tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2733812559283418635.post8926969977085182577..comments2023-09-08T09:45:10.235-04:00Comments on Coffee With Hallelujah: AT THE CENTER OF THE STARRuth Schowalterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03106140875246572230noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2733812559283418635.post-4315156114864892792009-10-03T11:13:00.648-04:002009-10-03T11:13:00.648-04:00Hallelujah is PLEASED to have such a thoughtful an...Hallelujah is PLEASED to have such a thoughtful and well informed response to her post! Thank you Armaguessin for your sincere and heartfelt response. Hallelujah is also satisfied that you provided more information about the Aboriginal creation God, Wandjina! Thank you!<br /><br />As an artist, I was hesitant to invite Wandjina into my paintings out of respect for this God's powerful presence in Aboriginal spirituality. Is it wrong Armaguessin to integrate world religions into our singular cultural beliefs? Is it disrespectful to use the icons of others' beliefs? Do we as artists have permission to borrow powerful imagery and make it our own?<br /> <br />Hallelujah thanks you for your interface and our mutual existence making. LONG LIVE ARMAGUESSINRuth Schowalterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03106140875246572230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2733812559283418635.post-17192480052472555682009-10-02T05:52:15.339-04:002009-10-02T05:52:15.339-04:00In Aboriginal mythology, the Wondjina (or wandjina...In Aboriginal mythology, the Wondjina (or wandjina) were cloud and rain spirits who, during the Dream time, painted their images (as humans but without mouths) on cave walls. It has been said if they had mouths, the rain would never cease. They also lacked limbs and had a skull-like face. Their ghosts still exist in small ponds. <br />Walaganda, ONE of the Wondjina, became the Milky Way. Paintings of this style that represent the mythological beings involved in the creation of the world are called "Wondjina style". Incidentally this, as I have said before, in different ways, represents your art.<br />The Wandjinas have common colours of black, red and yellow on a white background. Wandjinas are believed to have made the sea, the earth and all its inhabitants. The existing rock art found, has depicted them as having huge upper bodies and large heads. Their faces show eyes and nose, but typically lack mouths. Around the heads of Wandjinas there appears to be lightning and feathers. The Wandjina is thought to have special powers and if offended, can cause flooding and intense lightning. The paintings are still believed to have special powers and therefore are to be approached cautiously. <br />Seems like you might have upset them (not singularly) due to the recent flooding in Atlanta! I have always been a spiritual soul but I am aware also of the western tendency to pick and mix with various beliefs and that seems to me wrong.<br />Animism is an interesting but ultimately to me flawed belief as are all the other beliefs....mankind and womankind have always searched for meaning and I hear you speak of modern concepts at the same time.....do indigenous Australians’ set goals ...I think not.<br />I have always been an existentialist since reading Sartre at Grammar (High) School but have also have toyed with many other beliefs and can take mass at a Catholic church to name just one.<br />It comes down to `I exist therefore I am` (Cognito Ergo Sum: Descartes) and everyone else exists WHEN they interface with my life..hence this missal.<br />Art is dead long live Artarmaguessinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13652244694293670780noreply@blogger.com