Sherrard Bostwick, Tiamat, 2009
The Tiamat story of love, creation, chaos, control,
betrayal, death, destruction, creation
A drawing in pencil, pastel, pen and ink for 2,191 Days and Counting
Powerhouse Arena
March 5- March 22, 2009
37 Main Street DUMBO Brooklyn, NY
All proceeds will be donated to the Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) Winter Soldier Project inspired by the courageous Vietnam veterans who came forward in 1971 to testify at the original
Winter Soldier investigation. IVAW is collecting soldiers’ firsthand accounts of both wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. All veterans are invited to give testimony, regardless of their politics. The project will provide them with legal and mental health support.
Winter Soldier investigation. IVAW is collecting soldiers’ firsthand accounts of both wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. All veterans are invited to give testimony, regardless of their politics. The project will provide them with legal and mental health support.
3 comments:
The Babylonian story of Tiamat is a story of love, creation, chaos, control, betrayal, death, destruction, and again creation. It is a Mesopotamian story of balance, of movement and activity that disrupts stillness. I heard the story first from the artist Nancy Spero.
The story goes that from Tiamat and her husband Apsû the gods and the new principle of movement were created. But Apsû could not bear or calm the Gods activity and clamor. He said to Tiamat about their firstborns, “I am allowed no rest by day; by night no sleep. Let me abolish yea, let me smash to bits their ways that peace may return and we may sleep.” But Tiamat answered. “How could we destroy what we have brought into being?” And, because Apsû could not bear the chaos and Tiamat could not bear to destroy what was loved, a battle ensued and to regain order there was much destruction. Tiamat was killed by a fatal wound to her heart from an invincible spear that stabbed her through her open mouth as she cried out in pain and betrayal. Her tears became the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers and the Oceans, and her body was cut into pieces to create the vault of the heavens and the earth.
The Squamish People say if you puzzle and puzzle over what a story means, then it is your story. The Tiamat story is like that for me. There is no one story that is the only true story, but a story is yours if it stays with you until it has transformed you. And it is everyone following the threads of their own stories that weaves together reality. IVAW is collecting soldiers’ firsthand accounts of both the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan for The Winter Soldier Project. All veterans are invited to give testimony, regardless of their politics. The (IVAW) Winter Soldier Project is inspired by the courageous Vietnam veterans who came forward in 1971 to testify at the original Winter Soldier investigation. The project will provide those that have experienced war legal and mental health support to unravel their experiences and tell their stories. The Tiamat story seemed like a good match for the IVAW project as it is a tale from Iraq and tells the story of how the rage, hatred, and destruction of battle seems to somehow mirror creation, love, and empathy. Perhaps, by witnessing the IVAW stories we will understand the meaning of the ancient tale of Tiamut and understand why peace seems to allude us.
I found your drawing very moving - and very powerful.
Also, the story. I will ponder it - but it is very disturbing. Partly because of the 'that's how it is' element.We must have the possibility of change, or living is unbearable.
I wish you well with your Winter Soldier project - they are very brave to speak out and they deserve our support.
Thank you for your comments- nice to hear from you. How is the sewing circle? send me more images!
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