An American Dragon in London, Barenforum exchange 51

An American Dragon in London

Artist:   Patricia B. Phare-Camp

Paper:   10 x 15” Mulberry Paper

Image:  13 x 8”

Ink:      Graphic Chemical Water Soluble Ink. Silver and Black mixed to make Graphite.

Inspired by the historically significant rubbings of Merle Green Robertson.  The imagery in this woodcut print is from an appropriated work of art located at the British Museum.  Rubbings from historic sites eliminate the need to desecrate another culture’s sacred temples to display them in museums…

Yaxchilan Lintel #15 is a 23.25” x 34.5” Mayan bas relief carving dated from AD 755.  It depicts a noble lady performing a blood letting ritual to call in a vision.  Wisps of smoke from the basket of burning blood soaked paper take the form of a “Plumed Vision Serpent.”  A god emerges from its mouth to give spiritual guidance to the lady Wak Tuun.  Mayan nobles often used hallucinogenic herbs to initiate religious vision and dull the pain of auto sacrifice.

FOR MORE INFO SEE:

Merle Green Robertson:

http://www.archaeology.org/0205/abstracts/merlegreene.html

http://www.sunofmexico.com/photos_galerie_mexique.php?action=affiche&galerie=22723562@N05&server=6081&photo=6064350386&tof=6064350386_4be39bedfb&mcle=yucatan&PHPSESSID=fd7a32b88e7d304045e0603d147ec768

http://www.metmuseum.org/Collections/search-the-collections/50011098?rpp=20&pg=6&ao=on&ft=*&who=Maya&pos=111

YaxchilanLintel 15

http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/aoa/y/yaxchil%C3%A1n_lintel_15.aspx