Selu/Corn Mother Mask

Prayers for the Dying

"Form Is Empty" (2009)

    Do not stand at my grave and weep,
    I am not there; I do not sleep.
    I am a thousand winds that blow,
    I am the diamond glints on snow,
    I am the sun on ripened grain,
    I am the gentle autumn rain.
    When you awaken in the morning’s hush
    I am the swift uplifting rush
    Of quiet birds in circling flight.
    I am the soft star-shine at night.
    Do not stand at my grave and cry,
    I am not there; I did not die.

    Ann Frye

In 2008 my brother suffered a brain stem stroke.  Because he did not have a living will, since then he has been on complete life support.  In 2009 he was pronounced brain dead.  My other brother has finally agreed to allow me to withdraw life support for Glenn, which we will do on the 15th of this month.  

 "We have been raised to think that our body ended here, with this bag of skin, or with our possessions or education or house.  Now we begin to realize that our body is the World."  ...... Joanna Macy

"Form Is Empty" is one of the sculptures I made for Glenn, honoring his long interest in Buddhism. All of them have tiles with words and phrases pressed into the clay, symbols and antique designs, all of them, like pottery shards, broken, disordered, "de-constructing".  In this realm of being, words and symbols are what we construct our ideas of life from, the "shells" we create our identities from.  In  "Form is Empty" I saw the hand of the dying reaching through the shattering of form toward the offering hand of the Divine, the greater Self. 

"The Heart Sutra" (2009)

 In the 2nd piece, "The Heart Sutra",  I used the hand of a 90 year old woman and a 9 year old child.  The Heart is what lies between.

"Holy Mother Take Me Home" (2009)

"Then in the Arctic half-light of the canyon, all existence fades to a being with my soul and memories and the sounds of the Big Blackfoot River. Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world's great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of those rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs. "

Norman MacLean, "A River Runs Through It"

The last piece, "Holy Mother Take Me Home",   is a prayer to the Goddess, the Source.  I used a child's hand again, and the broken shards, with all the words, float down the river of light.  We're all children, really, all children.  She reaches out Her hand to take us Home.  It doesn't matter what you've done, where you've been, what kind of life you think you've led or not led.  She waits.  

It's been a long journey Glenn.  Be at peace. 

Descanso for Glenn

 

New Mosaic - "Our Lady of the Summer Garden"

My exploration of mosaic work continues.............I like that they're kind of irregular, vaguely Byzentine looking and hopefully, suggesting a little bit a long-ago time.

New Mosaic - "Our Lady of the Waters"

"Our Lady of the Waters" (2014)

 I've been experimenting with clay and my collection of Afghani fabric presses.  There is something so wonderful about putting these antique presses, all cut by hand, to use again - they have so much spirit or mana in them.  This piece is dedicated to WATER, which is so important here in the desert.  Without the blessings of the Lady of the Waters, there is no life.

Lady of the Desert Spring

Nuestra Senora de las Aguas,

Our lady of the Arroyo,

Come quietly to us,

Come to us, and hear our prayers,

For  those who suffer thirst,

Spread your mantle of green and turquoise

 Among the red, parched lands

Bright artery of life

Nuestra Señora de las Aguas

Mother of the cottonwoods, the Palos verdes,

Snake and mallow, coyote and child

Hear our prayers

O desert spring,

Our lady of the  waters.

Tile made from antique Afghani fabric press (2014)

The Song of the Dry River

Dry.  All you hear

 is the litany of traffic,

a dusty haze obscuring the distance.

Nothing sounds now

where once water  sang

among the stones,

voices of the living

where once a river ran

a river, once, here

before  cattle came,

 the cars

the mines

living as if the waters

would always flow

to green the red and barren lands

as if the breast would never run dry.

As if  there none yet unborn

Who must know  thirst.

Are there only stones

And pottery shards

Left to remember me?

I sing to their  ghosts now,

I sing

where once a river ran .

(2002)

Songs of Ancient Midwives and other Arisings

This piece is brand new (as of Christmas Eve, 2013).  I don't yet know what to title it:  "Our Lady of _____________?"  I think I'm going to contact a few friends and request a title, and see if  Her archetypal name is floating around out there somewhere.

But there is a surprising sense of Arising in these Icons that  I've felt compelled to finish  these past few weeks.  The Arising of the life-giving, creation-giving Goddess, arising from the past, arising from the mythic body of the Earth, arising from the shadows in this time of need.  And now that I think about it, this day is about the birth of the new Sun God, the Christ Child..............

So why, when I searched the internet, was it so hard to find any poems about Birth, let alone Midwives?  Believe me, there are plenty of poems about Battle and the glories, or not so glorious, realities of War.  I think this is another indicator of our world's  patriarchal priorities (death is way more important, and interesting, than the bringing forth of life.  And even that becomes trivialized or co-opted.) 

Anyway, these works surfaced from the depths of my own creativity, and some dreaming part of me, some collective part of me, had to bring them forth...............

 "Sings with the Voices of Ancient Midwives the Songs They Once Sang, Singing the New Life Into The World.........."

"Shrine for the Ancient Midwives"

"Bloom Where You Are Icon"

"Reliquary for the Flight of a Phoenix"

BIO

I consider myself an inter-disciplinary artist, because I'm always exploring new ways to express - with visual arts, ritual, choreography, masks, performance and a number of writing projects. My MFA is from the University of Arizona (1987) and BFA from the University of California at Berkeley (1973).  Perhaps my greatest love is community and co-creative art forms. 

In the 90’s I was fortunate to study “Temple Mask” traditions in Bali, and produced a series of collaborative masks with Balinese mask artists (including Ida Bagus Anom) which were exhibited and performed at Buka Creati Gallery in Ubud, Bali.

In 1999, inspired by world-wide traditions of Sacred Masks,  I made 25 multi-cultural masks for the Invocation of the Goddess at the 20th Annual  Spiral Dance at Ft. Mason Center in San Francisco. The MASKS OF THE GODDESS COLLECTION travelled throughout the U.S. for almost 10 years, used by myself and numerous other producers, ritualists, and choreographers. I was privileged to direct several community productions of my own ("Restoring the Balance" 2004, Tucson, Arizona and "1000 Faces of the Divine" 2002, in Oakland, California). I continue to offer workshops that explore archetypal masks and personal mythology, and currently am working on a new collection of masks I call NUMINA - MASKS FOR THE ELEMENTAL POWERS.

I enjoy assisting women to explore universal and personal mythology through the art of the mask, and have taught workshops  the Kripalu Institute, the University of Syracuse, Southern Arizona Friends of Jung, Brushwood  Folklore Center and many others. Other performances and workshops include: "Goddess"by Serene Zloof at the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors, New York, N.Y. (2004), "A Rainbow" (by Macha Nightmare) at the New College of California (2000, 2001), "The Divine Feminine", (Evelie Posche) at the University of Creation Spirituality in Oakland (2001), "Masks of Transformation" Conference, University of Southern Illinois (2005), and the "Matrilineage Symposium", Syracuse University, 2000.

In 2007 I received a fellowship from the Alden Dow Creativity Center at Northwood University and a Puffin Grant to explore the Native American mythology of the “Spider Woman” as a Community Arts Project at the Midland Arts Center. The project was continued in 2008 at the Creative Spirit Center, also in Michigan. In 2009 I was a resident artist at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C., where I continued to explore the theme, as a community effort, of a "Webbed Vision".  In 2010 I was resident artist at Gallery 408 in Carrizozo, N.M., where I taught a class on creating personal Icons.

Recent exhibitions include "Our Lady of Perpetual Exhaustion" at the Henry Luce Center for the Arts in Washington, D.C. (2013) ,  "Earth Shrines" at Parisi Gallery in T or C, New Mexico, "Weavers" at Wesley (2009), "Spider Woman's Hands" at the Midland Center for the Arts (2007), a 2-person show of paintings at Turn of the Century Gallery in Berkeley, California (2005), "Sacred Icons" at the Artisans Center of Virginia (2005), "Sacred Space/Sacred Mask" (with Catherine Nash, 2004) at The Muse Community Arts Center in Tucson.

In 2008 I self published 4 limited edition books which may be viewed at www.yellowleafpress.blogspot.com . They include “The Masks of the Goddess – Sacred Masks and Sacred Dance” which is a document of the 8 year Project. These books may also be viewed through the online publisher www.blurb.com.

“Lauren is sublimely articulate about her inspiration, her study, and her realization. In her conversation, passion, and artistic creation, she evinces a mastery of the Spider Woman teachings which has uniquely prepared her to express a new articulation of the sacred teaching of wholeness. Like the ‘Spider Woman’ herself, Lauren has become one with the work of her hands. It is unusual to find a talented artist who is also sublimely articulate about her inspiration, her study, and her realization."

Sarah Gorman, Director, THE CREATIVE SPIRIT CENTER, Midland, Michigan

"Lauren probes the limits of whatever medium she addresses. The questions her art raises are deeply significant questions."

Robin Larsen, THE CENTER FOR SYMBOLIC STUDIES, Rosendale, NY

"The Awakening" - Numina Masks for the Elemental Powers

Ann Waters as "Dawn of the New Aeon"

"Dawn of New Aeon - She arises! Mother awaken to us! We see her on the horizon, rising with the sun…New Aeon - take hold!"

I've received photos from The Awakening - Our Changing Earth the  performance created and produced by Ann Waters, in Collaboration with Mana Youngbear, the Muse in Willits, and her Community of performers and writers - wonderful!  There are so many beautiful photos, and excerpts from the script I'd like to share.  

My deepest gratitude to Annie, Mana, and all of the wonderful people in the Cast - for creating hope, beauty, bringing the masks to life, and giving voice to the Numina.  May this important story continue to unfold.

Mana Youngbear as "The Medicine Basket"

"You’ve gathered through the springtime, the summer and the fall.
Your offerings are yours alone, and precious to us all.
 Now rest and build your strength up. Cycle with the moon.
Offer your song of life
 A very sacred tune.
Dream of where you’re going
 Dream of where you’ve been
 Dreams  make the Gathering.
 Beginnings never end."

"Rainbow Star Goddess"

"I bear a message of hope.   You are the Rainbow Bridge prophesized so long ago."

All photographs are copyright Jerri Jo Idarius, and used with her permission.

Corizone Elliott as "The Pythoness - Oracle"

THE PYTHONESS:

Pilgrim and Kings, alike, answers sought, spoke of their hopes and dreams,

 journeyed to holy Delphi,  a crevice, deep in the earth,

 journeyed to the Oracle, the Sibyl, the Pythoness

 In trance, she spoke offered visions, offered hope: 

Behold I draw a spiral for You - 

Step In I implore You

You are vessels of  

Finely Woven well pitched baskets

Ancient Urns, Carved boxes

and Medicine Bundles

Fashioned From Your Perfect Heart

They are Still Safe Inside HER Holy Womb

Ancient Prayers Stir the Air,

Stirring Breath and Bone 

Inspiration, Invocation, 

Your hope is yours alone.

To touch what was a memory brings no fruit, 

Your silent longing is the proof

As the Years move to months, 

Months move to days

Numina witness you this Night,

Numina witness you this Night,

Floating plastic, Trash, decay, 

Fill our planet and oceans today

Young and Old cry out to be free,

Grieving  loss from each killing spree

Earth Mother Gaia raped 

of soil and honor brings famine

Extinction threatens sockeye salmon

Elders sit alone in Hunger waiting; 

Chorus:  Man’s compassion dissipating.

Time to listen, Take note, Stand strong

Mark My Words - It won’t be long

When no water will be safe to drink, 

And Men will lose their right to think

Because their judgment is impaired 

with residue of regret and mind despaired.

Desolation’s Darkened Dance

Stomps out the last of free will’s chance

False pride clothed in glamour’s fashion -

a deceptive weaving of wasteful action

Chorus:  Grinding you down ...Back Down to dust.

A woman weeps - A baby cries, a seed refuses to grow

Where now there is open sea there once was gentle snow.

Fruitless trees that do not bear, drought pursues you everywhere.

But Listen within - Your Soul Still Knows.

Ageless Grace resounds around.

Chorus : A Prophecy is about to unfold

Thallia Bird as "The Weaver"

THE WEAVER:

Listen. Things are unraveling.   

Let me tell you about the fabric of your life. 

Your soul is the tightened yarn of the weft; your spirit is the weave. 

Your spirit is woven into the mat on which you kneel, 

into the cloak that wraps around the shoulders of your everyday lives.

 

Allow the distressed threads of your life to unravel. 

I have an old yarn. I have a new yarn.

Chorus: Take this yarn from me.

Form a weft that makes you strong

Take this yarn from me

Weave the threads so life goes on

 Take this yarn from me.

           

Stories are woven into the land. Stories wrap themselves

around old bones and compost, vine and curl and leaf in the night,

stories written in the rocks about Deer and Raven,

sung by a Tree Nesting Warbler, stories found

in the cold hearts of sleeping mountains.

Walk out into the orchard. Sit beneath a fruiting tree. 

Notice the shapes of things. The shape of the sky,

the shapes of the shadows, the shape of your own shadow.

There are cracks in the land like a spider web,

full of light, full of fire. Once,

you could see the Web as plain as day. 

Song lines, leylines, threads, the pattern. 

Each shining, woven thread.

It’ s time to weave a new story now.

See yourself as Spiderwoman, 

sitting in the center of your   web.

All of its snaking rivers and twining roots are inside of you! 

All those threads come right out of your hands and out of your hearts

All those threads just go on forever

Chorus:  

Into the Earth, and into each other: 

into all your stories, into everyone you'll ever know,   

Into all those who came before you, 

and all those who will come after you.

 

Script excerpts by Ann Waters, Mana Youngbear, Ilana Stein, Lauren Raine

My gratitude to the fabulous performers of Willits who danced the masks to life!

"Drought"

Thank you once again for bringing these masks to life, for truly making them "Masks for the Elemental Powers"!

"Storm" by Diane Smalley.

"Desert Spring (Our Lady of the Arroyo)"

"Ocean"

"Ice (Glacier"

"Flood"

"Volcano"

"Butterfly (Imaginal)" by Diane Smalley.

"The Lady of Avalon (Sacred Spring)"

"River"

"Rainbow"

Medicine Basket

Gaia

The Black Madonna

All photographs are copyright Jerri Jo Idarius, and used with her permission.