Animal Life, Art from the Kalevala
CCCAC Kerredge Gallery, February 2-27, 2021
Annual group open invitational exhibition
Annual group open invitational exhibition
ONLINE RECEPTION:
Tuesday, February 23rd at 7pm EST
A virtual reception will be held on Tuesday, February 23 at 7:00pm EST with a gallery talk by Kalevala scholar, Dr. Hilary-Joy Virtanen from Finlandia University titled “Animals in Kalevala and Finnish Folklore.” Participating artists who wish to talk about their work in the show may also share. Everyone is welcome. Use the link or meeting ID below to join on the 23rd via Zoom.
Join Zoom Meeting HERE
Or use this information to join on Zoom:
Meeting ID: 941 3599 1483
Passcode: 452836
Tuesday, February 23rd at 7pm EST
A virtual reception will be held on Tuesday, February 23 at 7:00pm EST with a gallery talk by Kalevala scholar, Dr. Hilary-Joy Virtanen from Finlandia University titled “Animals in Kalevala and Finnish Folklore.” Participating artists who wish to talk about their work in the show may also share. Everyone is welcome. Use the link or meeting ID below to join on the 23rd via Zoom.
Join Zoom Meeting HERE
Or use this information to join on Zoom:
Meeting ID: 941 3599 1483
Passcode: 452836
The Kalevala is a 19th century work of poetry compiled by Elias Lönnrot from Finnish and Karelian oral folklore and mythology. It is regarded as the national epic poem of Finland and is one of the significant works of Finnish literature. Our annual open call exhibition asks artists to create artwork relating to the many animals that are part of the Finnish epic poem, as imagery and symbolism. Each artist also submitted their chosen Kalevala rune inspiration. These runes are listed at the bottom of the page, after the gallery images.
This year's exhibition features 31 pieces and 17 participating artists. The artists include: Terri Jo Frew, Fredi Taddeucci, Jeanne Houle Peters, Clyde Mikkola, David Kronberg, Joyce Koskenmaki, Karen Tembreull, Steve Niemi, Lindsey Heiden, Madhura Mehendale, Angela Kilpela, Clare Zuraw, Bob Dawon, Cynthia Coté, Tammy Toj Gajewski, Bonnie Loukus, and Anita Jain.
"Animal Life, Art from the Kalevala" may also be viewed in-person during Arts Center open hours! Tuesday-Friday 10am-6pm and Saturday 10am-2pm. If you are interested in purchasing a piece, please email us at ccarts@coppercountryarts.com.
This year's exhibition features 31 pieces and 17 participating artists. The artists include: Terri Jo Frew, Fredi Taddeucci, Jeanne Houle Peters, Clyde Mikkola, David Kronberg, Joyce Koskenmaki, Karen Tembreull, Steve Niemi, Lindsey Heiden, Madhura Mehendale, Angela Kilpela, Clare Zuraw, Bob Dawon, Cynthia Coté, Tammy Toj Gajewski, Bonnie Loukus, and Anita Jain.
"Animal Life, Art from the Kalevala" may also be viewed in-person during Arts Center open hours! Tuesday-Friday 10am-6pm and Saturday 10am-2pm. If you are interested in purchasing a piece, please email us at ccarts@coppercountryarts.com.
Animal Life, Art from the Kalevala
KALEVALA RUNES
Below we've listed the runes that each artist submitted with their work. Artists were asked to send along which rune inspired their piece. Scroll through to read more about each artist's rune inspiration. Sometimes runes are listed as rune, canto, or a number. It all depends on which source and translated work the artist used for reference.
“Baying at the Moon” by Fredi Taddeucci
collage, $195
Canto XXXIII
Death of Ilmarinen’s Wife
Kullervo sends cattle into the mouths
Of wolves and bears and by magic
Gives the bears the appearance of cattle.
He makes a pipe from the bone of a cow
And brings the cattle home.
“Black Bear” by Fredi Taddeucci
collage, $195
Canto XXXIII
Death of Ilmarinen’s Wife
Kullero sends cattle into the mouths
Of wolves and bears and by magic
Gives the bears the appearance of cattle.
He makes a pipe from the bone of a cow
And brings the cattle home.
“Wolf in the Woods” by Fredi Taddeucci
collage, $195
Canto XXXIII
Death of Ilmarinen’s Wife
Kullero sends cattle into the mouths
Of wolves and bears and by magic
Gives the bears the appearance of cattle.
He makes a pipe from the bone of a cow
And brings the cattle home.
“The Duck Cannot Find a Grassy Hillock” by Jeanne Houle Peters
acrylic, $70
“Far away the waves would wash the nesting” Rune 1
“The Eagle, the Roebuck, and the Bees” by Jeanne Houle Peters
acrylic, $70
“The eagle screams at daybreak” Rune 36
“Swiftly swoops the mighty eagle” “The Roebuck trod
upon thee” within “the birch trees in the forest” Rune 9
“The Wolf, the Roebuck, and the Snakes” by Jeanne Houle Peters
acrylic, $70
“The tracks of wolves were in thee” Rune 9
“O’er the plains the elk-deer bounded” Rune 41
“Serpents there of every species, crawling hissing
writhing, stinging.” Rune 19
“The Insects, “Luna” and the Bee” by Jeanne Houle Peters
acrylic, $70
“She takes fair Luna from her cradle in the birch tree” Rune 47
“They prepared the soil for sowing. Searching everywhere for
flax-seed, found it in Touni’s kingdom in the keeping of an
insect.” Rune 48 “Then the bee the swift winged birdlet.” Rune 20
“Cuckoo” by Clyde Mikkola
colored pencil, $250
Wainamoinen, old and trusty,
Turned his face, and looked about him,
Lo! there comes a spring-time cuckoo,
Spying out the slender birch-tree,
Rests upon it, sweetly singing:
“Wherefore is the silver birch-tree
Left unharmed of all the forest?”
Spake the ancient Wainamoinen:
“Therefore I have left the birch-tree,
Left the birch-tree only growing,
Home for thee for joyful singing.
Call thou here, O sweet-voiced cuckoo,
Sing thou here from throat of velvet,
Sing thou here with voice of silver,
Sing the cuckoo’s golden flute-notes;
Call at morning, call at evening,
Call within the hour of noontide,
For the better growth of forests,
For the ripening of the barley,
For the richness of the Northland,
For the joy of Kalevala.”
“Birth of the Harp” by David Kronberg
maple timber, mixed media print NFS
Canto XL “Birth of the Harp”
Having passed safely through cataract and
whirlpool, rocky chinks and channels,
Vainamoinen, ancient voyager, observes
That the three explorer’s magic vessel is run
Aground on the fin bones of the mighty pike of
Northland.
“Otso” by Joyce Koskenmaki
spirit doll, $80
Welcome Otso be thy coming
Honey-pawed who now approachest
“Otso” by Joyce Koskenmaki
embroidery, $125
Welcome Otso be thy coming
Honey-pawed who now approachest
“The White Blazed Horse” by Karen Tembreull
felted wool, hand stitching, $435
Then the white-blazed horse he charmed
Charmed it to a spotted rock
On a bank beside the rapids
“Horseshoe Lake Bass” by Steve Niemi
mixed metal, forged, welded, $825
Rune IX, Origin of Iron:
"Then the blacksmith, Ilmarinen,
Came to earth to work the metal;
He was born upon the Coal-mount,
Skilled and nurtured in the coal-fields;
In one hand, a copper hammer,
In the other, tongs of iron;
In the night was born the blacksmith,
In the morn he built his smithy,..."
“Can I Trust This Fox?” by Lindsey Heiden
earthenware, enamel paint, $140
Rune IV The Fate of Aino, 452-458
"Who then tell the cruel story,
Who will bear the evil tidings.
To the cottage of her sister?
'Will the fox repeat the story
Tell the tidings to her sister?
Nay, the fox must not be herald,
He would eat the ducks and chickens."
“Singing Out Loud” by Lindsey Heiden
earthenware, enamel paint, $190
Rune XXIX The Isle of the Refuge, 146-150
"Then began the cuckoos, calling,
Gold from every throat came streaming,
Copper fell from every feather,
And each wing emitted silver,
Filled the isle with precious metals."
“Magpie” by Madhura Mehendale
watercolor, $50
“Perch” by Madhura Mehendale
watercolor, $50
Rune III
....Slowly perches swim in Autumn,
Wry-backed, hunting deeper water,
Spawn in shallows in the summer,
Bounding on the shore of ocean.......
“The Owl Eagle” by David Kronberg
wood carving, NFS
Canto XXVIII
Ahti, hero of the Islands, wild magician,
Lemminkainen, hastened from the great
Banquet halls of Louhi…stormful
He strode into the ever darksome Northland.
…changed his form into an owl eagle…
And soared aloft…
“Steed of Copper Color” by Clare Zuraw
knit wool, $45
Rune X.
Ilmarinen Forges the Sampo
"Väinämöinen, the magician,
Takes his steed of copper color...
Dashes in through fen and forest...
To the plains of Kalevala...
[He] sang aloft a wondrous pine tree
Till it pierced the clouds in growing
With its golden-top and branches
Till it touched the very heavens..."
“Honeyed Winglets” by Clare Zuraw
knit wool, $45
Rune XX
The Brewing of the Beer
"Osmotar, the beer-preparer,
Thought again, and long debated:
'Who or what will bring the ferment,
That my beer may not be lifeless?'...
Kalevatar, magic maiden...
Sees a pod upon the bottom,
Lifts it in her snow-white fingers...
Kalevatar, sparkling maiden,
Gave the pod to magic Kapo;
Kapo, by the aid of magic,
Rubbed the pod upon her knee-cap,
And a honey-bee came flying
From the pod within her fingers,
Kapo thus addressed her birdling:
'Little bee with honeyed winglets,
King of all the fragrant flowers,
Fly thou whither I direct thee,
To the islands in the ocean,
To the water-cliffs and grottoes,
Where asleep a maid has fallen,
Girdled with a belt of copper
By her side are honey-grasses,
By her lips are fragrant flowers,
Herbs and flowers honey-laden;
Gather there the sweetened juices,
Gather honey on thy winglets,
From the calyces of flowers,
From the tips of seven petals,
Bring it to the hands of Kapo,
To the hands of Osmo's daughter.'"
“Honey-paw” by Clare Zuraw
knit wool, $45
Rune XLVI
Otso the Honey-Eater
"Otso was not born among the rushes,
was not cradled in a manger.
Honey-paw was born in the ether,
In the regions of Moon-land,
On the shoulders of Otava,
With the daughters of creation.
Through the ether walked a maiden...
In her hand she held a wool-box
with a hair box on her shoulder;
Threw the wool upon the ocean
and the hair upon the rivers...
Fair Mielikki, woodland hostess...
took the fragments from the seaside,
took the white wool from the waters,
sewed the hair and wool together...
Thus was sacred Otso cradled
on the honey-tree of Northland,
In the middle of the forest..."
“Louhi’s Revenge” by Bob Dawson
pastel, $200
Poem #45:
Louhi, mistress of northland
trust the wayward diseases
against Vaino-Lands folk, to
slay Kaleva's kin.
“Hauki, the Water Dog” by Bob Dawson
pastel, $90
Poem #40
If we're on a pikes shoulders
on a water-dogs haunches
drag the water with your sword
chop the fish in two!
“Water Dog” by Cynthia Coté
paper diorama, $150
Then arose the pike of Mana,
Came the water-dog in silence,
Of the pikes was not the largest,
Nor belonged he to the smallest;
“Golden Marten” by Bonnie Loukus
oil, $225
Rune XXVII
The Unwelcome Guest
"Lemminkainen, full of mischief,
Conjured on the roof a squirrel,
That by jumping on the rafters
He might catch the dog's attention.
But the master of the Northland
Conjured there a golden marten,
And he drove the magic squirrel
From his seat upon the rafters.
Lemminkainen, full of mischief,
Made a fox of scarlet color,
And it ate the golden marten."
“Kaukomielli” by Tammy Toj Gajewski
oil, $100
Rune XXVIII: The Mother’s Counsel
“ Ahti, hero of the islands, wild magician,
Lemminkainen, also known as Kaukomielli,
hastened from the great carousel from the
banquet halls of Louhi, from the ever darksome
Northland, from the dismal Sariola.”
“Go thou, take thy father’s vessel, go and bide thyself
in safety travel far across nine oceans; in the tenth,
sail to the center, to the island forest covered, to the cliffs
above the water’s where thy father went before thee ...
to my hero’s place of resting.
The Mighty Eagle by Tammy Toj Gajewski
watercolor, collage, $100
“Quick became the mighty eagle soared aloft on
wings of magic tried to fly to the highest heaven.”
“Hero’s Place of Resting”by Tammy Toj Gajewski
oil, $100
“Go thou, take thy father’s vessel, go and bide thyself
in safety travel far across nine oceans; in the tenth,
sail to the center, to the island forest covered, to the cliffs
above the water’s where thy father went before thee ...
to my hero’s place of resting.
“Tuonelan Joutsen/Swan of Tuonela” by Anita Jain
nuno felting, free machine stitching, $845
Swan of Tuonela is part of Lemminkäinen’s adventures:
Kalevala’s adventurer-shaman Lemminkäinen travels
to Pohjola to woo the daughter of Louhi, a powerful old sorceress.
Louhi gives Lemminkäinen three tasks he must complete
to win the hand of her daughter. The third task is to kill
the Swan of Tuonela . Lemminkäinen is killed in Tuonela
because of his intention to kill the swan.
-Eventually Lemminkäinen’s mother finds him in pieces
in the black River of Tuonela , buts him back together and
is able to revive him, while the swan is swimming in the background.
Swan was believed to be related to humans, and considered holy.
Swans, and in particular Swan of Tuonela was believed to be able to
communicate between the dead and the living. Anyone who killed a swan
could expect to be killed himself.
In my piece; the skull on the crown reminds one of the human part of the swan,
the black and rocky River Tuoni runs through the piece, black tulle and black
background reminds one of the dark menacing dangerous heaviness of Tuonela.
“The Eagle and Cuckoo” by Terri Jo Frew
gouache and acrylic, $200
Rune II
Wainamoinen thus made answer:
"Therefore is the birch left standing,
That the birds may liest within it,
That the eagle there may rest him,
There may sing the sacred cuckoo."
“The Broken Knife Revenge” by Angela Kilpela,
acrylic on wood, $380
33:105-176
“O wretched gold-buckled one
matchless son of Kalervo
why are you in bad spirits
with a gloomy heart?
Take a lash from the thicket
a birch out of the wild dell
drive the dung-shanks to a swamp
in the ooze scatter the cows-
half for the great wolves and half
for the bruins of the wild;
round up the wolves, all
the bears together;
turn the wolves into Tiny
knock bears into Whiteback
drive them as a herd homeward
as brindled ones to the farm!
Thus you will repay the wife’s laughter
the evil woman’s insults.”
collage, $195
Canto XXXIII
Death of Ilmarinen’s Wife
Kullervo sends cattle into the mouths
Of wolves and bears and by magic
Gives the bears the appearance of cattle.
He makes a pipe from the bone of a cow
And brings the cattle home.
“Black Bear” by Fredi Taddeucci
collage, $195
Canto XXXIII
Death of Ilmarinen’s Wife
Kullero sends cattle into the mouths
Of wolves and bears and by magic
Gives the bears the appearance of cattle.
He makes a pipe from the bone of a cow
And brings the cattle home.
“Wolf in the Woods” by Fredi Taddeucci
collage, $195
Canto XXXIII
Death of Ilmarinen’s Wife
Kullero sends cattle into the mouths
Of wolves and bears and by magic
Gives the bears the appearance of cattle.
He makes a pipe from the bone of a cow
And brings the cattle home.
“The Duck Cannot Find a Grassy Hillock” by Jeanne Houle Peters
acrylic, $70
“Far away the waves would wash the nesting” Rune 1
“The Eagle, the Roebuck, and the Bees” by Jeanne Houle Peters
acrylic, $70
“The eagle screams at daybreak” Rune 36
“Swiftly swoops the mighty eagle” “The Roebuck trod
upon thee” within “the birch trees in the forest” Rune 9
“The Wolf, the Roebuck, and the Snakes” by Jeanne Houle Peters
acrylic, $70
“The tracks of wolves were in thee” Rune 9
“O’er the plains the elk-deer bounded” Rune 41
“Serpents there of every species, crawling hissing
writhing, stinging.” Rune 19
“The Insects, “Luna” and the Bee” by Jeanne Houle Peters
acrylic, $70
“She takes fair Luna from her cradle in the birch tree” Rune 47
“They prepared the soil for sowing. Searching everywhere for
flax-seed, found it in Touni’s kingdom in the keeping of an
insect.” Rune 48 “Then the bee the swift winged birdlet.” Rune 20
“Cuckoo” by Clyde Mikkola
colored pencil, $250
Wainamoinen, old and trusty,
Turned his face, and looked about him,
Lo! there comes a spring-time cuckoo,
Spying out the slender birch-tree,
Rests upon it, sweetly singing:
“Wherefore is the silver birch-tree
Left unharmed of all the forest?”
Spake the ancient Wainamoinen:
“Therefore I have left the birch-tree,
Left the birch-tree only growing,
Home for thee for joyful singing.
Call thou here, O sweet-voiced cuckoo,
Sing thou here from throat of velvet,
Sing thou here with voice of silver,
Sing the cuckoo’s golden flute-notes;
Call at morning, call at evening,
Call within the hour of noontide,
For the better growth of forests,
For the ripening of the barley,
For the richness of the Northland,
For the joy of Kalevala.”
“Birth of the Harp” by David Kronberg
maple timber, mixed media print NFS
Canto XL “Birth of the Harp”
Having passed safely through cataract and
whirlpool, rocky chinks and channels,
Vainamoinen, ancient voyager, observes
That the three explorer’s magic vessel is run
Aground on the fin bones of the mighty pike of
Northland.
“Otso” by Joyce Koskenmaki
spirit doll, $80
Welcome Otso be thy coming
Honey-pawed who now approachest
“Otso” by Joyce Koskenmaki
embroidery, $125
Welcome Otso be thy coming
Honey-pawed who now approachest
“The White Blazed Horse” by Karen Tembreull
felted wool, hand stitching, $435
Then the white-blazed horse he charmed
Charmed it to a spotted rock
On a bank beside the rapids
“Horseshoe Lake Bass” by Steve Niemi
mixed metal, forged, welded, $825
Rune IX, Origin of Iron:
"Then the blacksmith, Ilmarinen,
Came to earth to work the metal;
He was born upon the Coal-mount,
Skilled and nurtured in the coal-fields;
In one hand, a copper hammer,
In the other, tongs of iron;
In the night was born the blacksmith,
In the morn he built his smithy,..."
“Can I Trust This Fox?” by Lindsey Heiden
earthenware, enamel paint, $140
Rune IV The Fate of Aino, 452-458
"Who then tell the cruel story,
Who will bear the evil tidings.
To the cottage of her sister?
'Will the fox repeat the story
Tell the tidings to her sister?
Nay, the fox must not be herald,
He would eat the ducks and chickens."
“Singing Out Loud” by Lindsey Heiden
earthenware, enamel paint, $190
Rune XXIX The Isle of the Refuge, 146-150
"Then began the cuckoos, calling,
Gold from every throat came streaming,
Copper fell from every feather,
And each wing emitted silver,
Filled the isle with precious metals."
“Magpie” by Madhura Mehendale
watercolor, $50
“Perch” by Madhura Mehendale
watercolor, $50
Rune III
....Slowly perches swim in Autumn,
Wry-backed, hunting deeper water,
Spawn in shallows in the summer,
Bounding on the shore of ocean.......
“The Owl Eagle” by David Kronberg
wood carving, NFS
Canto XXVIII
Ahti, hero of the Islands, wild magician,
Lemminkainen, hastened from the great
Banquet halls of Louhi…stormful
He strode into the ever darksome Northland.
…changed his form into an owl eagle…
And soared aloft…
“Steed of Copper Color” by Clare Zuraw
knit wool, $45
Rune X.
Ilmarinen Forges the Sampo
"Väinämöinen, the magician,
Takes his steed of copper color...
Dashes in through fen and forest...
To the plains of Kalevala...
[He] sang aloft a wondrous pine tree
Till it pierced the clouds in growing
With its golden-top and branches
Till it touched the very heavens..."
“Honeyed Winglets” by Clare Zuraw
knit wool, $45
Rune XX
The Brewing of the Beer
"Osmotar, the beer-preparer,
Thought again, and long debated:
'Who or what will bring the ferment,
That my beer may not be lifeless?'...
Kalevatar, magic maiden...
Sees a pod upon the bottom,
Lifts it in her snow-white fingers...
Kalevatar, sparkling maiden,
Gave the pod to magic Kapo;
Kapo, by the aid of magic,
Rubbed the pod upon her knee-cap,
And a honey-bee came flying
From the pod within her fingers,
Kapo thus addressed her birdling:
'Little bee with honeyed winglets,
King of all the fragrant flowers,
Fly thou whither I direct thee,
To the islands in the ocean,
To the water-cliffs and grottoes,
Where asleep a maid has fallen,
Girdled with a belt of copper
By her side are honey-grasses,
By her lips are fragrant flowers,
Herbs and flowers honey-laden;
Gather there the sweetened juices,
Gather honey on thy winglets,
From the calyces of flowers,
From the tips of seven petals,
Bring it to the hands of Kapo,
To the hands of Osmo's daughter.'"
“Honey-paw” by Clare Zuraw
knit wool, $45
Rune XLVI
Otso the Honey-Eater
"Otso was not born among the rushes,
was not cradled in a manger.
Honey-paw was born in the ether,
In the regions of Moon-land,
On the shoulders of Otava,
With the daughters of creation.
Through the ether walked a maiden...
In her hand she held a wool-box
with a hair box on her shoulder;
Threw the wool upon the ocean
and the hair upon the rivers...
Fair Mielikki, woodland hostess...
took the fragments from the seaside,
took the white wool from the waters,
sewed the hair and wool together...
Thus was sacred Otso cradled
on the honey-tree of Northland,
In the middle of the forest..."
“Louhi’s Revenge” by Bob Dawson
pastel, $200
Poem #45:
Louhi, mistress of northland
trust the wayward diseases
against Vaino-Lands folk, to
slay Kaleva's kin.
“Hauki, the Water Dog” by Bob Dawson
pastel, $90
Poem #40
If we're on a pikes shoulders
on a water-dogs haunches
drag the water with your sword
chop the fish in two!
“Water Dog” by Cynthia Coté
paper diorama, $150
Then arose the pike of Mana,
Came the water-dog in silence,
Of the pikes was not the largest,
Nor belonged he to the smallest;
“Golden Marten” by Bonnie Loukus
oil, $225
Rune XXVII
The Unwelcome Guest
"Lemminkainen, full of mischief,
Conjured on the roof a squirrel,
That by jumping on the rafters
He might catch the dog's attention.
But the master of the Northland
Conjured there a golden marten,
And he drove the magic squirrel
From his seat upon the rafters.
Lemminkainen, full of mischief,
Made a fox of scarlet color,
And it ate the golden marten."
“Kaukomielli” by Tammy Toj Gajewski
oil, $100
Rune XXVIII: The Mother’s Counsel
“ Ahti, hero of the islands, wild magician,
Lemminkainen, also known as Kaukomielli,
hastened from the great carousel from the
banquet halls of Louhi, from the ever darksome
Northland, from the dismal Sariola.”
“Go thou, take thy father’s vessel, go and bide thyself
in safety travel far across nine oceans; in the tenth,
sail to the center, to the island forest covered, to the cliffs
above the water’s where thy father went before thee ...
to my hero’s place of resting.
The Mighty Eagle by Tammy Toj Gajewski
watercolor, collage, $100
“Quick became the mighty eagle soared aloft on
wings of magic tried to fly to the highest heaven.”
“Hero’s Place of Resting”by Tammy Toj Gajewski
oil, $100
“Go thou, take thy father’s vessel, go and bide thyself
in safety travel far across nine oceans; in the tenth,
sail to the center, to the island forest covered, to the cliffs
above the water’s where thy father went before thee ...
to my hero’s place of resting.
“Tuonelan Joutsen/Swan of Tuonela” by Anita Jain
nuno felting, free machine stitching, $845
Swan of Tuonela is part of Lemminkäinen’s adventures:
Kalevala’s adventurer-shaman Lemminkäinen travels
to Pohjola to woo the daughter of Louhi, a powerful old sorceress.
Louhi gives Lemminkäinen three tasks he must complete
to win the hand of her daughter. The third task is to kill
the Swan of Tuonela . Lemminkäinen is killed in Tuonela
because of his intention to kill the swan.
-Eventually Lemminkäinen’s mother finds him in pieces
in the black River of Tuonela , buts him back together and
is able to revive him, while the swan is swimming in the background.
Swan was believed to be related to humans, and considered holy.
Swans, and in particular Swan of Tuonela was believed to be able to
communicate between the dead and the living. Anyone who killed a swan
could expect to be killed himself.
In my piece; the skull on the crown reminds one of the human part of the swan,
the black and rocky River Tuoni runs through the piece, black tulle and black
background reminds one of the dark menacing dangerous heaviness of Tuonela.
“The Eagle and Cuckoo” by Terri Jo Frew
gouache and acrylic, $200
Rune II
Wainamoinen thus made answer:
"Therefore is the birch left standing,
That the birds may liest within it,
That the eagle there may rest him,
There may sing the sacred cuckoo."
“The Broken Knife Revenge” by Angela Kilpela,
acrylic on wood, $380
33:105-176
“O wretched gold-buckled one
matchless son of Kalervo
why are you in bad spirits
with a gloomy heart?
Take a lash from the thicket
a birch out of the wild dell
drive the dung-shanks to a swamp
in the ooze scatter the cows-
half for the great wolves and half
for the bruins of the wild;
round up the wolves, all
the bears together;
turn the wolves into Tiny
knock bears into Whiteback
drive them as a herd homeward
as brindled ones to the farm!
Thus you will repay the wife’s laughter
the evil woman’s insults.”
Header image: The Defense of the Sampo (Sammon puolustus) by Finnish painter Akseli Gallen-Kallela, 1896
