This weekend I got to revisit the Seattle Art Museum and "finish" looking at some pieces that jumped out at me on my last visit. Since I felt like this was a very pleasure-full, Deva thing to do I thought I'd share some of my favorites here.

On my first trip to SAM, I walked into the Ancient Greek gallery all by myself, stood in front of this 2nd Century B.C. statue of Aphrodite and cried. She is my "hold nothing back, give nothing away" goddess - known as the divine whore, but perhaps the most virginal of them all.

I should have written down who painted this family portrait of Zeus (disguised as a swan) his girlfriend Leda and their 3 children, one of whom became Helen of Troy. I think the thing I love most about this picture is the look of complete detachment on Leda's face. She could care less about hooking up with a divine bird; she is completely unimpressed at this point. One hand caresses a child's head, the other casually touches her own temple, as if to say "It's under control, I've got what I came here for, why are you still here ya big white honker?"
This African ceremonial "head dress" of sorts was worn over the shoulders. So big and heavy, it would have had to be worn by a male dancer, but obviously celebrated the voluptuous assets of the divine fem.
Another headless Greek sculpture, this time a nameless architectural piece known as a Caryatid - much like the giant female figures that hold up the Parthenon. Women have been bearing the weight of the world for centuries, and not just because of suppression and oppression and depression - but because, well, we're strong enough.
Does the theme/image/concept of this 2,000+ year old African statuette of a mother & child look familiar?

When I first saw this painting of Aphrodite and Adonis, I was confused because I always thought she pursued him but he spurned her in favor of his hunting trips. Turns out that story was not a Greek original, but a version Shakespeare wrote based on another painting where he is walking away from her. Truth is, Aphrodite did try to stop Adonis from going on that last fateful hunting expedition because, being god, she knew the boar would get the best of him. But, she also knew she could not take away his free will, could not bend him to her own wants or change him to meet her own needs. So, she lovingly let him go. And thought she mourned him, it didn't stop her from continuing in her role as the great sexual adventuress.
Similar to the Greek Caryatid, this Egyptian architectural Isis was probably used as a support beam.
I was delighted on my first trip to Seattle, when we visited Tillicum Village on Blake Island and saw the First Nations' portrayal of their creation story and gods' adventures in song and dance, to discover Raven was such an important part of their history. I loved Raven first because he is Brigid's bird in British/Celtic myths - carrying the souls of the dead to the starting over place. I love to see him in all his forms. He is both powerful and strong, yet also a hilarious, rambunctious trickster.
I'm so grateful for the chance to return to Seattle Art Museum and gain a little closure on my last hurried trip through its galleries. I am a little bummed at the timing though - one week later and we would have seen a new exhibit,
Behind the Scenes: The Real Story of the Quileute Wolves. The Twilight fan in me would love to see that one.
I posted pictures from our 36 hours in Seattle and our subsequent Portland adventures on
my Facebook page. Hope you enjoy!
Having the Reddest week ever!
In Grace,
Kell
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