Shamanic sculpture vision

 

 

Dagur-female shaman-with-her-drum,-1931

Dagur shaman with her drum, 1931.

 

A collection of Shaman sculptures are on display here including some “dreamer dreaming’ pieces from Clayton Thiel, powerful shaman panel figures from Daniel Hawkins and unique shaman doll sculptures from the Russian Popovy sisters. The transformational shaman theme is explored with ancient and contemporary examples. Understanding the rareified realm of the Shaman is not easy to grasp for us mere mortals. Over the ages, from Siberia down to Tasmania and most countries in-between there have been isolated occurrences of practicing Shamans sharing their knowledge. Because the dominant cultural narrative dismisses most forms of “psychic” awareness, their path is rarely recognized or embraced. Some artists feel a connection to this mystical otherworldly phenomena and thankfully explore it through their art. Others traverse it without even knowing and act as conduits for others to have deeper experiences of consciousness through viewing art. The art presented here was sourced fairly easily without requiring much searching, it felt like it was pre-assembled, which was fitting considering the subject matter.
I once met a shaman in a dream. He approached me holding a white dove with a group of his followers. With a flick of his hand it darted towards me like a missile and became this swirling vortex of energy and light which entered me and went down into my chest. It then re-emerged from my heart and sat calmly in my hand. This was acknowledged as some sort of achievement. Apart from the obvious symbolism I understood this dream as a sign of potential and guidance for connecting with animals. I was also interested to see birds being a recurring theme in the images that manifested while I was researching this post along with other animal totems.

 

 

Yuki-Onna,-snow-spirit,-underway-in-Kato-Polyclay,-paper-and-silk.

‘Snow Spirit’ sculpture – Yuki Onna

 

 

Zande-people-of-D.R.-Congo pottery vessel

Ritual figural vessel from the Zande people of D.R. Congo

 

 

 

Shaman's-Rattle,-Northwest-Coast-USA

Shaman’s Rattle, Northwest Coast, USA

19th Century

 

 

Atelier Stella. Chief Square Head Totem in Terracotta.

Atelier Stella. ‘Chief Square Head Totem’ in Terracotta.

 

 

Amanda-Shelsher-female bust with an occupied row boat on her head

‘Perfect Storm’Amanda Shelsher. 2015

Photo Bewley Shaylor

 

 

 

Moche-bird-faced-healer-or-shaman

Mochica 4 Period  —  Shaman with an owl mask  The owl was regarded for giving assistance in the afterlife and the  Inuit saw the Owl as a source of guidance and help.

AD 400 – 600.

 

 

 

Erlenmeyer Painter Greek, Corinthian,-610---600-BC

Vessel decoration by Erlenmeyer Painter Greek, Corinthian, 610—600-BC

 

 

Becky-Gray-_guarded-female head sculpture

Becky Gray  – ‘Guarded’ female head sculpture

“The dichotomy within man mimics that of nature — full of beauty on one hand and destruction on the other,” notes Gray. “In my work, however, I endeavor to convey the inherent goodness within mankind, whether quietly masked or direct.”

 

 

Jan Verhees – ‘Moongoddess’

 

“I feel my sculpture evokes ancient cultures with vestal virgins and priestesses predicting the future by the flight of birds , or the position of the moon. I think this seer is in trance looking at Selene , the moon goddess showing the characteristics of: slim, elegant, elongated, chaste, introverted” — Jan Verhees

 

 

 

Anne-Meyer---Mishima-Lady - sculpture of a kneeling naked woman

Anne Meyer— ‘Mishima Lady’

“I am an artist who has worked in several mediums and has been focused on art-making since I could talk. Recently I have enjoyed making figurative ceramic sculpture as it combines my training in clay with an older love of drawing. It is intuitive to me to build hollow figures from slabs and coils of clay.”

 

 

 

The tree of knowledge - Ivan K Ivanov Blue and white ceramic tree

‘The tree of knowledge’ – Ivan K Ivanov

 

 

Clayton Thiel

 

Clayton Thiel has been sculpting clay and stone for more then 40 years. After gaining his BA in sculpture from Maryville University in 1979, he studied with Peter Voulkos, Manuel Neri and Joan Brown in the the San Francisco Bay area. Like the body of Shaman pieces he has created, he explores sunconscious themes, tapping into dream visages of a surreal quality and also draws inspiration from elemental nature forces and the tranformative.
The dynamic which emerges from juxtapositions between smooth and rough surface textures and light and dark colors has an omnipotent presence in his works along with the mystical symbolism. Thiel states – “These designs are in nature and nature is my inspiration. There is a meditative process that happens when I am building these pieces. Once I have made a big head or a shaman they take a life of their own – demanding I make some choices about the story wanting to be told. I don’t plan these things – rather there is an intuitive decision making process that I have come to surrender to.”
Clayton Thiel’s Shaman series, shown below, also calls upon the dreamer archetype, as a shaman represents one who can hold and move the visions of the world and be a guide through the dream world. Another source of inspiration for many of his pieces comes from his own personal work with the ceremonies and practices of the ancient Inca medicine wheel that has taught him how reclaim the childlike dreamer in his own life, which he likes to depict in his artwork. He also admires the surrealist artists of the 20th century and their abilty to merge improbable combinations of dreams, memories and reflections, and make them appear possible.

 

Clayton Thiel- Dreamer Dreaming in Eight Parts -- large head sculpture

Clayton Thiel – ‘Dreamer Dreaming in Eight Parts’ 

 

 

 

Clayton Thiel_Stone_Sculptures Truth Sayer Shaman in spiral cape and blue clouds

Clayton Thiel –  ‘Truth Sayer’ ceramic sculpture

 

 

standing spiral figure sculpture Clayton Thiel_Stone_Sculptures

Standing spiral figure sculpture – Clayton Thiel

 

 

Clayton_Thiel_Stone_Sculptures_Hummingbird

Clayton Thiel – ‘Hummingbird’

 

 

Clayton_Thiel_Spirit_Tree - ceramic sculpture of a green head with a tree on top

 ‘Spirit Tree’  – Clayton Thiel

 

 

Clayton_Thiel_ShamanicFigures_Raven-Magic black raven saculpture

Clayton Thiel Shamanic Figures ‘Raven Magic’ 

 

 

Clayton Thiel spiral vase

Ovoid spiral vase – Clayton Thiel

 

Clayton_Thiel_Shamanic Figures_Quetzalcoatl-sculpture

Clayton Thiel – ‘Quetzalcoatl’

 

clayton_thiel_bigHeads_Memory Sculpture of a head with arched buildings on top

Clayton Thiel – ‘Memory’

Big Heads series –

 

 

Clayton Thiel – ‘My Familiar’

 

 

Clayton_Thiel_ShamanicFigures_Raven-House - Black Raven ond small house

‘Raven House’ – Clayton Thiel

Shamanic Figures series

 

Clayton_Thiel_eagle sculpture

Clayton Thiel –  ‘Eagle’

 

 

 

clayton_thiel_bigheads_Visitation Green head with shaman above

Clayton Thiel – ‘Visitation’

 

 

clayton_thiel_bigheads_Moonrise-Sunset

Clayton Thiel – ‘Moonrise Sunset’

 

 

 

King Head Clayton Thiel head sculpture

‘King Head’  – Clayton Thiel

 

 

 

Clayton-Thiel-ceramic-head sculpture

‘Tree House I Never Got to Build’  – Clayton Thiel

 

Clayton Thiel website

 

 

 

Fox Warrior ceramic Bottle, c. 4th – 6th century C.E., Moche, Peru MET

Fox Warrior ceramic bottle, c. 4th – 6th century C.E., Moche, Peru
MET

 

 

Shaman-Gold-Mask-Daniel-Hawkins

‘Shaman Gold Mask’ – Daniel Hawkins

 

 

‘Shaman’ – Daniel  Hawkins

USA

 

 

 

The-Shaman Popovy-Sisters female figure sculpture

‘The Shaman’ –  Popovy Sisters, Russia

 

 

Popov Sisters doll figure

Popovy Sisters

 

 

Lena and Katya Popovy-afrodita African female doll

Lena and Katya Popovy  – ‘Afrodita’

 

 

 

Popovy-Sisters nephritis figure sculpture

Katya and Lena Popov

 

 

Pende Giwoyo Mask, from the-DR Congo, with its comically solemn expression

Pende Giwoyo Mask, from the DR Congo, with a comically solemn expression

 

 

Nouveau Art Nouveau vase by Stephanie-Young with a spider motif

Art Nouveau revival vase with spider motif – Calmwater Designs –Stephanie Young

 

 

Ceramic sculpture male figure with outstretched arms - Carol-Holtzman-Fregoso

‘Reaching’ – Carol Holtzman Fregoso

 

 

 

Peter-Hayes ceramic sculpture

Peter Hayes raku sculpture

 

 

Fire-spirit---plate - female face - Jenny Orchard

‘Fire Spirit’ – Jenny Orchard

 

 

Choco shaman staff carved

Finial embracing couple on Choco shaman staff, Africa

 

 

 

metallic-rainbow--shine plate Tom Coleman

Tom Coleman

 

 

Stephen Parry-atmospheric glazed ceramic vessel

Stephen Parry – atmospheric glazed ceramic vessel

 

 

Ceramic Colima_seated_shaman=200BC---200AD

Ceramic Colima seated shaman

200BC—200AD

 

 

Crystal-Morey animal spirit figures

Ceramic animal totems – Crystal Morey

 

 

 Forest Woman & Fox, Nature Is Kin, Driftwood Sculpture by Debra Bernier-UK

 ‘Forest Woman & Fox, Nature Is Kin’, Driftwood Sculpture by Debra Bernier

Etsy

 

 

Crystal Shaman by Katherine Mathison - ceramic figure sculpture of a shaman holding a crystal ball

‘Crystal Shaman’ by Katherine Mathison

 

 

Etienne bronze sculpture - Esperance -- seated figure abstract

Etienne bronze sculpture – ‘Esperance’

 

 

Flight into Egypt---Elya Valonetski a girl playing a mandolin with a crescent moon hat

‘Flight into Egypt’ —Elya Valonetski

 

 

Kemileva_Esen ceramic tile of a bird and female head

Kemileva Esen

 

 

Starting a New Journey---Blue Fire Studio - hand built from clay, coil built, terra sigillata, fired ceramic under glazes and ceramic glaze pencils, stains.

‘Starting a New Journey’ — Blue Fire Studio

…. hand built from clay, coil built, terra sigillata, fired ceramic under glazes and ceramic glaze pencils, stains.

 

“This is a self portrait. I am holding open the door to the mystery. This is where the energy comes from for the creation of my life and my art works. I do this by journeying into my energy, my power animal the horse accompanies me. The new moon represents the beginning of a new journey. I feel the stirring of a new direction in my life. I am a teacher. On the back is the representation of my assimilation point in motion creating new vistas, new life”. – artist Blue Fire

 

 

 

Pre-Columbian Inca Black-Glazed Jar

Pre-Columbian Inca Black Glazed Jar

 

 

Eric-Stearns,-Raku-lidded vessel with geometric pattern

Eric Stearns Raku vessel

 

 

 

Greek amphora, National Archaeological Museum of Athens, showing the goddess Athena

Greek amphora showing the goddess Athena with birds

National Archaeological Museum of Athens

 

 

Irina-Zaytceva-porcelain-art vase on small feet

Irina Zaytceva porcelain art vase

 

 

Jamacoaque ceramic Shaman Vessel-—-Ecuador 300BC 400AD

Jamacoaque ceramic Shaman Vessel

Ecuador 300BC – 400AD

 

 

Kewa (Santo Domingo) Pottery Olla, Bird to Man Transformation Design circa 1890

Kewa (Santo Domingo) Pottery Olla, Bird to Man Transformation Design circa 1890

 

 

Black with gold Kintsugi-vessel-Lakeside-Pottery

Black with gold Kintsugi vessel by Lakeside Pottery

 

 

Les Manning, “Touch the Sky,” stoneware clay, porcelain, celadon glaze.

An abstract, sculptural form evoking Alberta landscapes

 

 

Marika-Baumler-ceramic female bust

Marika Baumler

 

 

Lorraine-Guddemi ceramic sculpture figure

Lorraine Guddemi

 

 

Melanie Ferguson--ceramic Urchin @Cavin Morris gallery NYC.

Melanie Ferguson–ceramic Urchin Vessel

@Cavin Morris gallery NYC.

 

 

 

ceramic shaman figure praying

Mocha vessel — shaman healing prayer

 

 

Monumental Standing Figure, Possibly a Shaman. Quimbaya, Urabá Area---Colombia. A.D.-500---1000.-Gold

Monumental Standing Gold Figure, Possibly a Shaman. Quimbaya, Urabá Area

Colombia. A.D. 500—1000.

 

 

MyungJin-Kim,-Artist,-Cloud-Jar-(front),-2009 with bird on blue cloud motif

Kim Myung Jin -‘ Cloud Jar’

2009

 

 

Gold statue - Ancient Hittite sun goddess, more commonly referred to simply as the sun goddess of Arinna.

Ancient gold Hittite sun goddess, more commonly referred to simply as the sun goddess of Arinna.

 

 

 

Black Olmec Shaman Jaguar Transformation sculpture figure

Olmec Shaman Jaguar Transformation sculpture figure~ The Olmec (ca.1200 BCE-ca.400 BCE) were the first major civilization in Mexico following a progressive development in Soconusco. They lived in the tropical lowlands of south-central Mexico, in the present day states of Veracruz and Tabasco ~ considered the forerunner of all subsequent Mesoamerican cultures such as the Maya and Aztecs.

 

Botella Feline Head  vessel —  Perú, Tembladera

 

 

Olmec-Shaman's-green sculpture animal-spirit-companion

Olmec Shaman’s animal spirit companion

 

 

Mambila peoples ceramic ritual vessel, spaceman like motif -~-Nigeria,-Cameroon

Mambila peoples ceramic ritual vessel,~-Nigeria, Cameroon

 

 

Abstract dove sculpture-dynamische-vorm.-Vogel-abstrater

Michiel Linders

 

 

Amazon. The Shaman and the Thought of the Forest

Museum of Ethnography of Geneva

 

 

Sculpture from the workshop of a Yoruba sculpture master, Olowe von Ise, Nigeria

 

 

Jennifer-Falter-sgraffito Owl-Ceramic-Vase in black on white

Jennifer Falter sgraffito Owl Vase

 

 

 Olumeye Bird Altar Bowl, Olowe of Ise, Nigeria, C. 1925

 

 

 

Susan-Seddon-Boulet----Brazilian-born-American-Goddess-painter

Susan Seddon Boulet

 

 

Terracotta jug Cypro Archaic -- Date 750–600-B.C

Terracotta bird motif jug Cypro Archaic — Date 750–600 B.C

 

 

Yoruba Opon Igede Ifa-(Divination-Bowl), Nigeria

Yoruba Opon Igede Ifa (Divination Bowl), Nigeria

 

 

Rozenburg, Den Haag, crane motif vase W.P. Hartgring, 1899

W.P. Hartgring crane motif vase for  Rozenburg, Den Haag

 1899

 

 

 

Nigerian ritual ceramic vessel

Nigerian ritual terracotta vessel

 

 

Shamanic-Dream-Stones sculpture

‘Shamanic Dream Stone’ sculpture – Mamzelle Rivalekja ( ‘With my Germanic and Scandinavian pagan heritage going as far back as the 8th and 9th century, ; I’m a spiritual practitioner of the Pagan Arts’)

Dream stones are dynamic, potent and effective allies for gazing, meditation and journeying. They are a portal; they support and enhance connecting to inner worlds.

 

 

Shaman-Effigy-Vessel;-Guanacaste-Nicoya

Shaman Effigy Vessel; Guanacaste-Nicoya, earthenware, white slip overall, slip paint,

circa AD 1000-1350 – The Walters Art Museum

 

 

Georges-Saulterre clay sculpture

Georges Saulterre

 

 

Shaman's Talisman (Bear Tooth with Red-tailed Hawk design). Blown and Sand carved glass, by Joe David.

‘Shaman’s Talisman’ (Bear Tooth with Red-tailed Hawk design). Blown and Sand carved glass, by Joe David.

 

 

Moorcroft-pottery-'Peacock-feather' vase

‘Peacock feather’ vase – Moorcroft

 

 

Porcelain Temple Jar with Iron Brown Long Life crane emblem

Baluster Porcelain Temple Jar with iron brown Long Life crane emblem

 

 

Rometti_2017 vaso tartaruga bianco( White Turtle Vase)Presenza sciamana -- Shaman Presence)Jean Christoph Clair

Vaso tartaruga bianco (White Turtle Vase) — Presenza sciamana — (Shaman Presence) — Jean Christoph Clair

Rometti 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

5 Comments

  1. Posted March 10, 2018 at 12:51 am | Permalink

    Beautiful collection of shamanic inspired sculptures! I always love perusing your presentations.
    Best regards,
    Steven

  2. Liz Gullikson
    Posted May 1, 2018 at 10:28 am | Permalink

    Each time I visit this site, I am so amazed at all the beautiful clay creations by all these interesting ceramic artists. It truly inspires me to push the envelope with my mixed media creations. I love clay, it is the closest I can come to nature

  3. Judith Kuppersmith
    Posted September 12, 2018 at 2:39 am | Permalink

    Many of these shamanic pieces were quite amazing. Love the variety and they all have
    an awesomeness about them. Thank you for sending.

  4. Sue
    Posted September 12, 2018 at 12:45 pm | Permalink

    Yes . What a collection. Over and over again you show amazing unique creativity. It is wonderful to view your emails. I have been seeing your work for quite a few years now and your standard seems to stay high . Thankyou
    Sue Barstow
    Cairns
    Queensland
    Australia

  5. Posted May 6, 2020 at 5:56 pm | Permalink

    Lovely collection -as usual ! Always a good mix of painting and sculptural Pots. thanks again , I enjoy receiving your posts,
    cheers senia victoria australia

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