Ιο Διονύσου!
I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge the Pagan-inspired creations of talented artists from around the world. Life in these trying times would be so much less beautiful without their contributions. Three artists who I have chosen to highlight in this post have provided very different interpretations of Dionysos that have touched my soul.
The first is UK-based Red K. Elders, whose print of Dionysus was gifted to me by dear friends this past Yule. It just came back from the framers last week, and I continue to marvel at how the correct choice of mat and frame can make an artwork explode off of the wall. And this new frame from Bella was the perfect choice to set off Red’s primal and unabashedly sexual Dionysus. Red has a deep spiritual connection with the Hellenic pantheon, and if this type of artwork is something that appeals to you, then I would encourage you to check out her creations.
The second artist who I wish to highlight is Paul B. Rucker. A resident of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Paul is a fellow devotee of the God, and his artwork emphasizes the maddened, entheogenic side of Dionysos as the God of Ecstasy. His inspirational creations have appeared on the covers of various magazines over the years. This photo of my framed copy of his Dionysus (also in a Bella frame) really doesn’t do it justice. I encourage you to check out his website to see the original in all of its glory.
The third artist is Linda Ray Larson from Chicago, Illinois. In her artwork, Linda brings attention to the youthful, homoerotic aspect of Dionysos. The two paintings of hers that I own were featured in her book, Mythos: Queer Legends of Greek Gods and Heroes. She has also published another book containing original artwork – The Cupbearers: The Male Favorite in Antiquity.
Artwork can form an important part of one’s spiritual/devotional activities with a particular God/dess or pantheon. This is particularly true where one does not have the room (or freedom) to establish an altar surface that can serve as the focus of one’s worship, or the resources to invest in quality statuary. Statues and artwork aren’t necessary to forge a connection with one’s Gods. To do that, a person can just step out into nature, sit in quiet contemplation or, particularly in the case of Dionysos, gyrate with abandon on the dance floor. But having a focus for one’s worship can make it easier to achieve.
— Να εχεις μια ωραια μερα. —
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