The old man seems to be doing much better! Thank you all for the well-wishes! As I type this, he is devouring endive and pushing Russette out of the way. Well, pushing her out of the way the best he can. She’s a bruiser.
•The Oxbow Joint Support is a big hit with him.
•As of yet, there is no need for but baths. It is just getting his back foot INTO his ear that is the issue so far.
•Aaaaaand he just pooped right . outside . the . clean . litterbox.
He’s tired of my crap.
MINECRAFT
I absolutely love it when I hear from the humans. I love it, even more, when they share their stories, art, shenanigans with me! Veronica wrote expressing her son’s want to share his “RABBIT ISLAND” with me.
Let’s see: Rabbits + Minecraft = SO.MUCH.YES!
Minecraft Obsession
SILENT REFLECTION
May brought more loss this year. The month is always a time of transition but this year it seemed to be moreso than other Mays. A much-too-young friend of beasties (and humanity), who struggled much of their life, left this world. And left us to remember him.
For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream. – Vincent Van Gogh
Grief is an odd thing, isn’t it? For me, this process is like an ocean washing onto the shore. Everything is calm then the tide starts to come in and before I realize it, I am standing in a puddle of tears. What could be considered even odder is when it is over a beloved little heartbeat that was once at my feet. But it is what it is and it is how I feel.
I believe that people can and do spiritually bond with animals. I believed this as a kid playing on the neighbors’ farms. I believe it today. The unconditional love that these beasties give transcends any of us. Animals just are. They are who they are supposed to be (given environment and temperament) and act accordingly. There is a light about them that I rarely find in humanity. I was blessed to have the bond seemingly returned.
I also believe as creatures of the field (and sky and sea), they are perfect in creation therefore they return to the Creator. There is no dogma to sift through. There is no judgment. They are innocent. This may be considered a new age placebo or anathema or whatever. But it gives this old girl comfort.
In saying “good-bye” to Russette, I have accepted that it is probably going to be a life-long journey. I am not good at letting go by any means. I fight. I kick. I scratch. I cry. I will always have that Dutchie girl-shaped hole in my heart. Thank God my rabbits help make my heart large enough that it won’t collapse into itself. So … I am ok.
I wanted to do something to help the absence. I wanted to do something to – I don’t know – bring her briefly back? This is my project of love, loss and letting go.
Since Russette was always at my side during my arting adventures, it only seemed fit to do a piece of her. Of her leaving me.
She would run across freshly inked drawings and canvasses. She would steal pencils and paint brushes. When I would use a portable drawing board she would sit in my lap under the board. This was part of my process for almost a decade. This is the first piece that I didn’t have to go get another pencil or chase after that specific color pencil she ran down the hall and hid somewhere. It was a lonely drawing.
RUSSETTE GIVING POINTERS
Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here is a favorite of mine. One afternoon the song played and that was it. An idea hit. Note that what I see in my head is NEVER what the final ever looks like. I just trust that the idea/imagery will take me somewhere.
I wanted a mixed media. Something that represented all the media that Russette spilled, chewed, stole, walked across: An organic element coupled with computer graphics.
She started as a pencil sketch on Dura-Lar with inked blues on the back. Acrylic inks and acrylic gel for texture are the front. Color pencils fill in some details. I really love the color pencil over the acrylic gel.
FABULOUS PHONE PHOTOGRAPHY
The above image/process shows the final steps.
After all was complete – I put it away for a while.
My concept of death is hopeful at best, terrifying at worst. As a kid I used to imagine “the cosmos” as the place of spirits. Mine were similar to Carl Sagan’s COSMOS – without all of the math. My cosmos are overwhelming, beautiful, engulfing and welcoming. Now came the computer part. Much was experimental. Much was me looking at old pieces and NASA photos. Some was me staring at the wall.
I represent death in my symbolic work with the white/greyish eyes. Her heart-light took some thought and trial. But I like where it ended. Circles are feminine and connecting.
Memories fade. I wanted to somehow represent that she was leaving. She was free. But she was also disappearing because the Earth doesn’t stop. The sun comes up and those left behind have to return to the Land of the Living. Returning to the Land of the Living sometimes feels like dying.
Myth is the primordial language natural to [the] psychic processes, and no intellectual formulation comes anywhere near the richness and expressiveness of mythical imagery.
– Carl Gustav Jung
Be it known that I am not shy about sharing my horrific obsession with Mythic Arts and Symbolism. Carl Jung is LIVID!
RAGING
I also go on familial adventures through ancestry.com. In these ancestral jaunts, I have found that I come from a line of interesting folk. One of which is Cassasndra Southwyck. She was a rebel Quaker among Puritans, was kicked out of the community for sticking to her Quaker ways and her children were put up for auction to pay legal fees.
Provided Southwyck was the first recorded white woman auctioned into slavery – except no one would buy her (There is a Country song in here somewhere). She married a Gaskill. The couple is documented in the infamous Salem Village Witch trials as witnesses against the charges of witchcraft. They tried to save lives. They didn’t.
The Gaskill line leads to more witchy shenanigans in the form of Pennsylvania Dutch Powwows (a Christian Healer/Conjurer). And that line leads to my Grandmother (a Powwow herself) who, well, leads to me (not a Powwow). In the course of all of this, I am also reading up on my Celtic Roots (My name sake and all), and the Midwifery/Witchiness involved. Apparently, these folks stick together.
ONE OF MY ANCESTORS?!
The symbolism for Rabbits and Hares is endless and fascinating. They represent the gamut of humanity. Different cultures focus on different aspects. In America’s past, Rabbits and Hares were considered “familiars” for witches. How appropriate!
A RABBIT AND A GASKILL
It is believed this “devil-connection” was surmised from the Celtic beliefs surrounding the little ones. My stronger Celtic interests provide more hare symbolism than I can write here. However, I want to share this gem:
In Ireland, it was said that eating a hare was like eating one’s own grandmother — perhaps due to the sacred connection between hares and various goddesses, warrior queens, and female faeries, or else due to the belief that old “wise women” could shape–shift into hares by moonlight…
It was believed that rabbits burrowed underground in order to better commune with the spirit world, and that they could carry messages from the living to the dead and from humankind to the faeries.
The Symbolism of Rabbits and Hares by Teri Windling
I read the above quotes out loud in my living room and one of the other humans responded: “You’re a shape – shifter! That explains a LOT.” For the record, It’s called “Menopause.”
I dwell in a rather droll household.
So, you may ask (maybe you didn’t, but I digress), what is it Raging Bunnies takes away from all of this research?
Well… allow me to show you:
WITCH AND HER FAMILIAR Yes, that is me and one of my lovies (modified pink Chuck Taylors inclusive)
For more on Mythic Arts, this is a fantastic place to start: THE ENDICOTT STUDIO
Local illustrator named to worldwide top 200 list
Written by Staff Reports | | news@toledofreepress.com
By Chase Will
After 20 years of honing her skills, local illustrator Penny Collins has been recognized as one of the Top 200 Illustrators Worldwide by Lüerzer’s Archive. Lüerzer’s Archive is a bi-monthly magazine for the advertising industry, based in Europe with a global circulation of over 38,000 subscribers.
“I’m still on the ceiling with this,” Collins said. “I could not believe it when I got notification. Out of the billions and billions of talented people out there, and even in Toledo alone, to be picked for something like this is really great.”
“I love that she’s from Toledo. Out of everyone who enters, only about 20 percent are even from the U.S.,” said Claudia Coffman, chief executive of ad sales at Lüerzer’s Archive.
“We sent out a call for submissions for the illustrators and they submitted their work. It was free to submit and they could upload as much work as they wanted. We got over 5,000 submissions, which were judged by a five-person jury and had to receive at least three markings to be
considered.”
The painting submitted by Collins, titled “Save the Bunnies,” featured a bunny wearing a gas mask, sitting in front of a skull. It was created for a company in California who specialize in rabbit rescues. “It’s rather dark,” Collins said. “I ended up being inspired to do it for them because of the horror stories they would tell me about these animals.”
Collins runs Studio 566, where she sells her artwork and does commissioned pieces when requested. Her primary artistic focus is rabbits.
“What they tell you when you get into the ‘business’ is to find something you’re passionate about, because that’s basically what you’ll focus on for all your projects,” said Collins. “My next big project is doing a little cartoon strip with rabbits.”
RUN RABBIT RUN is inspired by, if you haven’t already guessed, Pink Floyd’s DARK SIDE OF THE MOON’s song, BREATH. I supposed it is also an effort to balance out my piece, DARK SIDE OF THE BUN. There is a serious artist inside of here, after all… maybe.
Revisiting/Researching Art Deco, I found some magnificent poster work that distracted me for days, I decided to work with geometric shapes of the prism (triangle), circle and the “square” of the art board. As I work, I tend to also bury my head in study. I knew I was going with Gold and black with the goal of printing on metal and having my standard Pink Floyd music in the studio – VIOLA!
I was nearly ¾ of the way finished when I discovered AWESOME cover art from the likes of UFOMAMUT (whom I had NEVER heard of). I was able to work the TITLE into the piece. Albeit tempted to use skulls and wings and naked ladies (Thanks to you UFOMAMUT), I refrained.
Based on the Apocalypse Meow Graphic Novel in 3 Volumes by Motofumi Kobayashi (Yes, I have all 3)
As an illustrator and rabbit-lover, I cannot begin to express my overall nerdiness over this first release of CAT SHIT 1 from 2009. The plans are still in production for a 12 episode series. I was both horrified (for a number of reasons) and taken over by an overdose of “omg the bunnies are soooooo cute” all at the same time.
RAGING BUNNIES / STUDIO566 just got the HOP AHEAD for the Midwest Bunfest 2014!
This event, sponsored by the Ohio House Rabbit Rescue, is one of the highlights of my year. All bunny people from all over show up to this event to share, show off and just BE all things rabbity.
This includes: health and welfare, rescue, Glamour Photos (they even make a calendar out of said shots),
treats, care, nick-nacks, art *ahem* and all-out celebration.
It is glorious to know that crazy bunny people have a peer group. I have made entertaining acquaintances
as well as life-long friends (and some of those friends are even the human kind).
I heart the Midwest Bunfest HARD.
Needless to say, I am excited!
This year for the 2014 Midwest Bunfest, Raging Bunnies is donating THIS for raffle:
18″ x 18″ Black Tote
My inspiration: Samuel L. Jackson (The “l” is for “LOVE“)
Sammy and his BA Buns of Anarchy Biker Jacket
If you are around during the 2014 Midwest Bunfest, stop by the RAGING BUNNEHZ table and say, “Hi!”
I always enjoy meeting everyone and hearing about their furry beloveds.
I am honoredto have been chosen for the Lürzer’s Archive Top 200 Illustrators Worldwide 2014/2015 Annual. RADIOACTIVE (SAVE THE BUNNIES) was chosen for the annual and is one of my favorite “bunny pieces” depicting a survivor-hare in the midst of a post apocalyptic crisis. The piece is clearly modeled after old WWII propoganda posters. The inspiration for this poster were the 100’s of “war-stories” told by rabbit rescuers. The purpose of the poster is to advocate the rescue and adoption of rabbits and was created, specifically, for the 2014 Midwest Bunfest to be held in Columbus, Ohio. Lürzer’s Archive is a bi-monthly magazine for the advertising industry and has been described as “one of the foremost advertising magazines in the world.”
I was given a gift of ANCESTRY.COM some time ago. I have been tracing back everyone and their mothers – literally. I have come to find out that my roots go back to THE SALEM VILLAGE WITCH TRIALS.
Only, none of my relations were accused of the craft. My relations were Quakers. They were Quakers in the middle of a Puritan community. It seems the Puritans weren’t so tolerant after fleeing England in order to escape… you know… religious intolerance.
ASK A WITNESS
Lawrence and Cassandra Southwick entertained two Quaker preachers in their home. They also held some writings of those preachers. The Puritans considered this heresy. The Southwicks were fined, left in abject poverty and were summarily excommunicated from the settlement. They were never to return as it was punishable by death. Their two children were then sold into slavery (Daniel and Provided) to pay off the court costs/fines. Provided Southwick is listed as the only white woman ever to be sold into slavery. [http://www.sonofthesouth.net/slavery/history-slavery – Slavery Comes to America]
As fate would have it – she never did become a slave. No one wanted any part of it.
“…none willing to take them thither. One master of a ship to whom he applied, in order to evade a compliance, pretended they would spoil the ship’s company. Butler replied, no, you do not fear that, for they are poor harmless creatures that will not hurt anybody. The master rejoined, will you then offer to make slaves of such harmless creatures? and declined the invidious office of transporting them, as well as the rest. Disappointed in his designs and at a loss how to dispose of them, the winter approaching, he sent them home to shift for themselves till he could find a convenient opportunity to send them away.”
Provided married a man named Samuel Gaskill.
Provided spent her free time fighting heresy charges, protesting the intolerance of the status quo and relaxing in the town’s stockade on more than one occasion.
OH, HEY. JUST HANGIN’ OUT!
During the witch trials, a girl that Samuel’s parents had as a border (Abigail Somes) was charged and tried as a witch. Samuel Sr. was overlooked… but the Gaskill name stayed in the middle of the trials.
“You are in theire Majest’s names hereby required to apprehen and forthwith bring before us Abigaile Soames Single Woman, now Liveing at the house of Sam’l Gaskill in Salem; who stand accused of Sundry acts of #[Sundry] Witchcraft, (or high suspition there of) donne or Committed by her Lately. on the Body of Mary Warren & faile not
Dated Salem, May the 13’th 1692 P us *John Hathorne Assis’t *Jonathan. Corwin Assis’t
(Reverse) Abigaile Soames I heave Aprehended the person of Abigall Soams Acordinge to warrante exprest on the other side and heave broughte hir to the how of mr Thomas Beadles pr me *Peter Osgood Constable in Selem
May the 13; 1692” (Essex County Archives, Salem — Witchcraft Vol. 2 Page 50)
The documents of the trials shows that Provided Gaskill signed petitions for the defense of John and Elizabeth Proctor.
“To Constable peter Osgood “We whose names are under witten havinge several yeares knowne John Procter and his wife do testefy that we never heard or understood that they were ever suspected to be guilty of the crime now charged apon them and several of us being their neare neighbours do testefy that to our aprehension they lived christian life in their famely and were ever ready to helpe such as stood in need of their helpe
Nathaniel Felton sen: and mary his wife Samuel Marsh and Prescilla his wife James Houlton and Ruth his wife John Felton Nathaniel Felton jun Samuell Frayll and an his wife Zachriah Marsh and mary his wife Samuel Endecott and hanah his wife Samuell Stone George Locker Samuel Gaskil & Provided his wife George Smith Ed Edward: Gaskile”
Essex County Archives, Salem — Witchcraft Vol. 1 Page 28
So there it is. I am proud to present my 7ggm – PROVIDED GASKILL – a rebel – standing for human dignity and what she believed.
Thank-you, Great Grandmother Provided. We women of the bloodline still fight the good fight.
