quite a powerful ceremony for Samhain.
Amazing that four arrows survived the fire, that must be a lucky omen!
Halloween Blessings and thank you for your kind words at my place.
Jo. x
Hi, Ruby! Was this art created to be burnt down? The ring of the flame is enchantingly beautiful. I don’t know what the bonfire and the ring symbolize. Halloween originates in Celtic tradition, so learning about your Halloween is interesting. Wish you good health and happiness in the new season.
Yoko
Hi, Ruby!
Wow…those are very beautiful art displays but they were burnt down? The burning ceremony originates from Bonfires? Many years ago I read an article about celebration of bonfires which is in celebration of the capture of Guy Fawkes. He tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament.
Celebration of Halloween is not so familiar to people in Japan. Do you make special dishes for your Halloween party?
Have a great week, Ruby!
Tomoko.
Ruby,
Very intriguing tradition! This ring looks like Sumo ring which is the separated sacred place from the ordinary world.( Sumo is traditional wrestling, one of Japanese sports.) Is the ring burnt for purification? In Japan, arrows are also used as charms to drive away evil spirits. It is interesting to think whether this is a similarity in different culture or not.
Best wishes,
keiko
I LOVE this! Thanks for documenting the process. It reminds me of Tibetan Sand Paintings. See http://mygreatday.blogspot.com/2007/12/impermanence.html
Keep doing your great work!
Hi Ruby.
I came back from a trip and after that my PC broke down but now new PC came.
Do the souls of ancestors come back to your home on the Samhain? I heard the door between this world and the other world is open on the Halloween. In Japan ancestors come back our home during "Bon festival" It resemble a bit,I think.
Have a lovery weekend.
A very powerful piece. It must have been exhilarating to take part of that burning ceremony.
Wonderful sequence of pictures. Amazing that the arrows survived the fire - or did you put on new ribbons?
Thank you for your comments.
I think the ring of fire has appeared in many cultures around the world as a symbol of containment and purification.The broken arrow in Native American tradition,as far as I know is a sign of peace.
Hallowe'en is the eve of All Souls Day (Christian).Samhain was the Gaelic harvest,celebrated at the halfway point between the Autumn Equinox and the Winter Solstice.
Guy Fawkes Night,bonfire night,is on 5th November and is a separate occasion.Traditionally an effigy of "the Guy" was placed on top of the bonfire.
The arrows survived because they didn't go in!
Best wishes,
Ruby
I meant to say Gaelic harvest "festival".
Hi, Thank you Ruby.
It is very interesting to learn the history.Every thing is new for me!!
Tomoko
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