Haysmers' New Art

Poliahu

During the past year as artists the creative process has been an absolutely essential tool for dealing with our loss and grief. The day after Lunel came out of a coma and was released from the hospital Phil helped her by a few art supplies so she could begin a new journal.

With some of the go-fund-me money gifts, Phil immediately bought wood-working tools. Neither of us stopped creating; we found our emotions were channeled into the healing process of making art -- particularly in response to the enormous loss of our retirement home and 99% of the contents (including our art and art collections.)

Ai La'au  (Forest Eater)

"Moving Through Fear"

During July the Wailoa Center in Hilo, together with Hawaii Island Art Alliance (HIAA) is hosting an exhibit for artists' work specifically related to last year's Kilauea's lava eruption. During this time Lunel has created three journals full of art -- over 400 images in about 400 days; some of these images have been shared in previous blog entries; she has been asked to offer a class in July to share her unique process of  using images combined with quotes, drawings and poems.

Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.  Thomas Merton

This last year Phil has been experimenting with his latest tool -- a Japanese carving tool, and with it -- he has created four new bas-relief pieces. Three are directly related to the Hawaiian mythological characters, including Pele, Poliahu (Pele's snow sister) and Ai La'au who was the personage living in Kilauea crater before the arrival of Pele to the Big Island. 

"Deep Water Challenge"

Pele

His last image while more ocean-related still addresses the unusual "voyage" we have made in our lives this last year. The vessel is a traditional Polynesian sailing vessel "Wa-a."

New Garden Art -- Mo'o

View is when you first come in the gate to our property.

"Stanley" has been protected with sprayed layers of FlexSeal

In mid June I posted the story about my wanting to create a Mo'o -- a lizard-dragon like the beings recorded in Hawaiian mythology. I included photos of the beginning process of making a mo'o sculpture.  Mo'o June Entry

CLICK  PHOtO to read about  "da silly slippa's"

Although I've never done this kind of thing before, I figured the best way to learn is to just do it!

"Stanley" (yes, he told me that was his name) now stands watch, perched high on an outcropping of lava -- visible just as you drive in the gate. This is an beautiful feature of lava that flowed (years ago) directly across what is now our driveway.

One of the issues that came up near the end of the construction was that his toes were a little vulnerable on such a rough surface. My friend in Honaunau suggested, giggling, that maybe he just needed some authentic Hawaiian "slippa's" -- so that part of the story is also included -- for giggles.

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Spirit of the Mo'o

Reptiles and serpents of all shapes and sizes have been my favorite beings since I was a little girl. I was enamored with snakes in rural Oregon; I found it delightfully devious to put them in my teachers’ desks.

As a kid, I remember reading about mythological flying creatures in my Child Craft Encyclopedia. China's flying serpents-dragons were in the oldest writings of that culture. India's "Ramayana" describes humans and their "serpent-god" ancestors, and African myths refer to dragon-like beings who brought civilization to humankind. Ancient texts from Sumer (3000 BC) describe sapient, fiery, flying serpents. There are numerous other examples from Japan, China, Australia, etc. My all time favorite has long been Quetzalcoatl of Meso-American literature. Reading Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey as a young adult was also influential.

Papermache (old phonebook) over chicken wire -- the beginning.

When we bought our retirement property in the Puna District on the Big Island of Hawaii (2012), I drew out a possible design along our long driveway for landscaping -- that, not surprising, included an aptly descriptive (and prophetic?) title, "Path of the Serpent."

"So," he asked, "do I get wings?"

In Hawaiian mythology the Mo'o are the most mysterious creatures found in some of the oldest stories and are associated with a deep ancient magic. Citing from an article by Shannon Wianecki (Maui No Ka 'Oi Magazine) Mo'o possess profound powers, are omniscient and are also shape-shifting beings who guard and protect fresh water pools. Most Mo'o are female, but a fierce Mo'o on Moloka'i is a male protector..

According to language experts, "the word mo'o" also refers to spine and a succession or lineage, and a mo'oleo is a story...a progression of words strung together like a vertebrae.

Recently while clearing a large section of overgrown jungle area of invasive shrubs, weeds and vines, we discovered a rather interesting deep hole (puka) in the lava that we are now shaping to become a fountain/pond feature -- and what could be more appropriate to guard it -- a six-foot long Mo'o, who now takes up residence in our spacious open-air art studio. A few days ago while I was sculpting his face, he asked if he was going to have wings which prompted a significant change in design -- but who is going to say "no" to a Mo'o...not me! (As the water feature and the Mo'o develop, we will post new pictures.)

"The Sacred Spine" - Shannon Wianecki; "Wise folks don't mess with Mo'o" - Bob Krauss; "Mo'o Dragons of Hawai'i" - Mike Limatoc, "Flying Serpents and Dragons" - R. A. Boulay

Lunel's Newest Art

What a fun year for artistic exploration! After having spent four years working with the lava on our property and being inspired by the variety of shapes, I feel like I have received a blessing (and a few bruises too) from Pele -- and, a new expression of art!

The process begins with a very simple line drawing inspired by shapes I see, After developing the drawings, I load the art into the computer. I collect fabric samples that reflect the colors I want, and I also scan the fabric into the computer. Working with dozens of fabric options, one by one I "drop" them into the negative spaces. Sometimes it takes many days of experimentation  to find just the right colors and textures that will complement each section and the whole piece.


("click" on any image for BIGGER view!)

After perfecting the image, I can print the completed art onto note cards, onto canvas, and even onto fabric. I just finished my first fabric sculpture/quilt -- one of two that will be sold either singly or as a pair.

This past year I have created several images using this inventive technique, but these two were special because they illustrate the return of Pele's lava flow to the ocean. Hawaiian mythology tells of Pele meeting her ocean sister - Namaka and this is happening right now on the Big Island near old site called Mokuna on the Puna coastline a few miles from where we live.

(If you have an interest in these pieces, please let me know. LUNEL)

To the right you see a close up of some of the lovely fabrics......