About the Stations of the Raven
This work celebrates the raven in a series of linocuts inspired by traditions of old illumination.
The twelve images in The Stations of theRaven describes raven behaviors such as guarding the nest, caching and courtship. The borders of the individual cuts are inspired by a diverse source of illumination including medieval English and Byzantine, Celtic and Persian manuscripts.
Most of my artwork is built out of curiosity. Answering a question, carving out another one.
Ravens make food caches, but what do they do with the other things they steal? Being followed by a group of ravens on top of my favorite hiking mountain, witnessing a display of affection between a pair of ravens, watching ravens and wolves interact...such sightings invariably lead to questions like: How many sounds can they make?, Can I spell those sounds?, Why do they flip over when they fly?, Why do they wipe their beaks?!! The questions led to the research which resulted in the Stations of the Raven.
The title and format of the series was influenced by the religious stations of the cross. I have seen these stations carved in big chunks of marble, carved in wood...whatever the medium they tell a progressive story and are often visited in sequence for prayer or meditation. I have long wanted to use this iconography as a vehicle for telling another story. In using religious symbols in a new way, I hope to continue the questions with: What is sacred? Who decides what is sacred? These questions I leave unanswered.
In Southeast Alaska, we are used to seeing ravens soaring in the thermals of tall mountains, making a cheet-o fly-by at a community beach or scavenging at the harbor dumpster. But the range of this bird stretches far beyond our coastal neighborhood. The raven is found on our continent on ice floes north of the Arctic Circle to as far south as the mountains of Nicaragua in Central America. Ravens thrive in forests and near the coastline as well as urban areas. The adaptable Corvus corax even makes a home in hot desert environs.
When you see ravens interacting in large groups you are probably observing a gang of juveniles who have not yet paired up. Young ravens court intensely, beginning at age six months, but they will not select a mate until they are three years old. In that time they develop and display skills that will demonstrate their suitability to be a good partner. Aerial displays are important to show off strong flying skills to potential mates. Often in courtship two ravens will fly together, with perhaps one of the birds flying upside down. Bringing food to the desired female in courtship shows that the male will be a good provider when she is dependent on him for food during nesting. A partner will be carefully chosen, as ravens are true blue and mate for life.
Teamwork or opportunity? At times, ravens appear to work in partnership to trick or steal. Dogs are often selected to be the playmate, or the target, of raven-style games. More than one dog owner has reported that ravens have a taste for dog chow. While one raven distracts the dog, the co-conspirator will eat with gusto.
Ravens often keep company with hunting animals like wolves and polar bears. The birds wait for an opportunity to feed on the remains of a deer or seal killed by the larger animal. "Leftovers again" for dinner does not seem to be a problem. The arctic fox also trails the polar bear for the same chance at a potluck feast.
The Eskimo are said to watch where the raven flies, as the bird could lead the way in their own hunt for polar bear.
Featured in legends across the globe, the raven has captured the imagination of people from many cultures. Five raven stories are depicted in this station. In German mythology, the one-eyed god Odin had two ravens that sat on his shoulders. Each day Odin sent the ravens, Hugin and Munin, out to circumnavigate the earth and report back to him with their observations. The central circle in station V represents this earth, night and day.
The Viking ship represents Norwegian explorers who used the raven as a navigation tool. The explorer Floki had three ravens on board his ship when he embarked on the voyage which led to the discovery of Iceland. Edgar Allen Poes literary raven croaks from his perch atop the bust of Pallus.
The raven flies on the flag of Danish warriors who believed that they would be victorious in battle if the raven flew. Finally, in Northwest coast legends, where raven is trickster and creator, it was Fog Woman who gave salmon to the raven.
Acrobatic displays occur year round in raven flight. The 1/2 roll is the most common flip in the sky. The bird tucks in one wing, flipping upside down and rolls back as quickly as a wing beat. More than one 1/2 roll may be performed in succession, or perhaps in combination with full rolls or dives. When the bird tucks into a 1/2 roll, it emits a 2-syllable sound that sounds like Œklahwahk1 or Œkuk-wik1 to my ears. Researchers vary greatly in their estimates of raven sounds. Depending on your own ears, the raven's mood or the scientist you agree with - the raven has from 18 to 64 different sounding Œquorks1, Œkluks1, Œsproings1 and Œkrooks1 to list but a few. It is generally agreed however, that the raven is second only to the human in its variety of vocalizations.
Wolves and ravens have been observed together in what could only be described as social situations. A hiking friend spent an afternoon observing a wolf family in a mountain valley. The mom and dad posted themselves on the hillside above, while the four young wolves played with a raven friend.
Teased and egged on by the raven that perched on a rock, the wolves wagged their tails. Then, pretending to lose interest in their playmate, they would sneak back as if stalking the raven. When the sun was ready to set, the older wolves, still on the mountainside above, got up and headed into thick woods. The young family abandoned their game to follow mom and dad.
Bravery is considered to be a trait of the raven. Hunger and courtship seem like obvious reasons for displays of bravery. But sometimes ravens, usually known for their cautious approach to things, take risks for no evident reason at all.
When an easy meal like dropped french fries, landfill delight or dog chow is not to be found, the raven, like some other birds, will go all out for a seafood dinner. Taking a mussel or clam for a flight into the sky, the raven drops the shellfish onto cement or rocks below. The same shell may need to be dropped repeatedly until it cracks and the bird swoops down to retrieve the meal inside.
A friend once noticed a piece of black cloth caught on the branch of a tall tree, waving in the wind. Upon closer scrutiny he discovered the cloth was actually a raven dangling contentedly by it1s beak. I filed this tale as strange, and the raven as an oddity, only to learn later that this is a known behavior researchers call "hanging."
While you might not find a raven hanging out with your laundry, keep an eye on the treetops for shiny black socks!
A raven might make a food cache in the snow or under the moss in the crook of a cottonwood tree; (top left circle). People have observed ravens using some ingenuity in collecting food. In one account a raven surrounded by crackers was frustrated with its inability to collect more than 1 or 2 at a time in its beak. Finally it stuck each
cracker end-up in a row in the snow. The raven was then able to snatch the neat stack in its beak and fly away satisfied (bottom left circle). Ravens have a great interest in non-food objects as well. Many reports indicate a particular liking for shiny, colorful items. A dog-owner in Juneau watched from a window as a raven flew away with her dog1s bright play ball (top right circle). Another friend in Thorne Bay set out her rock collection for a bath in the rain. Ravens, however, flew off with the flashiest of the colored crystals before they had dried in the sun. My station X poses the question - while we know ravens make caches for food - what do they do with objects they steal? Are these baubles merely a passing interest or do the birds mischievously make a cache of these things?
Vigorously protective of their nests, ravens have been known to drop sticks and stones on intruders who get too close. Missiles are a last resort however - more often ravens will fly overhead hoping to drive the trespasser away with raucous kaaing and "get out of here" wing flapping.
Station XII addresses the duality of human relations with the raven. This black bird is regarded as a pest in some circles, while revered in others. From early history, the raven has been associated with darkness and foreboding. Records from ancient battles include accounts of the ravens that were present, undoubtedly to feed on the warriors who met their demise. Shakespeare set the scene for presenting the raven as a symbol of evil and destruction in both Macbeth and Othello. In some parts of the world ravens have been persecuted - poisoned, shot, their nests destroyed.
Closer to home, the raven is viewed much more favorably as a bird of intelligence, strength and adaptability. Many Old World deities in ancient Sumeria, Persia, Greece and Germany had an association with the raven. The ancient Norse believed the raven to be a messenger of the gods.
The raven has intrigued humans with its antics - stealing french fries or shiny things, with acrobatic displays in the air, and has inspired legends told around the world.
Stations are available individually or in a portfolio collection
Individually
Handcolored stations are $185 each with the following three exceptions: II: Raven Romantics is $125, IV: Following the Hunter is $165, VI: Raven Revolution - 1/2 Roll is $165.
The following Stations are also available in black and white, edition size 20, I (sold out), II (sold out), IV, V, VI, VIII, XII (sold out)
Black and White stations are $58.00 each.
Station of the Raven Portfolio collection, a portfolio of all 12 linocuts is $1910 (value $2120)
A portfolio collection is delivered in a handmade folder. The 12 raven stories are included in an accompanying folder with an additional tiny print stitched on the cover.
Please contact Evon to select from available edition numbers for your portfolio collection and plan delivery.
Allow up to 4 weeks for this special order.