The Fantail and Greenstone – Treasures on earth
$92 – $12,000
THE FANTAIL AND GREENSTONE – A creative expression Fantail greenstone artisan manufacturer
For interested buyers, don’t hesitate to ask at this link for a “First in first serve” acquisition of the framed original or number 1 of 15 limited edition acrylic enhanced reproductions.
THE PROVERB
Delicate
Skill
Wonder
Fascination
Extraordinary
The God factor
Made in His image
Created
Worthy of Praise
Beauty
The story
Carved
An artifact
Pursuant of purpose
Life given
The enquirer
Open to hear
Eyes to see
Metaphor
A mystery revealed
THE STORY
The moment the Fantail appeared in my vision was a moment of engaged wonder. Knowing my words could not give full disclosure of my innermost joy I welcomed a desire to honor its maker in this painting.
The painting offered new challenges, creating brushstrokes depicting feather movements stopped in time and paint fungi with moss details.
I included the greenstone carving revealing the metaphor language in man’s creative skills.
Herein is the mystery of the creative affections God gave mankind with dominion over what He made.
My use of the artisans’ greenstone
The creative spirit will manufacture story from anything eyes see.
Beyond culture, skin color, religion, and politics into the heart of life where creative expression has pure motives you will discover the story, in the artisan’s greenstone.
It is masked in a metaphor, allegory, or parable.
This story imagines the inquisitive heart, captured, hooked, and meeting with wisdom and council through a work created with great dexterity. This is one of heaven’s gifts and revelations that adds purpose and pleasure for inquisitive minds to discover.
The mystery brings with it a sense of awe, and enlightenment, where the peace of God, beyond understanding, adds rest.
We echo contentment in our creative enterprise when we waken to our makers image and likeness. We are all creative beings.
I choose the greenstone pendant to represent the story of curiosity around valuing wisdom in the council for new life seekers.
Embedded in the greenstones story is Gods presence and promised freedom for those who partake in the metaphors mystery. Discovering the metaphors interpretation adds new living dimensions of wonder and glory.
The Fantail
Fantails are small insectivorous birds of Australasia, Southeast Asia, and the Indian subcontinent belonging to the genus Rhipidura in the familyRhipiduridae.
Most of the species are about 15 to 18 cm long, specialist aerial feeders, and named “fantails”, with the Australian Willie Wagtail a little larger. Both are expert hunters of insects on the ground and on the wing.
The fantail is also known by its Maori names, Pīwakawaka, Tīwakawaka, or Piwaiwaka; a common pied morph is known as the pied fantail
In Maori mythology (Superstition), the piwakawaka is a messenger, bringing death or news of death from the gods to the people.
The bulbous eyes and erratic flying behavior of the bird are attributed to it being squeezed by Maui for not revealing the whereabouts of his ancestress.
I have noted numerous Maori visitors to my studio who believe the superstition and have expressed distinct fear of death which for me has stirred sadness and empathy. They were not able to appreciate the great skill, wonder and delicate beauty that God created in there being.
A little aside, Tiwakawaka is also the name of one of the first Maori settlers to New Zealand.
The Koru in greenstone
In Maori design, the greenstone koru has a dual meaning.
Korus and fishhooks are some of the most loved symbols of Maori artistic vocabulary and echo many world cultures also using the Koru in art.
Each culture applies a different meaning to the significance of why they chose to believe what they do and therefore need an interpretation into the significance of their choices.
The Koru meaning as an allegory
Maori art uses the Koru as a symbol of creation due to its fluid circular shape.
The unfurling frond circular shape in the silver fern conveys the idea of perpetual movement and new life. It’s inner coil, the corm, with its rolled inner leaflets, suggests a return to the point of origin.
This is a metaphor for the way life changes and stays the same in perpetual motion.
Some have determined that the Koru represents harmony and new life. In its balanced shape, the Koru represents this between the chaos of change and the calm of every day, where there is a point of equilibrium, and a state of harmony in life.
Literally speaking, the baby fern frond slowly unwinds from its adolescent life and grows into a mature frond. It then opens into a brand new leaf on the silver fern plant where it ages and dies. The koru depicts life in the frond associating it with new life.
I choose this symbol to represent the unfurling new life of a seeker after the presence of life’s deeper mysteries. The promised new life in discovering truth liberates the seeker from ignorance.
This is eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the Yin and Yang of an orphaned world mindset seeking knowledge to grow and find purpose and meaning to life
I am adding a new take to a beautiful design … discovering new life in the creator in all His wonder and glory.
He created the world and we choose to use elements of His creation to tell our stories.
The History of the “Hei matau” stylized fishhook
Hei-matau is a beautifully stylized fish hook.
The fish hook of the Hei matau found its origin in Māori legend/myth. Its narrative is that New Zealand’s North Island was a huge fish caught by the great mariner Maui. Maui used a woven line and a hook made from the jawbone of his grandmother.
The fish hook also denotes the importance of fishing to the Maori people and their strong relationship to the sea and its bounty.
It slowly became ornamental and found credence when Maori traded with Europeans leaving behind its original use to catch fish.
The indigenous influence art disclaimer
My attempt to paint, study and replicate indigenous art is at its best, nieve. In the best way, I know there is no way I would knowingly *disrespect a people group I dearly love and these are my best attempts to date.
I study, at my own pace and these studies unmask a deeper honor toward these dear marginalized people. That sentiment is embedded in my borrowing of their creative intelligence to partner with my western cultured photorealism painting.
As an Australian citizen, dwelling in New Zealand, I am honored indigenous peoples give me pleasure in their interpretive storytelling and dot painting.
Paralleled alongside the rhythmic sounds of their music, didgeridoos, conch trumpets, wooden flute, whistling poi, jade gong, knocking sticks, dance, and song makers these gifted people are part of our inheritance.
I have a lot to discover as I embed what I learn crossing the bridge of understanding from my culture into indigenous culture.
My Godly inheritance and * disclaimer
Part of my Godly inheritance inspires me to look forward to experiencing Aboriginal offerings in heaven. There are no fears, hatred, prejudice, or offenses there to darken what God created to be good in all cultures, including what we call indigenous culture.
God will separate the good from the dark in all cultures and we will see the wonder of culture without superstition, fear, and prejudice.
* Some have claimed I have no place using Aboriginal/Indigenous influences in my art because it is disrespectful to the sacredness of their culture and yet I consider my art just as sacred because I have as much freedom as my indigenous family, to explore all wonders in the world of art with freedom of expression.
I choose to honor all art disciplines incorporating whatever inspires me at the time of production while giving glory to God for our diversity.
It is my opinion we should be celebrating one another’s storytelling and diversity seeking truthfully to love one another.
Racial arrogance and one-upmanship help no one – no matter what color our skin!
STATUS and MATERIALS
ORIGINAL FOR SALE * Bid or tender for the original framed (920mm x 920mm x 65mm) artwork. All offers are considered around $9,000.
Painted with professional oils, on gesso primed long-life linen canvas with gloss dammar protection. Framed in a genuine Italian frame.
* Originals and Limited Edition reproductions are supplied with Provenance, coded Authentication of Sale Certificate, and maintenance/care information.
15 LIMITED EDITIONS “ACRYLIC ENHANCED” CANVAS REPRODUCTIONS
The full size 920 x 1220 (same as original) on stretch mounted archival canvas price is $2500 inc GST
A master acrylic artist will digitally recreate the original painting and use hand-painted brushstrokes to replicate the original painting.
75 LIMITED EDITIONS CANVAS REPRODUCTIONS *
Unframed sizes | 960 x short side – $960| 650 x short side – $650
Printed on long-life archival canvas. 8 color giclee printed on fine art archival paper or archival linen canvas and acrylic enhanced. Protected with 2 coats of UV archival spray.
* Stretch mounted reproductions will incur added charges for mounting and freight.
OPEN EDITION POSTER ART PRINTS *
Unframed sizes | 594 x short side – $120 | 420 x short side – $92
* Posters printed on fine art papers and treated with two coats of UV archival protection spray.
FASHION and PRODUCTS
Images from “The Fantail and Greenstone” may be exhibited on T-shirts at Fine Art America
SHIPPING
- Includes insurance and package/handling fees.
- The Original and Limited Edition reproductions ship with the Provenance coded Authentication of Sale Certificate and maintenance information.
- Poster art prints ship in insured tubes.
