Happy Solstice!

The official winter solstice was on Sunday Dec. 21 at 7:04 am EST. I wasn't able to post for official winter solstice because I was on the road, returning home from the Vermont Studio Center.
The drive from Vermont to central New York was a long and harrowing one. A huge storm covered the entire length of the trip so driving was slow.

However, I made the trip into a meditation on the Solstice. It was a perfect solstice day: dark and snowy and surrounded by my family. The solstice doesn't need to be celebrated on just one day. After all it isn't a coincidence that many religions have holidays surrounding the solstice. I think we can all agree that there is more to these holidays than commercialism and mass consumption. But what is the winter solstice?

In very basic terms the winter solstice is when the sun reaches the most angular distance on the opposite side of the equatorial plane of the hemisphere you are observing from. As a result, those of us in the northern hemisphere experience the shortest day of the year. The actual solstice lasts for an instant, but it also signals the beginning of the winter season. Primitive man would celebrate the birth of the sun or the return of light to the earth at this time. It is a time of celebrations of joy and abundance to coax the return of light and energy from the sun.

It begins to become clear how this basic astronomical event has evolved into more commonly celebrated holidays. Think: birth of the sun(son), etc. But if we strip back some and look at the teachings that the original celebration offered we get tools for getting through the dark and cold winter months: lighting fires, gathering together and sharing food and entertainment. These activities help to raise spirits, ease depression, and prepare our bodies for the change in daylight. These holidays shouldn't be limited only to gift-giving or focusing on material things, but instead on gathering together, being creative, and giving thanks for the abundance in our lives. It is important to remember that abundance doesn't need to be measured only in material things. The winter solstice can be celebrated from the time of the official solstice all the way through New Year's Day.

I hope you all get a chance to celebrate the return of the light in your own special ways. Remember to be creative and gather together in warmth and light. What will you do to celebrate the season this year?

DoAn
(Moon Phase: waning crescent )
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DoAn Art is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions for the purposes of DoAn Art must be made payable to Fractured Atlas and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. 

All artwork and text © Copyright 2005-2011 DoAn Art (Antony Galbraith) unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Antony Galbraith.

The Final Week

I am entering the final week here at the Vermont Studio Center. I will have much to process and share with you when I return. There will be some exciting new work and insights into my work coming soon. Once I get the images home and scanned I will be able to post them and discuss them. In the meantime, here is a picture of the Gihon River that runs through Johnson, VT where the Vermont Studio Center is located. I took this picture during a snow storm on my way from the studio to dinner.

DoAn
(Moon Phase: Full Moon)
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DoAn Art is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions for the purposes of DoAn Art must be made payable to Fractured Atlas and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. 

All artwork and text © Copyright 2005-2011 DoAn Art (Antony Galbraith) unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Antony Galbraith.

Defining My Mission

One of the benefits of being at a painting residency, besides having ample time to work on my art, is that I have the freedom from distractions to ponder on why I paint what I paint. Of course, I had a general idea already, but I never really tried to articulate a coherent reason for what I do. This first week at the residency got me really thinking about my art and why I do it.

I have had a long history with art, starting out as a child. I was fascinated with animals and nature. I remember as an adolescent spending days and days of my summer exploring the outdoors and painting watercolors of birds and animals. Writing also started to interest me then and I wrote and illustrated stories about animals and fantasy worlds that curious children could access through strange means: like a hole in the ground, a secret door in an attic or through a hidden cave.

My undergraduate and graduate years ended up being devoted to writing. As a philosophy major I found myself interested in the idea of writing moral fiction. I started graduate school with the goal that I would write fiction focusing on issues of morality. I wanted to write fiction that taught lessons and contributed something beneficial to society. This led me to fairy tale literature and to the fascinating world of cultural history, subversion of authority, oppression, gender issues and mythology.

Midway through graduate school the need to paint resurfaced. This need has grown more insistent with each passing year. Writing still has a place in my life, but it holds second place to visual art. Writing often holds a framework for my art, but visual art is true expression for me.

I feel like I have come nearly full circle in relation to my art. I started out fascinated by nature and drawing birds and animals. I was curious about exploring other worlds, those secret worlds that were often just out of reach from the world we knew. Then I went off in other directions for a while exploring other traditions or forms of art like fashion design, sewing, ceramics, jewelry making, digital art, and Asian brush art, to name a few. Only to return again to nature and my curiosity of exploring other worlds.

In Buddhism there was a teaching that said when you start out you see that a Mountain is a Mountain, then you observe that a Mountain is not a Mountain, but in the end you learn that a Mountain is a Mountain again. I have returned to artwork about nature, but it is through a different way of seeing and being in the world.

Myth has become an important influence, as is the current situation with human society and the natural world. I believe reconnecting both to myth and the cycles and rhythms of the natural world are keys to a healthy society and planet. Understanding that there are realms of being that are beyond our collectively accepted reality is also important for our well-being. I think having lost touch with this knowledge has left us wandering around in the dark, clumsily destroying nearly everything in our path, fumbling in search of a light with which to see again.

I understand the purpose of my art is to explore myth and nature and the interplay of the two. I hope to revitalize myth and create an interest in a renewed relationship to myth and the natural world. Through the use of research, observation, vision-work and meditation I create my art. I am not interested in illustrating myth, nor do I want to simply replicate or attempt to restore the myth to some non-existent original. Rather I try to connect to the living essence of a myth and paint from that source.

I don’t believe that there is a true original version of a particular mythic archetype. I think that a myth forms and evolves from archetypal matrices, which are then built and constructed with symbols of a particular culture and the natural world. I find most “restored” myths empty and drained of life. A true enlivening of a myth comes from tapping into the universal source and is ignited by imagination and fueled by symbolism.

I focus primarily on Celtic and pre-Celtic mythology, mainly due to an ancestral connection, but I believe I will eventually explore myths of other cultures in my work. When I work on a piece, I meditate on or follow a vision influenced by a particular mythic figure for symbol. I often use a natural object like a rock, tree, ripples on water, rust on metal, etc. as a vehicle to tap into the energy or consciousness related to the myth.

The first result is usually an abstract piece--which reflects energy over form. Often the myth still speaks strongly to me, so I develop another piece focusing more on symbolism, (personal, cultural and universal symbols) this work is usually more representational.

As my art continues to develop, I hope that my skills and ability will be sufficient to share my discoveries of the world of myth and teach of the necessities of a balanced relationship with nature. I believe ultimately that the artist’s role is to provide a service, to guide and to teach something about the world we live in or could be living in. That is my hope and wish for the art that I bring into the world.

DoAn

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DoAn Art is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions for the purposes of DoAn Art must be made payable to Fractured Atlas and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. 


All artwork and text © Copyright 2005-2011 DoAn Art (Antony Galbraith) unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Antony Galbraith.

Vermont Studio Center Residency: Day 1

Well, I made the long trip up to the mountains of Vermont without incident. The first day was devoted to settling in, feeling out my space and establishing a routine.

My cell phone does not work up here and my access to the Internet is quite limited, but I am actually enjoying the escape from constant connectivity. My room is sparsely furnished with a bed, desk and sitting chair. I spend the day working in my studio and the evenings reading, doing some reflective writing, and knitting. I am reading books about myth and art's role in myth making. It is great food for my painting! One of the books I am reading is When they Severed Earth From Sky by Barber & Barber. It has already gotten the wheels in my brain turning, I am sure I will have some work and thoughts to share as a result from reading the book.

Here is a picture of my studio space all set up and ready for new work to be made in. I will share my experiences and thoughts while here over the next four weeks, so check back periodically if you don't subscribe to my blog.

DoAn
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DoAn Art is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions for the purposes of DoAn Art must be made payable to Fractured Atlas and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. 

All artwork and text © Copyright 2005-2011 DoAn Art (Antony Galbraith) unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Antony Galbraith.

Winter Deer

The sky is an endless white plain.
Snow falls in silent drifts.
Miniature clouds coat the fields,
muffle the wind,
soften the calls of birds.

Hidden in this world
of white and quiet,
a stag.

He is waiting,
patiently biding his time,
for that moment
when
stillness and silence
has passed.

DoAn
(Moon Phase: waning crescent)

("Winter Deer" is available as a print and greeting card. Please click here for options.)
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DoAn Art is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions for the purposes of DoAn Art must be made payable to Fractured Atlas and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. 

All artwork and text © Copyright 2005-2011 DoAn Art (Antony Galbraith) unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Antony Galbraith.

The Spiral and a New Logo

Some of you may have noticed that the DoAn Art logo recently changed. Over the last two years I have seen my art develop and evolve in a direction that was less rooted in Asian traditions as it used to be. Traditional Asian painting techniques will still be a big influence in my art, however, I wanted to open my work up to a more universal source, rather than be tied to one particular culture. I meditated for some time on what symbol would best represent my work and it wasn’t long before the spiral appeared in my mind’s eye. I immediately knew it was the right symbol for my logo. But it did take some teasing and study to get that image out of my mind and into the shape of a logo.

I learned that the spiral is a powerful symbol, long held in high regard by nearly every culture on earth. The Romans and Greeks used spirals to decorate pottery and temple columns. The Celtic and Nordic people used the spiral to decorate jewelry, clothing, weaponry and many other objects. The megalithic peoples of Europe carved spirals into many of their stone structures. The Australian Aboriginals used coiled snakes to represent the spiral and Islamic art used the mathematical principals of the spiral.

The spiral appears in nature. Geothe noted that many plants grew in a spiraling motion and that many seeds and flower petals formed spiral patterns. The spiral can also be found in the movement of the tides and winds as well as in the growth of shells and horns.

Symbolically the spiral can represent the growing and waning influence of the sun as it moves through the cycle of the year. Or it can represent the cycles of life and the rhythm of coming and passing, such as in the seasons, or of life and death itself. By the curving path of the lines, the spiral links outside to inside, space and spacelessness, time and eternity, material and spirit. I have even used the spiral in my own artwork. If you look at my last painting The Honeybee, I centered the thorax of each bee over the path of a spiral.

As a result of my meditation and study, I decided to develop a logo utilizing the symbol of the spiral. I also made two spirals emerging from a single source, perhaps they are merging into one, or maybe it is both simultaneously. I wanted a logo that symbolized how my art comes from a common source, a universal place that we all share. It is my hope that my art will connect me to other people, to nature, and to all that makes up the world we know and don’t know. I also believe that the spiral adequately represents the patron-artist relationship, where two people work together toward one goal, unifying their energies for a common purpose. Over time, I am sure my logo will continue to develop, but for now I believe this new design best represents my art and what I hope to achieve through it.

I hope you enjoy the new design! Please take a moment to look for how the spiral informs and influences your own life!

DoAn

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DoAn Art is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions for the purposes of DoAn Art must be made payable to Fractured Atlas and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. 


All artwork and text © Copyright 2005-2011 DoAn Art (Antony Galbraith) unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Antony Galbraith.

Hallowe'en: The ending and the beginning

Over the past year year, much of my art has focused on exploring our relationship with the natural world. As a result, I have discovered both fascinating things about the earth and frightening things how we treat it. We have come to a time where we face the very real possibility of global catastrophe because of our collective disregard for the earth and the cycles of nature. Many of us (including myself) are starting adjust our lifestyles by reducing waste and conserving energy and I believe it is a step in the right direction. However, in addition to these efforts, I have decided to go a bit deeper. I chose this Halloween to begin relating and connecting to the earth by following the seasonal and lunar cycles. I believe by tuning into the cycle of the earth, I will find myself becoming more psychologically aware of the needs of the earth as well as more harmonized with the energy of seasons. I suspect that by having been separated from these natural rhythms and cycles, I have also become disconnected from the earth, from others and myself as well.

The reason I chose Halloween to begin this new way of being in the world is that traditionally it is the time when the world (the Northern Hemisphere) enters the dark of the year. This is not regarding the sun’s cycle, which is followed by the solstices and the equinoxes, but rather the seasonal cycle. Halloween marks the time when autumn turns into winter. The leaves have fallen from the trees, most of the harvest has been gathered, any blackberries left on the brambles are no longer good to eat, and frosts get heavier and colder. In the Celtic world-view this time marks the end of the old year and the beginning of the new. The ancient Celtic and the Hindu systems (and I believe many others as well) understand that the dark precedes the light, so a time of darkness must begin a natural cycle. Consider that many of the popular holidays and festivals are celebrated on the eve (Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve, All Soul’s Eve, etc.).

I am going to experience the energy of the season, by using this time to celebrate the end of the yearly cycle and the beginning of the next. It will be a time to reflect on all the things that I did and did not like about the past year and decide on what should be changed or implemented to benefit the new year.

In ancient tradition, this transition from the old year into the next existed outside of time. I believe this came from following a lunar calendar in which there were a few extra days (five I believe) that didn’t quite fit into a annual system. Those remaining days where held over for this time of year where chaos was given time to rule. People played pranks, dressed up, and generally acted silly or crazy. I suspect this is partly where the tradition of dressing in costumes and celebrating “cabbage night” may have originated. Another belief at this time was that the line that separated the physical world from the Otherworld disappeared. People could commune with their ancestors and those who had passed on before them. By honoring and giving thanks to those who helped to shape them and gave them what they had, they could better understand their own lives.

So tonight at 5:55pm EST (the time of sunset where I live) I will light a candle and take a moment to reflect on the past year, give thanks to those who came before me, and acknowledge the changes that I will need to implement in order to make the coming year beneficial for all who share this beautiful place we call home.

Happy Hallowe’en, All Soul’s Eve, Samhain, Autumn into Winter, etc.

DoAn

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DoAn Art is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions for the purposes of DoAn Art must be made payable to Fractured Atlas and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. 


All artwork and text © Copyright 2005-2011 DoAn Art (Antony Galbraith) unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Antony Galbraith.

Fall into Winter

This is the view I woke up to this morning. I have officially experienced the effects of living in the north land! I remember as a child living in Vermont that I felt enormously blessed if it didn't snow before Halloween. There was nothing like working several months on a costume only to have it destroyed in the snow or freeze while wearing it.

Fortunately for the kiddies (and those young at heart) an Indian Summer is being forecast, which means temperatures in the 60s and perhaps higher for Halloween and the days following.

This is one of the things about nature that I absolutely love. She always keeps you on your toes and makes you remember that nothing about Her can be left for granted. She is much much bigger than me or you or any one person and for that reason, She should be respected. She is our mother and our keeper. She blesses us with life, food and shelter. She also takes it all away, sometimes in an instant. I believe this is one of the important lessons the autumn season teaches us. A lesson that is important to meditate on. I am going to have a cup of tea and ponder...

DoAn
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DoAn Art is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions for the purposes of DoAn Art must be made payable to Fractured Atlas and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. 


All artwork and text © Copyright 2005-2011 DoAn Art (Antony Galbraith) unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Antony Galbraith.

Artist Reception and Art Raffle

For those of you who are in the central New York area, I will be at the Sherrill-Kenwood Free Library on Friday, October 24th from 6 - 8pm to attend the annual library art fundraiser.

I donated a framed print of the painting Autumn Hill (pictured here) as part of the art raffle. The other art included in the raffle are all by local artists and include paintings, photography, origami, jewelry, a decorative plaque, paperweight, ceramic items, a hand carved wooden duck decoy, and a hardwood turkey call. The prices for the raffle tickets are $3.00 each or four for $10.00 and are available at the library during our hours of operation and the evening of the event.

This could be a fun way to get a holiday gift for someone (or for yourself) and help support the library at the same time! I hope to see some of you there.

Where:
Sherrill-Kenwood Free Library
543 Sherrill Road
Sherrill, NY

When:
Friday, October 24th, 6-8pm

For more information:
Contact: 315-363-5980 sherrill@midyork.org

DoAn
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DoAn Art is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions for the purposes of DoAn Art must be made payable to Fractured Atlas and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. 

All artwork and text © Copyright 2005-2011 DoAn Art (Antony Galbraith) unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Antony Galbraith.

Learn about Life and Save the World!

I recently discovered this free online-encyclopedia while doing research for my artwork. It is called The Encyclopedia of Life and is a continually updated database of information on all the living beings on the planet. It is a fascinating project and a great way to learn about the planet we live on and all the creatures that live on it.

I believe the more we know about the living creatures we share living space with the harder it is to continue to allow the decimation of plants, animals, and people to continue. Take a moment to take a look and explore the fascinating creatures that want to continue to live with us. Share the link with your friends!

http://www.eol.org/

DoAn
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DoAn Art is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions for the purposes of DoAn Art must be made payable to Fractured Atlas and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. 


All artwork and text © Copyright 2005-2011 DoAn Art (Antony Galbraith) unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Antony Galbraith.

New Greeting Card & Contributing toward a Better World

I have uploaded a new greeting card design to my print on demand site. This design is from a painting I did while living in New York City. Ironically, it is a painting of the hill just down the road from where I am living now in Upstate New York! I plan to do a painting of this hill in each of the four seasons so look for a set of four cards in the future! You can view and order the greeting card here.

Also, I am starting to get my materials together for the Vermont Studio Center residency. It is only five weeks away and there is still much to do! Like, for instance, figuring out how I am going to get there with my supplies! Currently, I am preparing some preliminary sketches and drawings for the paintings I will be working on while there. I plan to do two abstracts and a landscape. Once I have the sketches complete, then I can create a color palette so that I can select the paints that I will bring.


It may seem like a terrible time to be generous, but please consider the gift to community that individual artists give. This is not the time for us to give in to fears and worries, but rather, to extend our support and remember that goodness and generosity exists in every situation. By supporting individual artists, community development groups, social service organizations, we support ourselves and make a healthy community and in turn a better world. Your tax-deductible contribution to DoAn Art can go toward improving our lives by allowing beautiful and thought provoking works to be shared with society. A simple, but effective way to ease your mind during this time of fear and uncertainty is to take an active role in making the world a better place by offering your support.

Thank you for your support!
DoAn
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DoAn Art is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions for the purposes of DoAn Art must be made payable to Fractured Atlas and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. 


All artwork and text © Copyright 2005-2011 DoAn Art (Antony Galbraith) unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Antony Galbraith.

The Honeybee: Community & Harmony

The Honeybee: Community & Harmony is my latest painting in the Animal Spirit Totem series. I have been reading a lot of fascinating literature about the honeybee. This painting celebrates the all that the honeybee contributes to life on earth.

Until recently, the honeybee has been taken for granted, and feared by some. However, the honeybee is an integral part of our existence on earth. Without it, we would not be able to survive like we do now. Honeybees are responsible for fertilizing the flowers and plants we depend on for food. One third of all our food is produced by pollinators, which include the honeybee. Not only does the honeybee play an important role in our ability to provide food, but they can also serve as examples and guides of how to live better lives.

The honeybee teaches about community and harmony. They live in hives comprised of the Queen and many Workers and Drones. The Queen begins building the hive by choosing a home and laying the eggs. While the eggs develop into Workers the Queen continues to construct the hive. Once the Workers are old enough, they take over building the hive, collecting food and caring for the developing bees. The Drones aid in propagation and in controlling the temperature of the hive. The health of the hive depends on the cooperation and health of every one of its members. Every bee has a role and contributes to the over all harmony of the hive.

One lesson we can take from this is that the well-being of any community is dependent on the health and contribution of each of its members. One member cannot take on all the responsibilities, nor can one sit back and reap all the benefits without harming the community in a negative way. Another lesson is that sometimes one can work too hard, ignoring the others in the community who can contribute, risking their health from stress and depleted health. Think of the classic workaholic. Being part of a community means knowing you cannot do it all, and asking for help when it is needed. It also means to step up and help out those who need it.

Honeybees work very hard to prepare for a long winter, collecting pollen and nectar to feed their young and to sustain them during the winter months when food is scarce. We can also learn from the honeybee about conserving and preparing for the future. By balancing working roles, the hive (the community) can run efficiently and create a harmonious living environment.

Honeybees have had a long relationship with humans throughout history and in many cultures. Most of the ancient myths are centered on Europe and the surrounding area, because honeybees are not native to North America (They were brought here by the European colonists).

To the Ancient Egyptians, honeybees were believed to be the tears of the sun god Ra and honey was believed to be a symbol of resurrection and protected against evil spirits.

In Ancient Greece the honeybee was thought to be messengers for the gods. The Priestesses of the Oracle in Delphi were sought to answer questions about the future and past. The Priestesses sat on three-legged stools near a spot where sweet-smelling fumes rose up through an omphalos stone, which was hollow and shaped similar to a bee hive. The exterior of the omphalos stone was carved with the images of honeybees.

The Honeybee was sacred to the Celtic goddess Brigid, who kept an orchard in the Otherworld, which was visited by bees.


DoAn
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DoAn Art is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions for the purposes of DoAn Art must be made payable to Fractured Atlas and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. 


All artwork and text © Copyright 2005-2011 DoAn Art (Antony Galbraith) unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Antony Galbraith.

The Orphan Act Bill -- The End of Free Creative Expression?

Back in May I wrote about a very problematic bill being proposed by Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and other Senators. You can read about what I said here.

Well, now that the country is caught up in the scare tactics of the government over the financial crisis the Orphan Acts Bill was slipped into the senate where it PASSED because no one was present to vote against it! Please take a moment to write your representative now! If you value art, writing, music either as a creator or a collector, this bill will effect you dramatically.

Use these templates to send out a letter to your representatives:
http://capwiz.com/illustratorspartnership/home/

It is best to copy and paste the letter template into a hard copy and mail the letter out. I was informed by an assistant to a senator that emails go to a junk folder and are never opened. The best way to have yourself heard is by sending a letter and addressing the envelope by hand.

Here is the Orphan Acts Bill as proposed:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c109:H.R.5439:

DoAn
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DoAn Art is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions for the purposes of DoAn Art must be made payable to Fractured Atlas and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. 


All artwork and text © Copyright 2005-2011 DoAn Art (Antony Galbraith) unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Antony Galbraith.

Thoughts on the Harvest

As Autumn takes the stage here in the upper hemisphere, I pause to reflect on the notion of the harvest. For many of us, who live busy, urbanized lives, the harvest time is hardly considered. When food comes readily at the grocery market and supplies can be purchased throughout the winter, do we really need to think about the meaning or necessity of the harvest time?

I think we do. And I think that it is because many of us have forgotten the meaning of the harvest, that we find ourselves in such a difficult time now. The harvest is a time to celebrate on a year's hard work. It is a time to gather and be thankful for what one has...whether it is food, shelter, a family, friends, a community. Without this time to reflect and to give thanks, it is much easier to take those things for granted. Without considering the hard work that goes into providing one with those basic things, it is easier to assume it comes from an endless source and that can make one desire more and more without appreciating (or even knowing) what one already has.

Now we find ourselves in a society that is struggling with the pitfalls of greed and over-consumption. Economic crisis, environmental crisis, social crisis...could these have been averted if more attention had been paid on the harvest? Now is the perfect time to reflect, for it will be a challenging winter, and perhaps by acknowledging what we have, we will be less likely to take things for granted in the future.

For many, it feels like it will be a bleak, terrible winter. But, take a moment, and pause to reflect on what you have. Don't compare yourself to others, try not to strive for more, really look at what you have now. I suspect many of us will find we already have much more than we need. If you find you have more than you need, share it with those who are struggling. If we are lacking something, perhaps it is time to cultivate new relations and reach out to others. This doesn't have to be limited to money and material things. Friendship, hugs, volunteering in the community, helping a neighbor, sending out positive thoughts, they all are part of the harvest.

Happy Autumn!
DoAn
pictured above: Autumn Maple Leaf, original watercolor sold, but prints are available at Fine Art America 

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DoAn Art is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions for the purposes of DoAn Art must be made payable to Fractured Atlas and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. 


All artwork and text © Copyright 2005-2011 DoAn Art (Antony Galbraith) unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Antony Galbraith.

Busy as a Bee!

I will be heading out of town for the next five days to do a teaching residency at Burlington College in Vermont. I will return to regular posting next week after I come back.

In the meantime, I hope you take a moment to reflect on the importance of bees and give thanks for all they have given to us. I have only scratched the surface of the importance of bees in my previous posts. I will be sharing more of what I have learned in future posts.

You also might consider donating to DoAn Art. I am currently raising money to attend a residency at the Vermont Studio Center where I can synthesize this kind of information into artwork to share with society. It is my hope that by sharing my teachings and paintings from nature, I might help inspire others to seek ways to make our world beautiful place to live for all living beings.

DoAn
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DoAn Art is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions for the purposes of DoAn Art must be made payable to Fractured Atlas and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. 


All artwork and text © Copyright 2005-2011 DoAn Art (Antony Galbraith) unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Antony Galbraith.

Humans and Honeybees: a long history of cooperation

Did you know that humans and honeybees have been working together for thousands of years?

In 1934 images were found in a limestone cave in Spain depicting humans honey-hunting. This is the first painting discovered in Europe that illustrates humans collecting honey. The image shows a human hanging on ropes suspended over a cliff-face. The human is reaching into a nest of bees taking honeycombs while individual bees swarm around. Another figure stands below holding a bag with a long handle where the honey is collected. It is estimated that this painting was made between 2000 and 8000 years ago.

Bee-keeping is depicted in Egyptian temple reliefs as early as the 5th Dynasty (2445-2441 BC). The reliefs show that beekeeping was well established in Egypt by the middle of the Old Kingdom (3rd millennium BC). Records from at least one tomb workers' village during the New Kingdom (1550-1069 BC) indicate that the workmen there kept bees and this was likely true of other communities throughout Egyptian history. Bee-keeping is also depicted in some 18th and 26th Dynasty tombs. Bees were certainly of great importance in providing honey, which was used both as the principal sweetener in the Egyptian diet and as a base for medicinal ointments. The Egyptians also collected beeswax for use as a mold-former in metal castings and also for use as a paint-varnish. Read the book Sweetness & Light by Hattie Ellis for more fascinating history of the relationship between humans and bees.

As humans focused more on development and less on the environment, suburban sprawl has destroyed many of the natural habitats of bees. It seems like it might be a good time to think about giving back some of the living spaces we took away to bees again. I looked into ways that people with very small amount of land can provide living space for bees. I was glad to find that it is very simple and doesn't end up with someone having swarms of bees taking over their yard! The National Wildlife Federation has some tips on how to build bee houses here.

You can create homes for Orchard Mason Bees who are very helpful in pollinating plants. Ochard Mason bees are not aggressive and rarely sting, so they are safe to keep in your back yard, or porch, or outside your window, if you don't have a yard. You can also create houses for bumble bees, which are native to North America and very important pollinators. I found a site by Dave Pehling that gives simple instructions on creating a bumble bee house, but you can search for other sites quite easily that give instructions on how to make houses for them. If you are not handy at all, there are also sites on line where you can purchase pre-made bee homes.

In the spring I will be setting out both Orchard Mason Bee and Bumblebee homes and I will be sure to share the results with you then. Please consider continuing the long-standing relationship between humans and bees by creating a home for them. After all, it seems like it is the least we can do after taking away so much of their natural habitat. The plus is that we can live together and share the benefits from each other as a result!

If you find this interesting and would like to learn more about the honeybee and other teachings from nature, please consider donating to DoAn Art. I am currently raising money to attend a residency at the Vermont Studio Center where I can synthesize this kind of information into artwork to share with society. It is my hope that by sharing my teachings and paintings from nature, I might help inspire others to seek ways to make our world and all the beings on it a beautiful place to live.

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DoAn Art is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions for the purposes of DoAn Art must be made payable to Fractured Atlas and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. 


All artwork and text © Copyright 2005-2011 DoAn Art (Antony Galbraith) unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Antony Galbraith.

Could the end of the Honeybee be the end of Us?

For several years now there have been reports of dramatic declines in honeybee populations around the world. There is even a name now for the phenomenon. It is called Colony Collapse Disorder. Entire colonies of bees have mysteriously disappeared, leaving the developing bees to die, and caches of honey and pollen to rot. There is a lot of speculation to what is causing this, but no consensus yet. When I hear about such things happening, it concerns me deeply. It drives me learn more about the creature (or culture) that is threatened so catastrophically that its very existence hangs in the balance.

In the case of the honeybee, I have not only read about its biological history, I have also explored its history with humanity It is a long and fascinating story, which I never knew about and I suspect many people don't know of. Though, due to the honeybee's situation perhaps, many of us are starting to learn bit by bit. I also look to nature as a teacher and guide, and in exploring the honeybee, I have also learned more about what the honeybee can teach me.

One of the first things I noticed about the honeybee is how organized it is. It works and lives in a very efficient community, where all members have a role and work toward a common goal. In folklore and spiritual traditions around the world, the honeybee represents community and organization. In reflecting on this, and the decline of the honeybee, and the condition of Colony Collapse Disorder, I can't help but look at this as a symbol of the human community as a whole. Could the honeybee be telling us to watch out? Perhaps it is time to take a good hard look at the communities, both large and small, around us and evaluate their well-being. I suspect that they need help and, since each of us are in some way a part of many communities of one kind or another, we need to get organized and participate in healing them. Perhaps, in the process of healing our own communities we may end up helping out the honeybees who are in need of aid. I think nature can teach in both directions. And, after all, humans really are not separate from the honeybee at all, we are both part of the great community of life that exists on earth.

I will share more about the fascinating honeybee in the next few posts. If you find this interesting and would like to learn more about the honeybee and other teachings from nature, please consider donating to DoAn Art. I am currently raising money to attend a residency at the Vermont Studio Center where I can synthesize this kind of information into artwork to share with society. It is my hope that by sharing my teachings and paintings from nature, I might help inspire others to seek ways to make our world and all the beings on it a beautiful place to live.

DoAn
Subscribe in a reader



DoAn Art is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions for the purposes of DoAn Art must be made payable to Fractured Atlas and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. 


All artwork and text © Copyright 2005-2011 DoAn Art (Antony Galbraith) unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Antony Galbraith.