GREEK MYTH (Athena: Goddess of Wisdom)
My myth is based on the Athena, the goddess of wisdom. She led armies and taught pupils how to weave. She noticed one of her pupils named Arachne is extremely hard on herself and desired to compare herself with the gods and goddesses, as a result, Athena put on a disguise and questioned her. It was then Arachne’s pride and self-centeredness was revealed and challenged Athena to a competition. Both created amazing artworks, but Arachne weaved a story, making fun of Zeus and his multiple wives. Athena did not like the fact that she was making fun of Zeus so she turned her into a spider.
What I took away from this myth was the concept of learning and pride. Learning is a process of experimenting and encountering failures. When newborns entered the world, they associate objects by touching and putting everything in their mouths. I was inspired by this idea, so I decided to use food/objects to depict learning: one bite out of each edible and non-edible object. I was told by my parents that I’ve always had the desire to learn and never give up: I had brusies everywhere from attempting to take my first steps. Till now, I love to try out new things: tasting each object at least once.
1. Brainstorm – sketches
2.Outline + painting elements + cutting
3. Layering with foam + stick
Final
NATIVE AMERICAN MYTH (White Buffalo Woman)
White Buffalo Woman was a powerful maiden goddess from the spirit world. The story begins when two men hunting for food and encountered the White Buffalo Woman. She came to tell them to spread the word that she is coming, gave them a container and said “no one who is impure should ever touch the bundle for it contains the sacred pipe”. This pipe allows people to walk on earth as it is sacred. The bowl of the pipe symbolizes the earth and the stem is made of wood which represents all things grow on earth. This sacred object conveys that all things on earth are the children of Mother Earth and they are all joined as one.
What stood out to me was the concept that we are all as one, we are all equal. Passing by from the homeless to people in suits, I’ve always thought we were all so different from each other. We may live in different lifestyles but we are still the same! Who is to say that people who are intellectually smarter are on the tip of the hierarchy? The concept of this series is to portray equality, family, friends, loyalty and strength. By nature, birds fly with birds, dragon flies fly with dragon flies. A combination of both depicts that even two totally different specifies can fly together, go towards the same destination and have each other’s back. I wanted to represent that we are all the same: both species fly together, as a group, through thick and thin: spring, summer, harsh wind, rain and across the ocean. No matter what happens, we should all stick together,
DRAWING + RESPONSE to etchings at The Met (Hercules Segers) for inspiration
- Have 2 Copper plates 9×12 inches ready + soak paper in water
- Etching with dry point needles + scraper +burnisher
**Greek Myth – rearranged some elements to make it look more organic, spread out on the page with falling flower petals**
** Native American Myth – new piece, description and inspiration written above**
3. Etchings done! Ready to “roll”
(wasn’t able to take pictures of inking due to occupied hands)
4. Use cards to scrape tablespoon amount of ink onto copper plates
5. Use mesh-like material and lightly wipe off ink in circular motion until clean
6. Clean edges and top layer
7. Take wet paper out and pat + roll dry with towel
8. Put inked plates on etching rolling printer and drop paper on top (at once)
9. Roll with force! Peel paper out at once
(First 2 failed miserably…)
(Third successful! however I can’t take credit for this one)
10. Scanning + photocopy ! (took so long to print one)
11. Printed x5
12. Planning for additional touches
13. Using gold paint for accents (start painting!)
14. Let paint dry
