Tag Archives: monotype prints

Grotta de Poesia, Puglia, Inspires the Artist

13 Friday Nov 2015

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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.

Font de Gaume revisited – feminine images on cave walls

03 Tuesday Nov 2015

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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

Friday Art Post

04 Friday Sep 2015

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One of my favorite monotype prints from the last couple of years, “The Source II”.  The image feels grounded yet ethereal – feminine but with the addition of the gold leaf, it enters a spiritual realm. The oval shape suggests the womb, the beginning of life, renewal and regeneration. A one-of-a-kind print created in my Mazatlán studio. I did two in the series (similar but different), the other one sold, this one is still available.  Contact me for more information or visit my website: glenrogersart.com

Glen Rogers, "The Source", 30" x 22", monotype w. gold leaf

Glen Rogers, “The Source II”, 30″ x 22″, monotype w. gold leaf

The Sacred Rock – Uluru (Ayer’s Rock), Australia

13 Thursday Aug 2015

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Uluru Ayers Rock, Australia

On my second trip to Australia in 2008, I made a pilgrimage to Uluru in the Northern Territory, (better known as Ayer’s Rock, named after the European who ‘discovered’ it). Ofcourse this land has been held sacred by the Anangu, the Aboriginal people for thousands of years. This huge red rock rising out of the desert has a mythical, mysterious quality.

After settling into my hotel,  I took a shuttle bus to view Uluru at sunset – the perfect photo op. The next morning, I set out  with the intent to have a more intimate experience with the sacred rock. The Aborigines request that visitors not climb it yet the Australian Parks Department who leases the site from the Aboriginal people, allow it. I was in the minority who chose to respect the sacredness of the site and walk around the base of the rock, a distance of 10.6 km.

(click on images below to enlarge)

As I walked, I did a meditation and communed with mother nature, and the spirit of the ancestors. Around every corner were undulating rocks, sensuous and feminine, in colors that ranged from rose to bright red to purple. I was delighted to find several small caves along the periphery with drawings of spirals and other creation myth symbols. (My heading on this blog is from one of the caves.) What a gift to have the opportunity to walk this sacred land, following in the footsteps of the ancestral beings and feeling the connection to Spirit!

The Heritage Trust is an organization whose goal is to protect ancient sites and artefacts around the world. They just mentioned in their latest blog the plight of many rock art sites in Australia that aren’t being protected, Erasing Australia: A Journey to Destruction. Read more here….

This is a few prints from a series of monotypes, Notes from Uluru, 30″ x 22″, I created upon returning to my studio. They reflect the vivid colors of the earth and the symbols hidden away in the caves -my own vision and experience.

(click on images below to enlarge)