Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Picture of the Week: The Siren Girl

The Siren Girl by Kareena Zerefos.
The artist describes this work as "Subtly referencing the seductive yet dangerous 'bird-women' of Greek mythology."

Not only do I love this picture, particularly the look in the girls eyes, but I also love the idea that creatures such as sirens are born and have a childhood, grow up and maybe even die. I think I feel a story hatching (get it, hatching, like a bird. I love bad puns)

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Native American Fashion


Vogue

There seems to be quite a trend in fashion at the moment towards the Native American. Tribal/geometric prints and feathers are everywhere. It's a trend we've seen before, I remember only a few years ago fringes were quite the thing, and I'm sure we'll see it again. I'm quite a fan of this look and while I won't be using actual feathers I'm keen to incorporate some Native American imagery, patterns and materials into my own jewellery. The first logical step? Google images of course. But then I thought about how long it's been since I did a Whimsy post and decided to go a slightly different route.
Instead of focusing solely on the fashion I decided to hit up the lore and religion instead and came up with a few images I hope you'll enjoy.

Mah-to-toh-pe Chief by George Catlin, 1833.

Navajo Rug.

Self with Bones by Brett Manning.
The use of bones and geometric patterns makes this image to me reminiscent of Native American imagery.

Coyote by Col. H. Smith from Sir William Jardine's The Naturalist's Library, 1845.
The Coyote is featured prominently in Native American lore primarily as a trickster .

Algon Captures a Star-Maiden by James Jack.
 In Shawnee legend the constellation Corona Borealis is made up of 12 Star-Maidens one of which is kidnapped by the warrior Algon. Eventually she falls in love with him and they return to the sky together. I wonder if this story served as the inspiration for Neil Gaiman's Stardust.
Totem #2 Moth by Patricia Ariel.
 While this contemporary image does not use Native American imagery, the idea of the totem behind it comes from Native American lore (I should point out Totemism does exist in other cultures).
In Native North American culture the totem or totems are animals which serve as guides through life. There is usual a main guide specific to the individual known as their Totem Animal.

For a more fashion based look at Native America check out my Hearsay blog.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Dangerous Women


For Christmas this year my parents gave me the book Dangerous Women by Laure Adler and Élisa Lécosse. The book tells the tales of over 50 mythical and real women alongside beautiful works of art. Some of the pictures I found familiar and have already been featured on this blog but others were completely new to me and I’ll share them with you now.

Ariadne Abandoned by Angelika Kauffmann, before 1782.

Jupiter and Juno (detail) by Annibale Carracci, 1597-1600.

Danäe by Correggio, c. 1531.
 Danäe was impregnated by Zeus in the form of a golden shower and gave birth to the hero Perseus.



La Rolla by Henri Gervex, 1878.

Woman With a Mask by Lorenzo Lippi, 1640-50.

The Venus of Urbino by Titial, 1538.

I hope you all had a very happy holiday and are looking forward to a bright new year.

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