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Art and Sacred Sites

~ Glen Rogers shares her artist's journey of travel, inspiration, and creating art.

Art and Sacred Sites

Monthly Archives: November 2015

The Language of the Goddess

27 Friday Nov 2015

Posted by glenrogers in ancient sites in Europe, Art, sacred sites

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archetypal symbols, KALA Institute, Language of the Goddess, Marija Gimbutas, matrilineal, monotype prints, Neolithic goddess culture, Riane Eisler

M G page of symbolsma Gimbutas page 2

In the early 90’s, Marija Gimbutas’ book, The Language of the Goddess, (Harper & Row, San Francisco, 1989) had a huge impact on my work. In this book, Gimbutas, a revisionist anthropologist, provided a fresh look at the Neolithic Goddess Culture, cataloguing the artifacts and symbols found on cave walls, rocks, sculpture and pottery from Old Europe. These matrilineal societies, peaceful and agrarian, existed long before our current patriarchal system. (The Chalice & The Blade, Riane Eisler)

At the time I discovered Gimbutas’ book, my artwork focused on the female figure in a feminist vein.  But while an artist in residence at KALA Institute, I began creating large-scale monotype prints that reflected many of the symbols I’d found in her book. The spiral, the pubic triangle, the chevron and concentric circles began appearing in these 42” x 55” monotypes. It was at that point, my art shifted direction to focus on archetypal symbols with a decidedly feminine nature, inspired by the ancient goddess cultures around the world. My work today still carries the influence from this pivotal point in my career.  Here are some of these early prints, some of which are still available. Contact me if you are interested is seeing more.

Energy sm

Vortex

Power of Three Comb_monotype_55 x 42

The Power of Three – Comb

Chevron_monotype_55.5 x 42

Chevron

Circular Passage_monotype_54.5 x 42

Circular Passage

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Friday Art Post

20 Friday Nov 2015

Posted by glenrogers in archetypal symbols, monotype, Uncategorized

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Glen Rogers, Lecce, monotype prints, Scritture, Scuola Int'l de Grafica Venice

Printed at Scuola Int’l de Grafica, Venice, Oct. 2015.
Printed over old letter found in a flea market in Lecce, Italy.Scritture VII
“Scritture VII”, 7″ x 5″, monotype w chine colle, 2015

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Grotta de Poesia, Puglia, Inspires the Artist

13 Friday Nov 2015

Posted by glenrogers in ancient sites in Europe

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Tags

Ancient oracle, Grotta de Poesia, Lecce, Marija Gimbutas, monotype prints, Puglia, Scuola Int'l de Grafica Venice, Sibyl's Cave

Water inside the grotto
Water inside the grotto

View of the coast
Fenced in Grotto
Down the grotto

I was told that “once upon a time”, a sibyl, a divine prophetess, offered up her predictions in this grotto on the Adriatic Coast of Italy near Lecce.  Our most gracious host, Monica, drove us there one afternoon.  There were two grottos – one where people were swimming and enjoying the day (I was sorry I hadn’t brought my swim suit – the water was so gorgeous), the other was fenced off and foreboding – but that was the one that held the mystery. Ignoring the ‘no entry’ signs, we squeezed through the fence and started down the scaffolding. My companions chose to stay at the first level, but I descended further into the grotto to get a sense of the space and to listen for the whispers of the ancients.

We happened upon an exhibition of artifacts from the Grotto at a nearby castle  that enlightened us about the usage, the rituals, and the time frame.  Grotta de Poesia was in use during the Final Bronze Age – middle 4th to 2nd century B.C.  The name, poesia, comes from an ancient Greek word meaning ‘source of fresh water’. But it sounds like poem, doesn’t it? – I like the double meaning. The caves follow a circular pattern deep underground. Some of the items found were vessels, small abstract figures, and a bronze double ax (associated with the goddess according to Marija Gimbutas.) There were numerous votive inscriptions and symbols on the cave walls as well.



A couple of weeks later, working at Scuola Int’l de Grafica in Venice as an artist in residence, I re-visited the images of the Grotta de Poesia. The shimmering water, the range of blues, spoke to me. I did a series of 14″ x 11″ monotype prints (one of a kind images) trying to capture the movement and intensity that I felt there. I discovered a rich cobalt blue that I had never used before and love the result.

Grotta de Poesia I
Grotta de Poesia II
Grotta de Poesia III
Grotta de Poesia IV

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Font de Gaume revisited – feminine images on cave walls

03 Tuesday Nov 2015

Posted by glenrogers in Uncategorized

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Tags

Art and Sacred Sites, Caves in South of France, Divine Feminine, Font de Gaume, Marija Gimbutas, monotype prints, Neolithic cave art, pilgrimage

vulva images from Font de Gaume

In my book, Art and Sacred Sites: Connecting with Spirit of Place, I have a chapter on Caves in South of France with specific reference to Font-de-Gaume in the Dordogne River Valley. (See my earlier post from July 3, 2015). Since my journey there was in 1995, I didn’t remember being able to photograph inside the cave and the only photograph I could find in my archives was an exterior view of the rock face. However, I did remember vividly the pubic triangle inscribed on the cave wall which spoke of ancient rituals inspired by the Divine Feminine.

So just the other day while going through some old snapshots, (yes, before digital), I found three photos of images of Font-de-Gaume. The simple line drawings are so beautiful and elegant! I was thrilled to re-visit the images of the sacred feminine, vulva shapes in the form of simple triangles, or more organic renditions scratched into the walls. I can see why I was inspired to create artwork upon returning to the studio.

buttock shapes Fonte de Gaume

According to Marija Gimbutas, these abstract female forms feature the buttocks and are often marked by one or two lines. (11,000 – 9,000BC).

Here are a few monotypes that were inspired by my pilgrimage to this ancient cave.

The Source, 41″x30″, monotype

Wild Fruit V, 14″ x 10 1/2″, monotype

14″ x 10 1/2″, monotype

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Recent Posts

  • My Interview with Karen Kinney in her Divine Feminine Newsletter August 5, 2022
  • Calling the Circle A Sacred Feminine Women’s Gathering, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, November 7-9, 2022 May 22, 2022
  • In Her Power: Images of the Sacred Feminine December 18, 2021
  • Sedona – Visiting a Spiritual Vortex August 10, 2021
  • The Flowering – Re-birth and Renewal March 25, 2021
  • Bernie Meme – being embraced in my ‘Throne for a Goddess’ sculpture. January 24, 2021
  • The Priestess – Feminine Energy in the Time of Insurrection January 13, 2021
  • Revisioning the Venus: San Miguel de Allende to Austria December 17, 2020
  • The Sacred Feminine Trilogy. Watch as a Large Charcoal Drawing develops in the Studio. November 19, 2020
  • ‘Throne for a Goddess’ sculpture in Austria launches Benefit for Rural Girls in Mexico October 6, 2020

Pages

  • About the Author
  • Book: Art and Sacred Sites: Connecting with Spirit of Place
  • Book: Symbols of the Spirit: A Meditative Journey Through Art
  • Oracle Deck: Spirit Cards

About Glen Rogers

An artist who approaches life with an adventurous spirit and a reverence for Mother Earth. One of my favorite quotes, "Leap and the net will appear", has propelled me on a life journey of art and discovery. Visit my website: GlenRogersArt

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Art gallery

Blue Spirit
Blue Spirit
Notes from Monte Alban II
Notes from Monte Alban II
Notes fr Monte Alban V,
Notes fr Monte Alban V,
Phoenix, oil on canvas, 5' x 7'
Phoenix, oil on canvas, 5′ x 7′
Ancient Secrets II
Ancient Secrets II
Writing on the Wall
Writing on the Wall
Spirit of Place
Spirit of Place
Three Wings
Three Wings
Written in Stone
Written in Stone
Spirit Gate
Spirit Gate
Writing on the Wall series

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