I will be showing work from my recent artist residency in Peru. Work will be for sale and 10% of all sales will be donated between Saint Saviour's Church, Pimlico, London and San Roque de Cumbaza School, San Martin, Peru. You can see more about the SouthWest Festival here
The Black Robin and Archangel Michael
The Black Robin lives in the Chatham Islands off the east coast of Aotearoa, New Zealand and like many birds they have had an immense struggle to survive as a species. The Black Robin had succumbed to the introduction of pests like rats and along with the destruction of their habitat stood very little chance of survival. Extinction seemed inevitable for the robins. In 1980 there were only 5 individual birds left in the world! They existed on a windswept scraggy rock called Little Mangere Island and of these 5 there was only two females and of these 2 only one was fertile. Her name was 'Old Blue'. With the plight of the robins being so dire the New Zealand Wildlife Service had to act quick. Don Merton an experienced conservationist set in motion a plan to move the remaining birds to Mangere Island and have eggs from Old Blue incubated by Tomtits. Through trial and error and over a number of years the Black robin population slowly increased. Today there are about 250 Black Robins all descended from 'Old Blue' who lived to the grand old age of 14 which is a remarkable feat when the average life expectancy for the species was between 4 - 10 years. Thanks to Old Blue, Don Merton and Kiwi innovation the Black robin continues to be still with us today.
In this icon dedicated to 'Old Blue' we see her take flight as Archangel Michael the protector of the universe oversees and guards the whole of creation.
Prints are available here
Artist Residency Sachaqa Art Centre Peruvian Amazon.
2013
The fruit Aguaje with its strange reptilian skin is often found sold in Peruvian towns and villages in the Amazon. It is also made into juice and ice cream. The spines of the Aguaje tree are said to be used in brews by sorcerers to see devils and the tree itself is believed to attract water making the Aguaje an important tree culturally, spiritually and environmentally.
"Aguaje" the installation was created using local San Roque clay and Bombonaje palm. Inside were placed two Aguaje seeds. The installation was eventually left in a dry river bed behind the art centre. Open to the elements "Aguaje" will eventually break down and disintegrate releasing the seeds into the dry stream where hopefully they will sprout and grow.
The jungle speaks in so many ways!
So what were my intentions for travelling to the Amazon, Peru? I left the leafy suburbs of West Hampstead early December flying first to the U.S where I spent a wonderful month in California which included leading an art workshop for the festival of Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. James Episcopalian Church, Oakland, California. The art scene in Oakland is fantastic! On the first friday of every month Art Murmer stages an evening of open studios, galleries and workshops, music, food and entertainment in closed off streets in the city. The creative buzz is contagious and I was especially inspired by Creative Growth Art centre which serves adults with developmental, mental and physical disabilities. Absolutely amazing work! I visited lots of galleries and museums in L.A and San Francisco and spent quality time with dear friends. The month went by rather quickly and before I knew it I was on a plane to Peru where the Amazon beckoned.
I didnt stay at my first port of call Lima but headed straigth up to Iquitos and a trip down the Amazon River to the Refugio Altiplano. I had stayed at the lodge before and so was looking forward to my time. Not surprisingly I got sick while there! The city in this gringo was strong! Bad spirits said the shaman after a night walk in the jungle. Two days in bed and regular visits and good care by the shaman and I was better!
Ten days later I caught a flight to Tarapoto and then a 45 minutes journey in a crammed taxi down a dirt road to the small village of San Roque de Cumbaza, home to 8oo people, 3 churches, friendly people and Sachaqa Art Centre my home for the next 2 and a half months. Here I was warmly welcomed by Trina, Daniel, Jacob, Grace Jones the cat and Arcoeides the Golden Labrador.
Sachaqa which is Quechuan for "spirit of the forest" is an artist residency. I had come hoping to learn about natural pigments found in the region and other natural materials and be inspired by the Amazon. One of my first experiences was a visit to Chazuta a small town a few hours away. Famous for its handmade crafts, I was also planning to collect small stones from the river to make into pigments but the rain had other ideas. However I did see some of the work of the locals including a visit to a small museum of ancient ceramic burial pots. It is here I learned about the "The Stepped symbol and the Wave".
This symbol which I drew a copy of is one of the most recuring symbols in the iconography of the region including the Northern Andes. Studies about the steps and spiral especially from the iconographic point of view seem to indicate that the symbol represents a close relationship between life and death (1). Which made sense of why it is found on the ceramic burial urns. It also intrigued me due to my love of the Koru a Maori symbol of eternal life. Chazuta is also a community in which traditional medicines is deeply rooted including use of the plant medicine Ayahausca or "vine of death".
Even within my short time in the jungle it was easy to see why a symbol of life and death would be so relevant. The constant rhythm of the jungle reveals an ongoing life and death drama! From the quick lives and easy deaths of million of insects, the constant falling and rotting leaves, to the local river which had washed away villagers during flooding after heavy downpours, death was ever present. But so was life. The crops of coffee and banana on steep hillsides were a reminder of the people etching out a living in what could be a harsh environment. The creativity of the people and their crafts a powerful symbol of strength and perseverance. The women ceramists of Chazuta's deep rooted belief in ancient traditions and crafts are seen as a resilient force even when the town was plagued by drug trafficking and violence. The leaf cutting ants even made me think of how amazing life is! And the huge variety of life in the jungle from the beautiful Azul butterfly that wafts past everday to the birds, and plants and animals and stars at night.
I had begun to understand that my time in the amazon was going to be so much more than just learning about natural pigments. I also sensed the jungles whisper was going to challeenge me to a some wild experiences and that my boundaried inner cityscape would be quickly overgrown and made moist by an ever expanding jungle. I dont for a moment believe life is a board game but lifes ups and downs its joys and sorrows its passions and disappointments seem intensified in the jungle. So what next for this priest/artist?
1. "Chazuta Arte Ancestoral" J. Barta Del Castillo & A. Narvaez Vargas. Reg. Gov. of San Martin. 2000 pg. 61.www.stjamesoakland.comwww.oaklandartmurmer.orgwww.creativegrowth.orgwww.sachaqacentrodearte.com
Dear Friends,"I Heard the Trees Sing and the Stars Laugh"A collection of writings and art work in full colour by Regan O'Callaghan.£9.95 (not including postage or packaging)Please click on the image below to purchase a copy.Many thanksRegan
