Earth Meets Sky ~ Gourd Art Doll Exhibit

My latest collection of work revolves around the theme Earth Meets Sky: The Emergence of Woman. My goal was to show representations of women that are balanced and in tune with Nature and the Elements. Women that have emerged in their own full rite, as strong and compassionate women, who are confident and comfortable in their own skin.

"Sweetgrass Blessings to the Star People"

~ As  sweetgrass is burned in ceremony, blessings are sent to the heavens where the Star People reside~

(She is created from Gourd and Clay, with layers of acrylics to give her a rich look. She holds a bowl in her arms with Sweetgrass, which is used in blessing ceremonies. A sweetgrass braid also surrounds her base. Her hair is braided down the back and adorned with feathers.)

"Earth Meets Sky Kachina Gourd"

The Kachina Gourd was created to express the Spirit of the combination of Sky and Earth elements...using the symbolism of the sun designs and colors along with the symbolism of mountain ranges and earth colors.A balance of Unity.

Diana the Huntress of the Moon

I was inspired to create Diana to represent the woman who is known as a great huntress, adept at capturing what she is seeking. She is affiliated with the Moon, thereby tying in her symbolic representation of connection between and Earth and Sky.

She is created from Gourd and Clay and embellished with wooden bead necklace, beautiful alpaca fleece for hair which is tied back, and she holds her bow made of wood and sinew.

"Gaia"

The all-knowing representation of Mother Earth, who's tree limbs extend to touch the skies in a balance of completing the circle.

Gaia is created from Gourd and Clay, handpainted, and is embellished with leaves and fibers.

Zorya ~ The Three Attendants to the Sun

This piece was inspired from a Slavic legend of Zorya. The three attendants to the sun were known as the Morning Star, the Evening Star, and the Midnight Star. The Morning Star opened the gates to release the Sun Dog. The Evening Star ushered the Sun Dog back in and closed the gates. The Midnight Star held the dying Sun until the next morning when it would be released again.

Created from Gourd and Clay.

Medicine Woman of the Four Directions

She is known to honor the directions in all that she is and does. The symbolism of them is handpainted on the front of her. The East for new beginnings, the South for the Present, The West for Completion, and the North for the unformed.

Created from Gourd and Clay. She sits on a tapestry that matches her head wrap.

 "The Blossoming of New Beginnings"

I love all aspects of gardening and growing beautiful and plentiful things from the soils, and so the collection would not have been complete without a representation of a new blossom. She is created from a Gourd with clay petals. She emerges from the petals, peaking out at her new beginning, enchanted with the new world.
Gourd, Clay and Hand dyed Fleece

"Wings of Transformation"

After spending her time in the cocoon of lessons, she has emerged to greet her new self, and test her wings in flight.

Created from Gourd and Clay, she is clothed in in beautiful folk fabrics, butterfly wings held in her pockets, and two metal discs that read "Wander" and "Inspire", which will help her on her next journey of helping others in their transformation.

"Earth Tapestry"

A handpainted wood carving on base, representing the rich and complex Universe that we all live in.

Embellished with feathers and beaded base.

I loved creating this series, with so many of their stories dear to my heart.

 

These creations have all been SOLD, but you can visit my Etsy and Indiemade shops to see my current Art Dolls
https://www.etsy.com/shop/JeanneFryArt

or
http://jeannefryart.indiemade.com

Danu the Bellydancing Mermaid ~ OOAK Art Doll by Jeanne Fry

Being enchanted by Mermaids and their Lore, inspired my lastest creation of the Bellydancing Mermaid ~ Danu.

Danu is the first Bellydancer Mermaid..a crusader in the Seas. She is so attuned to the Rhthyms of the Ocean, the Beat of the Current, that she can not contain herself from the Dance. The flow of her movements

coincide with the movement of the currents, and her Dance delights all of her neighbor Ocean Dwellers.

Danu is approximately 11 inches tall. She is an OOAK, Original One of a Kind Art Doll. Her body is designed from Batik fabric that is hand stitched. Her face is sculpted of Prosculpt Clay and them handpainted with layers of Acrylics to give it depth. She is adorned with a Metal Bauble Waistlet, and she holds a Seahorse in one hand and a Shell in the other. A light Beaded and Metal Pendant necklace graces her neck. Her  shawl has small bells that jingle when she does her dance, with one attached to the tip of her tail as well. She is attached to a wooden base for display that is signed and dated by me, and has sea shells attached to it.

SOLD

The Divine Feminine and Creative Inspiration

Where do you go to when you are connecting with your Inspiration? When you need that fresh flow of ideas that results in a burning desire to put everything  else aside and grab your brush or put the clay on the table, what was your spark?

I can get those little energetic pulses from all of the usual places; nature, reading poetry, listening to music, but my main source that it always comes down to is the Divine Feminine. Those women that came before us, the ancestors and deities, that's what lies at the heart of most of the work I create.

(Statue from Brookgreen Gardens)

I connect with their stories, their history, their strength, and their passion. They are reminders to me of perseverance, creation, compassion, strength, and to embrace our own abilities to make a difference in the world.

(Statue from Brookgreen Gardens)

(Statue from Brookgreen Gardens)

Beyond the historical women, it breaks down in simplicity ~ The Divine Feminine. This is what creates the intricate fabric of our being, the complexities that make us complete, and the balance of strong yet gentle.

Different cultures and different religions, have a name for this presence ~ Gaia, Kuan Yin,  Our Lady of Guadeloupe, Diana the Huntress,Saraswati,  Mother Mary, Mother Earth, Venus of Willendorf, or Isis...the list is long.

(Statue from Brookgreen Gardens)



It is within this deep connection that I draw my inspiration and use that energy to help empower others through my artwork.

SOLD

(The Statues mentioned above are just a very very few of the beautiful statues at Brookgreen Gardens. To get more information about the Gardens you can visit their site )

http://www.brookgreen.org/