Week 2 Goddess and mother.

Who defines a goddess. Over the centuries the concept of feminine beauty has changed many times. This statute which is no larger than the human hand gives voice to the definition of courtly beauty during her lifetime. Whether she stood for the divine body of creativity where life was nurtured and  prepared for the ultimate act of birth or she represented the queen bee of a hive in human form she is our mother. By showing this woman faceless, unable to travel from this place where she finds herself in life, thin armed and footless her girth represents the need for a  stationary place of comfort in our lives as humans.
Over the centuries beauty and its definition for both males and females has changed the forms that we see in our art. Venus of Willendorf reminds us that beauty is fleeting and yet to each of us our mothers love and care is timeless. Her arms hold us close and even the tiny can be as strong as steel holding us close to her heart perhaps too close. The folds of fat that represent not only the parts of the form and give definition to female apposed to male form also represent abundance in life. Faceless it is easy to carve up our mother to take what we need while failing to replace what we take. Unable to get away and unwilling to try this statue reminds us of the willingness to give more than we have up to and including our own destruction.
In all religions we find recognition for the female figure, why should it be any different that god should share his kingdom with a goddess. Be she celestial mother or human and fail-able we are unwilling to give up our need to fulfill both sides of our world. This single female reminds us each that green and plentiful is the story of creation it explains why we are two instead of one. Why we think alike and yet act so differently, and most of all they remind us that we are willing to give everything including our individual freedom for the benefit of the society as a whole.
So is she Venus or is she just another woman who represented the needs of both men and women as a whole. This question is obvious that there can be no separation between the two. Just as all men in their own way are representations of God and so we treat them with a deference reserved for that status all women are in their turn the face of our mother. Native American tribes speak of respecting the mother earth and separate her from our father the sun. They recollect her need to change with the seasons of time renewal, growth, harvest, and death are also part of the cycle of human life. Our mother in all her glory finds each of these moments of time throughout her life cycle and this statue like many other forms of art representing this universal symbol give her voice. Sometimes a whisper and sometimes a shout her voice is beautiful and strives to pull us back to our home.

About me and my art.

Hi,
My name is Sparkle Joy Arroyo. Most of my friends call me Joy and I hope that each of you will feel free to do so. I am working on my final year of my Bachlor of Arts in studio with a focus on ceramics. I love to paint, draw, and for the last 31 years I have worked in textiles. I crochet, knit, sew, emborder, and do just about any kind of art that keeps my hands busy and my mind working toward new goals. Also I am a results driven type of artist finding that my best work comes when I set a goal and strive to reach it. This quarter will find my time split between work, sculpture, color photography and taking care of my husband and animals. Of which I have 3 dogs, two pug/pomeranian mixes Diesel and Lulu and one weiner dog Madeline. We also have 3 cats Trouble who is a Manx mix and lives up to  his name along with two kittens as of yet un-named a calico female and black and white male.
So far my favorite artists have been fellow students. I would recommend if you get the chance to check out the work that is going on right beside you. We have great graduate students and professional teachers. Overall I am looking forward to this class I love history and art so this should be fun. Can't wait to meet you all.
Joy