Alkonost is the Russian name for the half-bird, half-woman creatures that appear in Russia's vibrant and ancient folklore tradition. In this series, I play with both composite creatures (birds and humans) and composite cultures (Russian and Louisianan) to create a new mythology, a new kind of alkonost, one that protects various elements of the Louisiana landscape.

In the Louisiana Mythology series, I strive to create a visual language specific to the state in which each element can be read and parsed out almost like a book. Louisiana is already rich in its cultural icons, natural landscapes, and fables, and in much of my work I play with these extant cultural components, layering them atop other traditions and visual languages.

Here, the Brown Pelican Alkonost is enthroned on a magnolia tree and watches over the verdant land and the mirliton. Her crown holds a river fish. She is a celestial being who guards the Louisiana landscape.

 Protection and guardianship-- specifically female guardianship-- appear frequently in my paintings. Much like a talisman you wear around your neck, I like the idea that a painting can be a protective object for your wall, can act as guardian of your space. The alkonosts have dominion over their static ecosystem in the particular world of the painting-- in this case, the magnolia tree, the mirliton, the fish-- but as an object on your wall, they also serve as guardians over your room, your space, whatever dynamic ecosystem they come to occupy. They protect two worlds: the world of the painting and the world they see from their perch on the wall.

Size : 14x20”, framed to 19.5x25.5”.

Materials : watercolor and ink on 100% cotton cold-press paper

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For limited edition prints of this piece, CLICK HERE.