"Ziva"

3-D Cast Paper Collage     7' x 3'

Artisit: Kjersten Hallin

This powerful piece was created in honor of the great Redwood forests that provide shelter and nourishment to incredibly diverse organisms.  The Redwood tree is seen here as a pregnant and abundant mother, arms raised in prayer and reverence, receiving the blessings of the sun's rays that stream through her branched arms.  Ziva is known as the Polish life-giving Goddess of Spring.  The Rhododendrons and ferns bloom around her, a wood thrush is perched upon her head.  The bird is an ancient symbol of the Goddess who oversees the cycles of time, the seasons, life and death.  In many cultures throughout the world, past and present, the bird is seen as the reincarnation of the soul.  Kjersten uses a variety of reclaimed and recycled materials to create the "body" of work, literally casting womyns bodies in plaster, then filling the mold with recycled paper pulp.  The surface is layered with fabric, paper prints of live ferns, and acrylic paint.  Ziva lives in Mendocino, California with many beautiful people who live and work to protect and preserve Earth's natural beauty.

"Crescent Moon Mandala"

Watercolor on paper      10" x 10"

Artist: Tahira Darling

The crescent moon is an archetypal symbol of a preistess of the Goddess.  This mandala represents a sacred circle being cast, the four directions are invoked by the priestesses, the power of fire at the center.  Creating mandalas is a meditation in itself, a prayer in motion.  The ritual of creating beauty is the work of a priestess, this mandala is a shield, a circle in which one may safely invite magic to dance. 

"Matriotism"  Ten Centimeter Circle Meditation Series

Cast Paper Collage and watercolor      18" x 20"

Artist: Kjersten Hallin

This is a banner for peace, red-white-and-blue without borders!  Gaia, the living being we call Earth is being cradled by the great cosmic Creatrix who wears a blood-red robe with gallaxies up her sleeves.  The Moon travels around the Earth always reminding us of the constant cycles of change.  The creative life-force of womyns wombs follows the path of the Moon.  We are all related.  The cycle of birth, growth, death and rebirth can be seen all around us and within us, a mystery that transcends nations and knows no boundaries.

"Sister Wind"

Oil on Canvas

Artist: Brianna Capra

Wind is a moving energy with insight.  This confident sister gathers wisdom as the wind blows through her, sending beauty into the world, her quilt waving like a flag to liberate us all from our self-consciousness.  Brianna's masterful rendering of the human figure combine with her flowing brush strokes and vibrant colors create a sensation of being in that wind.  Let it blow through you and may your beauty run wild with the wind!

"Skin"

Grapefruit skins, seeds and dental floss       variable dimensions

Artist: Britta Hallin

"Beltane Sacred Union"

Acrylic on Pine      38" x 38"

Artists: Kjersten Hallin and Brianna Capra

The union of the sacred masculine and the sacred feminine is the theme of Beltane.  This painting was created on stage during a late-April performance with the musical group "Cloud Cult" and auctioned at the end of the hour-long show.  Painted in Eau Claire, Wisconsin where the Chippewa river and the Eau Claire river flow into one, this painting represents the merging and blending of life energies.  The sacred masculine and feminine archetypes, represented as the Green Man and the Maiden, are wedded by the Great Cosmic Mother who presides over all.  This particular night in April was clear and Venus shown brightly near the crescent moon.  Venus is known as the Goddess of love and rules Taurus, who lives in the sun at Beltane.  We all have masculine and feminine energies within us.  Honoring the sacred union of those qualities and finding balance within ourselves is one of the challenges of being human.  Surrender to the power of love!  

Visit www.cloudcult.com for information on upcoming performances 

"PUSH"  Ten Centimeter Circle Meditation Series

Cast Paper Collage, watercolor    18" x 20"

Artist: Kjersten Hallin

During childbirth, a mother's cervix must dilate to ten centimeters before she is able to push.  Throughout our journey as humans, nearly all people have entered the world through the wisdom of the ten-centimeter circle.  We have a profound and intimate connection with that circle!  Kjersten's first child was born via emergency c-section.  She began this series of meditations as healing and preparation for the birth of her second child who came into the world naturally, without drugs or intervention.  Evidence that art can be healing and empowering!  Art allows us to lose ourselves and find ourselves all at the same time, as does the powerful initiation of childbirth.

"Shield"  Self-portrait as ancient mother

Cast Paper Collage, acrylic      Life-sized body cast

Artist: Kjersten Hallin

This is a paper cast of the artists body during the last trimester of her first pregnancy.  The painted images are inspired by the life force spirals on the temple megaliths of Malta (c. 3000 B.C.)  Kjersten creates these castings in combination with blessingway ceremonies for pregnant mothers. Visit the ceremonies link on this site for more information. 

"Open"  Ten Centimeter Circle Meditation Series

Cast Paper Collage, watercolor, photograph

Artist: Kjersten Hallin

The blossoming of a flower evokes the essence of a dilating cervix during childbirth.  We are a part of nature just as the tulip and the rose, we hold the wisdom, power and mystery of creation deep within our cells.  Our bodies can remember, let go and open.

"Gatekeepers"  Ten Centimeter Circle Meditation Series

Cast Paper Collage, watercolor, colored pencil

Artist: Kjersten Hallin

As we journey deep into the mystery, it is important to have gatekeepers to prevent harmful energies from passing through into our place of vulnerability and also to hold the door open for our safe return.  Let us remember to acknowledge and welcome our allies, we are not alone in our trials.