And the Women Gather my interview with Lorna Owens

Listen to internet radio with Lorna Owens on Blog Talk Radio

Art as Healing Therapy

Inside Out: Art as Healing Therapy at Artserve May 25th to June 25th In partnership with: The Children’s Diagnostic Treatment Center, Schott Communities, Easter Seals South Florida, Broward Children’s Center, Ann Storck Center, and ARC Broward. 
Opening Reception: Thursday June 10 from 6-8pm

The Right Moment

Wake up sleeping beauties to your braveheart woman soul, experience empowering female archetypes of war.  Histories hidden heroines, warrior women and queens.  "Women Warriors" series at  "The Right Moment" Saturday May 15th, 7pm to 10pm.  At The Sailboat Bend Gallery  1310 SW 2nd Court, Downtown Fort Lauderdale.

This event is free.  Proceeds benefit Women in Distress (WID).

Trash 2 Art: "Woman with Secrets" Painting

Trash 2 Art opening exhibition at ARTSERVE in Fort Lauderdale.  Me standing beside my painting made from 75% recycable materials.  The painting is titled "Woman with Secrets" the secret is the plywood is from Miami that experieced hurricanes Wilma and Katrina, her dress is from the organization Trash to Treasure - a recycled bath mat that would have perhaps ended up in a landfill.  Thanks to BJ Smith for taking this picture with her iphone.

"Kristie in Paris"

Muse of the moment for photographer Lew Lautin.  Below are photographs of "Kristie in Paris". 

I appreciate and admire what Lew Lautin (photomanlew on youtube) has done with my image, it reminds me of Fridah Kahlo done by Andy Warhol. 

Except it is me as seen thru Lew Lautin.  These photographs are interactive placing my image as icon thru the streets of Paris.

In Myth & Legend the Muse in Greek myth is any of the nine sister goddesses, each of whom was regarded as the protectress of a different art or science. Daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, the nine are Calliope, Clio, Erato, Euterpe, Melpomene, Polyhymnia, Terpsichore, Thalia, and Urania.

 

Kristie Stephenson -Video by Lew Lautin

The Warrior in Me

Warrior Women Photo Series

I've been reading "Women Who Run With the Wolves" according to the book aggression is bred out of girls by the age of 5.  Females are taught to be polite and nice in the face of the grotesque.  Without going into any details here I can relate.  When I look back  I feel empowered now to speak my mind, to roar like a wild woman and not care what anyone thinks.   Thought I'd share the poem below written by Michelle Riu Romero.

It highlights warrior queens, histories hidden heroines and modern day warrior women for you to become aware of so you can start to do your own research and discover more.

A New Mythology

I have the stoic spirit of Rosa Parks
I have the warrior heart of Joan of Arc.
I am as brilliant as I am dark
And you ain't even seen me start

I come from a long line of African Queens
My truth is the truth of Ma’at.
I come to claim my Kemet Kingdom
Now give me back what you got.

You see I traced my history,
I finally understood
Now give me back my priestess power
take your virgin-motherhood.

I am as beautiful as the Queen of Sheba
as raging as Kali
As sensual as the poet Sappho
as silent as the Furies…

I am as fiery as Brigit,
I’m the one who said no
I’m Lillith, I’m Nefertiti
and so many more you don’t know.

I am Judith, I am Esther, I am Deborah, I am Ruth
I am Nepthys, I am Hathor, I am Isis, I am Nut

I am the primordial Goddess, the first and the last
Some call me Gaia, some call me Tiamat

I am as independent as Artemis,
as whole and as fierce
And though you break through my hymen
my ‘virginity’ You can NEVER pierce.

I have the stamina of Eleanor, the guts of the Virgin Queen
I have the boldness of Hathsheput, and the strategy of Athene

I have the vision of Cady Stanton, the resoluteness of Susan B
I have the integrity of Dido, the depth of Proserpine

I am as wise as Sophia, as fruitful as Demetre,
I am as well-learned as hypatia, and man, would I have liked to meet her!

I am Inanna, I am Ishtar, I am Theodora, and Cybele,
Though I stand before you calling myself Michelle

i am evreywoman no matter how my name is spelled...

i am evreywoman no matter how my name is spelled.


in honor of women's history month, by m. riu

TRASH-2-ART!!!! AN ART EXHIBITION CELEBRATING THE CREATIVITY OF REPURPOSED MATERIALS!

Creative reuse center Trash to Treasure opening reception at Artserve in Ft. Lauderdale May 6th, 6pm to 8pm.  Exhibit runs from May 2nd to May 21st.  Trash-2-Art will celebrate artistic creations that have given new life to trash-bound materials. The hope is that this exhibition will help all of us see the treasures in our own trash. This organizations has caused me to think about materials in a new way.  See video below by Lew Lautin.

T2T Opening May 7th, 2010: Creative Reuse & Recycling Centre

Trash to Treasure is a creative reuse and recycling center in Broward County.  I did a painting inside their zen of scrap boutique area created with recycled house paints.  She is the "Green Warrior".  The Zen of Scrap  will be opening on May 7th and there will be a grand opening on May 15th, 2010.  The video below is by videographer Lew Lautin.  The organization is a non profit and is a wonderful resource for art teachers and artists to find unique materials that would probably otherwise end up in a landfil.

Blue Beard Folktales: The Collective Unconscious Shady Urban Hall of Failed Magicians

1. Bluebeard (France, Charles Perrault).
2. King Bluebeard (Germany).
3. Don Firriulieddu (Italy).
4. The Little Boy and His Dogs (African-American, Joel Chandler Harris).
5. Blue-Beard (North Carolina, USA).
6. The Brahman Girl That Married a Tiger (India)

These stories about Blue Beard are from several countries; France, Germany, Italy, the US and India.  Basically the story starts with a failed magician who tries to woo some sisters. The older sisters based on intuition and gut don't trust him but the youngest who is the naive and innocent starts to say his beard isn't that blue.  After a lavish outing the youngest agrees to marry him and goes off to live in a huge palace.  Blue Beard leaves for a few days and tells his young bride to invite her sisters over to keep her company while he is away.  He instructs her to take the keys to the hundreds of rooms in the palace all except one she is forbidden to go into.  She tells her sisters that they can explore all the grand rooms of the palace except one, immediately her sisters seek to find the forbidden room.  Upon finding it the youngest sister opens it with the key and is horrified to see the bloodied, butchered bodies of Blue Beards other wives.  In shock she drops the key on the bloodied floor and discovers the key starts to bleed and won't stop, she then hides the key and pretends to have lost it.  When Blue Beard returns he asks for his keys back and notices the key to the forbidden room is missing.  In a rage he figures out that his young bride has discovered his secret so he tells her she is next.  In an effort to buy some time she asks that she go to her room to say her prayers before he takes her life-no longer naieve she becomes cunning.  He agrees and gives her thirty minutes.  While in her room she calls out to her sisters if they see her brothers coming, they reply back that they see nothing, she asks again and they report that they now see a devils wind blowing in the dust, finally her brothers are in the courtyard and then they rush up the stairs just in time to plunge their swords into Blue Beard killing him.

These stories hundreds of years old are still applicable today.  In society it is often young girls and boys who are prey.  Intuition and curiosity was present in the older sisters they were her eyes, had they not been curious their youngest sister would have had a similar fate.  Historically when men are curious the descriptive words used are much more positive like  "insightful" when a woman is curious the words used to describe her tend to be demeaning such as "nosey".  The youngest sister now wiser draws an internal masculine energy to her side in that of her brothers, who possess the tradition of "aggression and rage" normally bred out of women.  Young girls are taught from an early stage to "be nice" causing them to override their intuition.  The predator in the tale rather than empowering the light of the feminine force choses to extinguish it.

When familiar social customs can cloud ones judgement always listen to your gut, that voice or feeling in the stomach that tells you in your core that something is wrong, that this person is not whom they appear to be, listen and rage if you must.

Relentless Resilience: Call to Women

Long ago before the patriarchal systems we have today there was much respect for the great mother, the sacred feminine. With the tragedy in Haiti, the death of three female Haitian activists for women's rights due to the earthquake, and the alarming report that 72% of Haitian females are raped in their life times. Let us remember Erzulie Dantor a female archetype of war and love from Haiti. Erzulie is known as the patron of Women's Finances and Women in Business. Legend has it that she fought in the Haitian revolution alongside her people however they cut out her tongue for fear she would reveal their secrets if caught. She is a fierce warrioress and a ferocious protector of women and children. Her roots go back through to the middle passage and finally to Africa. Erzulie is Oshun the West African goddess of Women's Rights, Oshun teaches us the world will be in disorder as long as women and children are disrespected, neglected and abused.
It is just to speak up for those unable to, express anger, fight back if provoked and carry on for those who are no longer with us.

Artists in Support of our Haitian Brethren

Sterling Silver Pendants, Feather Earrings and more surprises available at the Jakmel Art Gallery.

Belady (Bela & Lady of Harp) and Jude Papaloko are joining forces to raise money for Haiti disaster relief. All funds will be donated to Papaloko for Kids at the Jacmel Art Gallery/donation center. $7.00 at the door. Wine will be available. I will have my jewelry for sale and the following artists will be performing: MDC Jazz Band, Beatriz Ayende, Vero, Poetic Vibes: Lorenzo & Underscore, Susan, Sandy, Mercy Oliva, Myka, Bela, Papaloko, Lady of Harp, Isis San Miguel, Alexandra Vonelli, Myka, Flute Quartet, Beatrice "Simbiya" Ricco, Jessica Luisa, Laura Alonso (singer) Sunday, February 28, 2010, 6:15pm to 10pm at the Jacmel Art Gallery, 7646 Biscayne Boulevard.

University of Miami

Relentless Resilience:  "Harnessing the Energy of the Contemporary African Diaspora Aesthetics"

Location:
University of Miami
College of Arts & Sciences,
Wesley Gallery
1210 Stanford Drive, Coral Gables, Florida 33146

305.284.2542
Duration: February 7th to 28th

Gallery Hours: 10am to 5pm daily

Artists: Asser Saint-Val, Guy Syllien, 

Kristie Stephenson, 

Ansel Butler & Fred Thomas 
Opening: Friday February 19th, 2010
6:30pm to 10pm
Artist Panel Discussion at 8pm

 

Williams Island Art Show

Small Works Show at Diaspora Vibe Gallery

My fine art Jewelery & Paintings are part of the Small Works Show for sale at the Diaspora Vibe Gallery Wed. Dec. 9th thru Dec. 12th.  The paintings are 8"x8", Acrylic on canvas and the jewelery is made in sterling silver with my artist signature on the back.

My artwork is inspired by Story & Myth come out and enjoy 4 days of exquisite shopping at the Diaspora Vibe Gallery 3839 North Miami Ave in the Design District.

Black Madonna

This is one of my versions of Our Reverent Mother, if you click on this link you will learn about the Black Madonnas painted during the medieval times 12century - 15th century. Black Madonnas of this time period can be found in the following countries: Belgium, Croatia, Ecuador, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Sicily (Italy), Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Switzerland, USA.
This is a comment from that link, "Concerning why is she black--in Aramaic the language of Jesus--black means "sorrowful." It is a language of idioms. This links the Blessed Mother to Isis who was called "sorrowing" in her search for Osiris."

Butterfly Woman: Stories & Myths

Carla Vanessa of the Miami Sound Machine (produced by the Estefan's) wore my Butterfly Woman Pendant during a performance. Carla was a member of the group Bayside Boys in 1996, she sang the Macarena Song that was ..1 for 14 weeks in a row on the Billboard Charts.  She is a multi talented and very beautiful person on the inside and out.

Common Roots

"Flying Japanese Hats" 16"x 20" acrylic on canvas.

According to the Common Roots Arts Exhibit, "Plants are world travelers. They don't pay much attention to political borders, to language differences, to oceans and seas. Long before humans lived in our region, plants were taking cross-country and oceanic trips to other areas. And even today they quietly float and fly past border guards and tall border fences."

The plants pictured in the paintings are some of the plants we played with as kids in Jamaica. My mother's garden was well tended to and loved. In it we made bracelets from the Ixora plant and played with a fleet of "helicoptors" when we turned the Japanese Hat plant upside down and watched it spiral off in flight.

"Ixora's Charm" 16' x 20" acrylic on canvas.

Troubled Heart

"Troubled Heart" acrylic on canvas 12"x12". It troubles me how as people we can sometimes be. Pretending, presenting a well rehearsed performance. Deep inside is ugly veiled pain with gashes and keloids.

Traveling Thru Space & Time

"Space Time Travel" 22" x 28", oil on canvas. Click here for a historical list of Goddesses of Love, Sexuality and Fertility. This female archetype figure is ongoing and ever present in my work. An archetype in Jungian psychology is defined as a collectively inherited unconscious idea, pattern of thought, image, etc. universally present in individual psyches.

Hope Change: Obama Babes

"Hope Change: Obama Babes" 22" wide x 28" high, acrylic on canvas. Change one of the most used words in 2008. It represents all the great hopes and dreams for children coming into the world. I started painting this after my nephew was born on 08.08.08 at 10:43 am (1+0+4+3=8). Eight is considered an auspicious lucky number in Chinese culture because the name sounds similar to the Chinese words for wealth and prosper. The central figure in the painting is like an aware man boy protectively wrapped like a cocoon inside a womb like atmosphere.  

As a global community let's be grateful for the freedoms we have here and to be aware of human rights violations happening presently in other countries.

Lubna Hussein a journalist who works for the UN in Sudan was arressted in a cafe along with 12 other women for wearing pants, her trial is set for August 4th, 2009. Article 152 in Sudanese Law prohibits women from wearing pants in public. It falls under "indecent acts" according to Sudan's strict interpretation of Islamic law. If convicted she could face 40 lashings, a human rights violation according to UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon.

Update

H1B1 Visa Girl; Indentured I-485 Green Card Goddess

"H1B1 Visa Girl: Indentured Green Card Goddess"
48" wide x 60", acrylic on canvas. It is me remembering the story of my grandmother's ancestors who came to Jamaica as indentured servants from China. Her clothing references body wrapping; figure uprooted and hovering in place, not yet planted. Her eyes convey hope to the future generations that will come after her. "The Goddess in Every Girl" by Marie-Jeanne Abadie encourages readers to explore their female family history and get a jump on taking control of their own goddess life.

Women Warriors

"Warrior Woman" 48" wide x 23" high acrylic on canvas. Inspired by tribal bellydancers, weapon dances, female goddesses of the hunt - Diana (Roman), Artemis (Greek), Asian female warrior's Hua Mulan and Wang Cong'er. Her necklace is inspired by a Kit Rae knife design and the knives she holds are inspired by knife designer Gil Hibben. The Amazon horse women who I was taught were just myth do exist, there is evidence of graves found in Russia of women buried with weapons. Archaeologist Jeanine Davis-Kimball's book "Warrior Women: An Archaeologist's Search for History's Hidden Heroines" goes indepth. Some of the weapons found buried with the women were battle axes, I can't help but wonder if the derogatory slang term "battle axe" (synonyms: battleaxe, old bat, old battleaxe, old dame, old girl, old prune, old witch) a noun used to describe a domineering, aggressive, sharp-tempered person, esp. a woman has anything to do with forgotton historical women warriors.

Click here for answers to the questions: Did Amazon warrior women, the Antiope and Hippolyte belong to an extinct matriarchal warrior society? Or were they simply fictional characters depicted in ancient Greek mythology?

For some brief information on ancient queens and other warrior women who led their people into battle: Amazons, Queen Artemisia, Queen Boudicca, Queen Samsi, Queen Tomyris, Trung Sisters, Queen Zenobia click here. For more about distinguished Matriarchal African Warrior Tribes and African Warrior Queens click here!

"Beauty Bites Beast: Awakening the Warrior in Women and Girls" by Ellen Snortland who is a self defence advocate. Says that 1 in 3 women have been beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused in their lifetime. She believes if women learn to defend themselves things will drastically improve. Women today have risen into prominence in business, science, and as players on the political stage. However domestic violence and sexual and physical assault is still rampant, but is countered through legislation, political activism and, on a local level, through women's pursuit of fighting skills to defend themselves. At some point in history there were laws forbidding women from fighting, some refused to lay down their arms, disguised themselves as boys etc. Please click here to read more with respect to dates, periods and regions on Women Warriors (3500 BC to 20 Century), and maybe you will be inspired as to what your female warrior sisters did! If you are reading this and live in the Coral Gables, FL area consider taking a women's self defence class or enrolling in martial arts training at my friends US Kenpo Kai Karate Studio. Click here.

Kali

"Kali" 60" wide x 48" high, acrylic on canvas. My contemporary Kali is a global female warrior focused on clearing paths. She holds a Gil Hibben wood knife design, here I have made the knife stone referencing a story of the White Knife Clan people who carried white stone knives. Click here to read more about Kali Ma an often misunderstood goddess.

Kali is also a reality based martial arts system in the Phillipines, employing the use of several weapons.

Devotional Bengali music is known as Shyama Sangeet and features themes around the Hindu Goddess Kali.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ia4DWUBqEKY

Jamaica is home to many Indians who came as indentured laborers, they make up the second largest ethnic group in the island, the first being Africans. (Hinduism had an influence on the Rastafarians who often refer to marijuana as Kali- the Hindu goddess whose name means"great black mother whose invoking is usually associated with the lifting of sagging spirits). The vintage B&W photo from the National Library of Jamaica features two indian girls in Jamaica cooking rice (date unknown). To read more about the history of Indians in Jamaica click here.

Passion

"Passion" 12" x 16" Oil on canvas. She is a leader, decisive and confident attracting others through her brilliance and warmth. She encourages you to take risks, be unique and ignite your inner fire. She celebrates the gift of her menstrual cycle, honoring it as a time of being more psychic and intuitive. For more information on the historical significance of women's menstrual blood click here for an article by Adelheid Ohlig titled, "Women's Blood Mysteries". "Passion" is inspired by the following Fire Goddesses; Brigit a Celctic Fire Goddess associated with light, inspiration and skills associated with fire like weaponry, Pele the Hawaiian Volcano Goddess, Hestia Goddess of the Hearth and Oya the African Fire Goddess.
Click here to read more about the African Fire Goddess Oya from The African Realm of the forgotton goddess

For a list of names meaning fiery, fire, blaze, flame, burning, etc. click here.

Chinese Jamaican's

"Miss Young"
12" x 16" Oil on Canvas.
This painting is not a portrait, my process is to paint and allow these characters to emerge. She is titled Miss Young in honour of my half chinese maternal grandmother, whose maiden name was Young. My grandmother was born in 1923, she was a dressmaker who at my request made numerous doll clothes for my dollies.

Recently I was browsing through the Jamaica National Library's images on flickr and came across some images of Chinese Jamaican Ladies from the 1930's, they were newspaper announcements for their occupations such as; vocalist, doctor, cashier etc. It was uplifting to see how many were involved in family businesses, medicine, and especially the arts.

Top row: Miss Audrey Leahong, well known fancy painter, Dr. Hoashoo M.B. one of two lady doctor's in Jamaica, Miss Elma Fung, who is her father's cashier.
Bottom row: Miss Doris James, a well known vocalist at concerts, Miss Doris Chin Loy, Who is now studying in China and Miss Fay Hendrickson, assistant in her father's business.

To read more on the history of the Chinese in Jamaica click here.

River Mumma - Pond Mother

"Pond Mother"
12" x 16" oil on canvas. In Jamaica she is known as River Mumma, River Maiden and River Mistress usually appearing at mid-day. Legend has it that the fish in her fresh waters are her children and should not be caught as suffering will be a consequence for such an action and to catch her will cause the river to dry up. She dwells at the fountainhead of large canals and waterways acting as protector of the water and the animals that live in it. She is both sacred and feared in Jamaican folklore. "The River Mumma Wants Out" by Lorna Goodison implies that no one wants the responsibility of taking care of the things that matter most such as the environment. And when a country's mythological figure wants out, that cannot be read as a good omen.
"Pond Mother" is asking you to take care of her waterways and the environment as your eyes both meet at the bottom of her pond.

Goddesses; Sister's of the Sea

"Sea Sister"
12" x 16" Oil on canvas.
Most cultures have a mermaid story click here to read mermaid stories from around the world from the following countries: The Antilles, Ireland, Iceland, Yoruba, Chile, France, Native American, Native American - Ottawa, African American and my favorite from Trinidad by author Joseph L. Titled "The Mermaid's Twin Sister" here is an excerpt:

"Tilly?" I called softly. "Is that you, Tilly? I was whispering because my voice was hoarse from shouting. But she didn’t answer. She swam in front of me, pulling my long hair gently so I drifted behind her. She was heading toward the shore. And she swam quick like a fish, slicing through de water even smoother than she ever had before.

And when we got to the shallows, she let go my hair and whispered in a voice that sounded like a cloud floating on the sea. "They don’t know it’s two of us. So go now and be my earth self, and I’ll be your water self." Before I could answer, she turned fast and swam away. And all I could see was a long, beautiful fish slicing de waves."

Island Goddess

Read the predictions by the O.B or West Indian Astrologers for women in their 31st year- At age 31 I traveled to Galle, Sri Lanka, the painting titled "Island Goddess" or 'Sri Lankan Goddess" I completed after returning. She in a way is me as an ambassador of goodwill traveling half way around the world through the air and over the sea. Her message, an act of goodwill towards others ripples.

The Rani Series

9"x10" goauche paint on brown paper, they were commissioned by architect Deborah Desilet for the proposed Rani Hotel, an Indian inspired hotel on South Beach. Miss Desilet is a protege of famed Miami Beach architect Morris Lapidus.

Andrew Porter Collection

Untitled Matriarch Madonna

S.S.Wilson Collection, Parkland, FL.
Commissioned piece, oil on canvas.
Temporarily on loan to be viewed at the Sail Boat Bend Gallery, Ft. Lauderdale 03.21.09 thru 04.09

Portrait

Oil on Canvas
D.H.C Collection, Jamaica

Goodwill Peace and Protection Paintings

Cultural symbols for peace and protection are used, the hand and the eye. The Hand of God, "Mano Ponderosa" in Spanish, in Arabic the Hamesh hand, in Hebrew the Hamsa hand. It is the protecting hand. In southern Europe, North Africa and India the downward pointing eye in hand is used to avert the evil eye from those that mean harm.

The eye symbol is a figure in Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu societies. In Turkey it is common to give the "evil eye" glass bead as a gift.

The paintings below represent the loss of family and community due to a natural disaster they incorporate the use of these symbols. The title above links to pictures from the fundraiser as well as the trip to Galle, Sri Lanka where the Miami Tsunami Reconstruction Team (MTRT) travelled to help with the rebuilding for tsunami survivors.

www.tsunamireliefsrilanka2005.shutterfly.com/


Bruce & Aydin Hoo Collection, Boulder, CO


Andrew Porter Collection, United Kingdom


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Antoinette & Gail Baldwin Collection, Coconut Grove, FL


M.R. Riu Collection, Ft. Lauderdale FL


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A. Dixon Collection, Coconut Grove, FL


Forbes Architects Collection, Coral Gables, FL


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D. Chung Collection, Mandeville, Jamaica


Aram Brazillian Collection, Bal Harbor, FL








G. Stephenson Collection, Miramar, FL


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S.S. Wilson Collection, Parkland, FL


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Aram Brazillian Collection, Bal Harbor, FL


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