Monday, March 1, 2010

Spirit of the Hunt



One of many images created for the Round Dance, hosted by the NCC on Feb 27.

This image is reflective of the spirit of my driving force, and the bond of nature that keep us together. The necessity to hunt and provide is not only one that keeps a family together, but it also turns strangers into relations. We depend on one another, we seek comfort in one another, and it's those bonds of love that make us who we are. So many people are so bent on exclusivity and segregation- which only leads to hate and deliberate ignorance.

Listen to the voices of our ancestors- the reason why we are here; becuase if they didn't depend on each other, and care for one another, they would not have been able to exist. It's time we opened our eyes and realized this for ourselves, before we go destroy one another in attempt to prove how much better "we" are.

What keeps us together isn't the knowledge that we are better. It isn't the fear that "they" are coming to get us. It's the reality that we all- irregardless of our heritage and ancestry- have to learn and want to survive. And that is good enough to unite every individual in every species on this planet.

2 comments:

Mbala said...

I love this one!

I keep thinking about the north-west style of art, in comparison with other styles, and there is something about it that seems to be more faithful to how animals are. I do not know what exactly causes that.

Bernice Gordon said...

I think it's primarily because the Aboriginal have always lived as part of nature, as opposed to being in constant conflicted with it, or far removed like we are. Because of their deep rooted understanding in their local environments, and their observations of these animals, the symbols and their meaning do not differ from the reality, but are an actual reflection of them.
Coupled with their spiritual observations and way of life, they produced an art form that can encompass and reflect those two important aspects of their culture, and display them clearly and faithfully to the observer.