Winter Solstice 2015
Happy Winter Solstice! This year marks the 16th edition of artwork celebrating the spirit of the Winter Solstice. The past year has been relatively quiet compared to previous years. I have been much more creative this past year, working with Adobe Illustrator to create original Illustrations for each month of the year. In keeping with this trend, Illustrator was used to create this year’s artwork which is meant to evoke the look and feel of cut paper illuminated in a shadow box. The theme for this year is still drawing from Scandinavian and Viking lore. Several ideas have been pulled together from various myths and poems in order to create an interpretation of Sol, The Wolf of Darkness, and Thor.
Once again we look at the “Maiden”, that divine and life-providing damsel, annually in distress, whose light and love belongs to the gods, and to who they looked for their annual rejuvenation. The Maiden, goddess Sol in Germanic mythology, is the personification of the sun. She travels the heavens in the chariot of the sun, constantly pursued by the Wolf of Darkness, a creature of Hel and the Underworld. On the Winter Solstice, it may have appeared to the ancients the wolf had caught up to Sol so her light was now shining dimly from the realm of Hel. While it is not certain the role Thor played in this battle, the writings allude to Thor as a savior. Thor may have represented the hero of the day, the one whose protection and direct action not only protected the people against the onslaughts of the destructive powers, but who also saved the solar ”damsel in distress” in some way. It is at least very likely that Thor, as a god of Yule, ensured the safe growth, the protection of and, eventually, the glorious return of the Sun.
I hope everyone has a wonderful Winter Solstice and a happy holiday season. Please enjoy the artwork and, as always, I look forward to hearing everyone’s feedback.
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