Taking off on Emmler's idea––earlier post about mounting an apotropaic w/ her in the store alley––I'm making more protectors to go out. (Girlettes are NOT going out--they'd like to, but it makes me too anxious.)
bink made one too! below, right, dog with green eyes & pink circles:
I made Pig just this morning, using oil-paint pens on a Fisher Price farm toy & attaching a metal cocktail sword w/ too much hot glue.
Pig's hair is vintage gold thread from Kirsten (thanks!).
Apotropaic Bunny I'd already posted around Easter, I think.
Protectors weren't Emmler's idea alone, though.
A while ago I'd made a 'DO EPIC' Trophy for Linda Sue's son, whom the police had shot with rubber bullets at a protest, injuring son's knee.
Perhaps there's an independently arising sense we need Super Extra Protections. (Always.)
The trophy is an award for deeds done, with an octopus victory wreath,
but it's also apotropaic, with a holy-medal knee shield.
This is not the final version, but it's my favorite:
I'm making them up, but I'm also looking at Hindu deities & Catholic saints, and Sicilian patterns too--these geometrics, below, from the 12th cent. cathedral in Monreale, Sicily--the town is the birthplace of my grandmother Rosaria De Nicola.
Of course the trophy is our favorite of all! Son also had a huge chunk of flesh taken out of his leg that will require ongoing PT. Knee still obliterated. The trophy helps so much. The alley watcher/protectors are brilliant, Don't fall off the ladder securing them! Portland ought to have one on every street, every walkway, and several pointing at police stations/cars/houses/caves.
ReplyDeleteI love this idea and I find the little apotropaics to be genuinely interesting and very cool. They remind me of a cross between gargoyles and some sort of Hindu god.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn’t want to meet up with the last two in particular in a dark alley.
ReplyDeleteDid you watch the movie Coco? It taught me about alebrijes, something I had never heard of; their story is an interesting one.
ReplyDeleteThanks for a new word of the day...apotropaic. I looked it up (online, don't have a hand-held book anymore, which I miss) and decided to make one or two. I live in Florida, as reference.
ReplyDeleteLINDA SUE: OMG, such horrific damage the police caused Eric (and others!). "Rubber" bullets is such a misnomer--makes them sound like harmless balloons.
ReplyDeleteA trophy is a small thing but carries big feelings.
MS MOON: Gargoyles! Yes! I hadn't even thought of them---really apt, here, as the apos look down or out on the alley---very much place protectors.
MICHAEL: A-ha, just what they want you to think!
TORORO: Wow! I haven't seen Coco--and I'd seen those painted figures--and the related papier-mache cartonería that inspired Penny Cooper to make her own mask-- but had no idea what the alebrijes specifically were about,
including that "alebrijes, especially the monsters, have gained a reputation for 'scaring away bad spirits' and protecting the home."
--thanks for alerting me!
I wonder... do most cultures create some sort of protector figures/amulets? Seems really common.
Currently, I love to see toy clip-ons dangling on backpacks.
KATHY: The apos are happy to inspire! :)