Durga series
A dear friend and wonderful artist, Danny Dutton, gave me some advice regarding feeling stuck in my art. I have never had a shortage of ideas for art, however, at times I feel uninspired to actually make the art. Dan is a prolific, full-time artist of many types: composing music, building sculptures, and painting, to name a few. So who better to ask about those times when the muse is dim, or the creative spark can’t be found.
His advice was to focus on a topic or idea and dive deep into it. Researching, sketching, investigating, whatever ways work to delve and spend time with it. I have researched and spent a lot of time with goddesses as I did a whole series in clay of various goddesses from around the world. I had been reading about Hindu goddesses and was especially intrigued by Durga. The various stories I read about her role in creation seemed so relevant to our world today and resonated with my own experiences as well.
So there are 5 pieces in my series (terracotta, stains, glaze) that tell the story, in my own interpretation, of Durga’s role in early human history:
At first, the world is run by men. Three male gods in particular who over time become greedy and insatiable as their power grows. Nature and beings suffer at their selfish and abusive ways. Out of this turmoil arises a buffalo god who threatens to destroy the world. So things are out of hand, even for the gods, and they call for help from the divine. To their surprise, a female deity appears. She is the manifestation of energy.
This is Durga and she is extraordinarily beautiful. She rides a lion as she is strong and fierce and able to control animalistic tendencies.
The buffalo god confronts her. He scoffs at her, for she is only a woman. He underestimates her strength and abilities. He is disappointed and toys with her, not taking her seriously.
She manifests many symbolic weapons and talismans and slays him with great skill. The world is safe again.
The male gods learned the lesson that female energy is needed. Durga restored balance and harmony to the world. She brought peace, prosperity and order.
We can all call on Durga ourselves in times of imbalance. She has great compassion for us and will protect and event fight for the weak in the form of Kali. She represents our own inner power.