Friday, September 18, 2009

A Prayer For Our Tribe




A Prayer For Our Tribe

mixed media artwork

Four phials sealed with beeswax, topped with glass and pebbles

A coil of brown paper on which is written my Mitochondrial DNA sequence.
Four letters that unite and divide us.
A map of each of my mother's mother's, back to the first Eve.

Hawthorne briars: around one of which is coiled a piece of magnetic tape on which is recorded Music by Monteverdi and J.S. Bach. The other secures a fragment of text from inside a Tibetan Prayer Wheel.
We are creatures of spirit and love.

Pieces of rock from the hill behind my house (earth); pieces of coal (fire); water from the tap in my kitchen, and air.
The elements in which we all live and battle against.

A pinch of salt; dried Rosemary leaves (for remembrance) from my garden, a rusty screw
We are creatures of cultivation, invention and creation.


We are such stuff as dreams are made of and our little life is rounded by a sleep. (William Shakespeare)

A little Dream Catcher made from pieces of jewelry that I have owned since I was 15 and some that were my grand mother's. An Indian bracelet with little bells; semi-precious stones, Amber from Lithuania; Garnet from India, shells, crystals, wooden beads, metal leaves and heart; a shard of glass made in the old lighthouse-factory, that was across the road from the house I grew up in; a button from a dress that was my mother's or grandmother's; copper wire.


Now it hangs in LaWendula's studio.

All that we have touched, holds our spirit.
When we create things for each other, we pass our spirit on.


One Tribe, One Heart


18 comments:

MrCachet said...

Please don't misunderstand... I enjoy looking at it, but I have a hard time wrapping my brain around what I'm looking at. Are these real objects captured digitally and then altered, or are they simply photographs of real objects? They're wonderful to look at and very earthy, and the words tell me something, but I want to know more about their creation.

Nettie Edwards said...

Sorry Dave, I should have explained. These are REAL objects that I made for LaWendula's One Tribe, One Heart project. You can find out more about it by following the link at the end of this post. They are the first things I've made with my hands for about three years and it was a surprisingly emotional experience.

Jo Archer said...

Very beautiful. I love the symbolism.

Caterina Giglio said...

this is spectacular work! I love the intention, the symbols and you have placed a new spin on the traditional native dream catcher! wonderful!

Lawendula said...

Thank you so much, Lumi for your wonderful things and this beautiful post.
The dream catcher is the daily joy for my daughter and me. It makes me smile and feeling connected.
I am so glad, that you are a part of my project!
xoxo, FM

Lori Saul said...

Beautiful symbolic pieces and making art by hand has a physical involvement and emotional impact that leaves a resonation in the work! Stunning process!

Unknown said...

very very beautiful and meaningful ..... it makes me want to go express my own thoughts and feelings through art :)

Mosi said...

Hi Limi!!!

I know you from LaWendulas Blog.I just want to say...beautiful work :)

lynne h said...

lumi, this post is such a gift... first your art, which touches me and makes me Know that i live in a world with kindred spirits... and second because it sent me off to lawendula's blog, where i read about the joy diet, which makes me so excited i can hardly sit still.

thank you my friend!

xo

Kim Palmer said...

Stupendous work! I saw this project when it was first proposed and thought it would be spectacular then. I wasn't wrong. How fabulous. Your piece is truly stunning. No wonder it was such an emotional experience. I would love to see more of this work, it really is stunning!

deb said...

Oh how excellent, a piece of our work will meet in Lawendula's tree, for a dryad, it couldn't be more perfect!

Poetic Artist said...

What a wonderful touching post..These are beautiful and the spirit connected.
Katelen

mary schweitzer said...

Your work is always so thoughtful and endearing. I really enjoy it.

magpie said...

i have yet to post thoroughly about this porject and i've only now begun to visit my fellow one tribe members - you first because i know you from the wrecking... it's magic. i'm moved almost to tears by the thoughtfulness you have put into this project.

charkstudios said...

Your art is amazing and inspires me to create create create! I especially love your dream catcher that you put your own personal "spin" on it.

Lisa said...

This is gorgeous, both your part of the project and the dreamcatcher. Breathtakingly beautiful work.

Your dna sequence? Wow. It's all very moving, but that really got to me.

Lucky Dip Lisa said...

I followed the link on Lawendula's blog. This is a facinating project and I adore your viles and dream catcher. I will have to come back for a longer look to see what else you have here!

pondlife said...

Excellent... just simply excellence.