THE BIG BAD WOLF:

FROM CONFUSION TO CLARITY

Hello, Everybody-

It’s been some time since my last blog in February. I know I’m not the only one who has been feeling swept away and confused by domestic and international events. It seems like every day brings another devastating blow to our democracy and dignity as a country. Barely do we process a day’s worth of dreadful news before another day arrives with even more sadness and disasters to process. And let’s talk about those unfortunate things that just “happen” in our ordinary, every day human lives: sickness, death, job-related stress, family and relationship issues, stuff breaking, financial worries, to name a few. We are tired, angry, sad, and running on empty. But wait...

When I’m feeling like this, there is some kind of operating system, a background app in my brain, that kicks in and starts prompting me to think about random things in a curious and creative way, trying to make connections that make sense, that make me smile and get in touch with my inner child. That’s when I met Orun, the “Big Bad Wolf”.

Orun is a 15” sculpted clay wolf figure or doll, if you will, created by Laure Hirano. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUpb2qgj-kt/?igsh=MWlnOWc3NDNtam9yZw==

(Instagram: @artdoll_japan) She also designed and sewed his clothes. Ron and I became acquainted with Laure’s husband Takeshi, through Instagram because of his interest in my husband’s plaster. Takeshi has visited our home several times, and we looked forward to visiting Japan, where Ron would teach a class on his plaster techniques and finishes. While in Japan, we were lucky to visit several temples, sample the best sushi in Kobe, enjoy the gorgeous cherry blossom season, and spend time with Laure,Takeshi and their two young daughters.

There are so many things I could tell you about my impressions of Japan: the calmness, cooperation, the honoring of tradition, the safe environment, the cleanliness…but what I want to share is the newfound friendship and inspiration that I discovered through Laure. I learned that she is from France, has a black belt in jui-jitsu, owned and operated a successful bakery in Ireland and is a highly imaginative, talented and humble artist. Oh, and Laure belongs to a community garden club and grows the most beautiful herbs, flowers and vegetables.

What I observed between Takeshi and Laure is a creative fusion of cultures. What I see in Laure’s dolls is a creativity that is so informed by her European roots-folklore but with an international flair. Her dolls have an energy about them that I can’t put my finger on! I believe it has to do with Laure’s passion in creating them and bringing them to life through stories. I fell in love with her latest creation, “Orun” a handsome black wolf dressed in a luxurious black and gold tuxedo with a ruffled collar, holding a little lamb. Far from the image of a big bad predator, his whole presence radiates benevolence. I arranged with Laure to purchase Orun and have him shipped to Florida. He arrived two days ago and he has managed to charm me away from the daily news and world events with his mysterious energy and symbolism. There was a small card that came with the package, that had Laure’s own illustration of Orun and a handwritten description of his story:

“Orun appears in ancient legends as a black wolf, but his true nature is that of a guardian deity. He wraps himself in old cloth and in his arms he gently holds a small lamb, a symbol of innocence that has never been harmed by wolves. The black agate placed at his neck is said to absorb evil and purify the spirit. The small jar of salt he holds in his hand is an ancient talisman that protects against unseen darkness. Through these quiet rituals Orun is both a healer and a spiritual guide. Ancients legends quietly tell us that true safety is protected by those who bear the most fearsome appearance.”

The name Orun actually appears in other cultures not as a wolf, but as a fearsome god of the sun, fire, and watchtowers, a creature with a long flowing tail and red, white and orange fur! In Yoruba, Orun is the invisible spiritual realm that acts as the home of deities and is the place of origin where souls are created and return to after death.

I do not believe that an icon, image, or doll can actually manifest good or evil. I do, however, believe in the power of the imagination and its ability to interact with an artistic form to alter one’s consciousness. I began to think of the fusion of elements that Laure brought to the process of her creation. My brain started playing with the words “fusion” and “confusion”, then I wondered if “con” had a distinct etymology. It does! “Con” originates form the Latin variant com, meaning “together with”. Of course, in Spanish, “con” means “with”. (Who doesn’t love arroz con leche?)

Could confusion be interpreted as combining distinct elements “together with” each other, resulting in a unified whole? Are we resisting the confusion that has become so obvious in our country because we have lost touch with our own authentic and individual stories of who we are and where we came from? Can we look at the “whole” and still find ourselves in it, somehow?

True artists retain their own concentrated individuality, even though they are part of society and humanity as a whole. This is why artists are so feared and revered at the same time: we all want to be special, talented and artistic, but today’s society is glutted with AI, imposters, copy-cats and influencers who want to fit in so badly that they become just like everyone else. That’s not a unified whole. That’s an amalgamous slurry of over processed contributions.

Call this a brief moment of clarity, but I think it’s okay to be confused as long as we acknowledge that we’re confused together.

Until Next Time x0x0x

Annie