Goddesses & Heroines
Folklore is the basis of knowledge of a culture. The stories that are passed orally through generations represent what the culture holds dear, what they fear, and mythos of their country's landscape and climate. Women are the embodiment of nature, as they are nurturing, curvaceous, and supporting of life, but can become as wild and untameable as a hurricane. I believe folk stories of one's cultures should be known. The tales are timeless and divulge the background of what the culture is truly based on. I wanted to bring life to goddesses and heroines of all cultures to create a visual of what Women represent. Each story is different, based off facets of culture and who Women are to that culture. They are not all “mother goddesses” but represent the social role that women have played in culture, being warriors, teachers, sages, huntresses, etc., all protectors of something, being themselves or nature.
MICA 2017 ArtWalk
Multi-Media
 Blodeuwedd and ItzpapalotlEurope, Welsh, Cornish, and Arthurian Pantheon The Americas, Mesoamerican Pantheon After the moon goddess was tricked into giving birth, she withheld from her son a name, weapons, and a wife. Her trickster brother thwarted her and with the help of his magician uncle, created a woman made of nine kinds of wildflowers, named Blodeuwedd, meaning “flower face”. Once the Aztec goddess of the soul, she pricked her finger on the thorns of a rose. She was angered and vowed that humanity would pay. |  BuanAsia and Oceania, Southeast Asian and Indonesian Pantheon The moon Goddess of the Philippines had as many children as the sun. Because the sun’s were brighter, Buan feared for her dull children. She convinced the Sun God to kill his children, saying she would kill hers too. But she hid hers behind clouds, where they would emerge shining like stars. The grieving sun chased Buan across the sky for eternity. She is guided by her eldest daughter, Tala, the North star. |  Aida WedoAfrica, African Diaspora Pantheon The African primal snake is honored in Haiti as Aida-Wedo. She rules fire, water, wind, and rainbows. She appears wearing a white dress and jeweled headdress. |
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 Luot-HozjitEurope, Finno-Ugric Pantheon The Saami reindeer virgin, who lived in a lichen-covered mountain and guarded herds during grazing season, resembled a girl covered in reindeer fur. Prayers were offered to her in Spring, when herds were let out to graze, and in Autumn, when they returned. |  YamuricumaThe Americas, South American and Caribbean Pantheon Yamuricuma were women whose husbands were transformed into animals. They dressed as warriors and began dancing. For days they danced, covering themselves with herbs that transformed them into powerful spirits. They found an old man and turned him into an armadillo and forced him to be their herald. Afterwards they wandered the world, calling women away from their homes to join them. |  Installation |