Artist Statement for “Daphne Awakens”, Oil and Gold Leaf on canvas, 24x36”

As the ancient story goes, Daphne was a spirited, marriage-hating young huntress. When Apollo beheld her, her arms bare, her hair in haunting disarray, his heart was set ablaze and he set out in pursuit of her. Daphne fled, and she was an excellent runner. Even Apollo was hard put to overtake her; still, he soon gained. Daphne saw her father's river and cried out to him to help her. Her father transformed her into a laurel tree. The story ends with Apollo honoring the tree.

I am sure Daphne didn't expect to become encased in a tree. She probably felt it was quite unfair. To this thought I have decided to finish her story happily. The spell her father put on her wears off. This painting is the moment she realizes her human self again.

Being encased in a tree is a haunting archetype I have found. It speaks of imprisonment and protection; also to vulnerability when this is stripped away.
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The Icon of Mother and Child Reimagined

This, to me, is the ultimate depiction of the Madonna. Her yoni is showing to indicate that she is not a virgin. Virginity, historically speaking, wasn't venerated by matriarchal cultures. Before the spread of patriarchal religion beginning around 3,500 B.C.E. virginity was no big deal because the head of the house was a woman, and therefor all her children were known. When the power shifted to the male, he found that his wife's fidelity was important because he wanted to be supporting his seed.

Religion fallows the needs of culture. Now that the sexes are coming nearer to equality, a state I hope for, control of female sexuality will be less important.

The Virgin Mary, who was modeled after a very sexual Goddess, will regain her private parts and the power contained by them.

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Artist Statement

Daphne's Awakening

Is the other half of the story yet untold by legend. As it was, a long, long time ago, Daphne was a headstrong huntress of deer primarily. 
She was spotted by Apollo, the rake of the ancient world. He was used to getting his way with the ladies. However, as he approached, sweetly calling her she slipped away. Se he gave chase, and she was hard pressed to outrun him.
She called for help form her father the River, and he in his infinite wisdom, turned her into a laurel tree. Which Apollo worshiped to the end of his days.
Yet she remained forever imprisoned for a crime she did not commit.
In this painting I free her to walk among us once again. This is Daphne returning to herself as maiden once more. May these times see her as a woman in her own right.

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