Shana Greger
Fine Art
www.shanagreger.com
C. Shana Greger
141 Montview Circle
Brevard, NC 28712
(828) 277-8497
[email protected]
Roanoke River Gorge #2 44 x 34
Originally from Connecticut, I earned my BFA from Massachusetts College of Art in Boston, incorporating an exchange to Parson's in New York. I've been working as a professional artist since, starting out as a freelance illustrator for publishing, editorial and design markets- doing everything from computer graphics for the Bank of Boston to exhibition graphics for museum design; op-ed illustration for the Boston Globe; magazine illustration; court-room drawing; designing figurines for Disney ... to being an artist on an archaeological dig in Jordan. All this led to teaching: guest lecturing, college level instruction and workshops.
By 1990, I settled into children’s trade and textbook illustration and also began doing my own writing, focusing on multicultural and creation story themes. My previous books for children are published by Houghton Mifflin Co: Cry of the Benu Bird- An Egyptian Creation Story (1996), The Fifth and Final Sun- An Ancient Aztec Myth of the Sun’s Origin (1994) which received the Scientific American Young Reader’s Book Award and The Boy Who Spoke Colors written by David Gifaldi (1993). I also moved to New Mexico, drawn by its multicultural flavor, the Southwest landscape and its spiritual aspect. It was here that I discovered that my artistic process is my practice.
Having learned the lessons of the jagged mountains, I came back east to the healing green of western North Carolina where I've lived since late 1995. I've exhibited my Waterfall paintings through Asheville’s Blue Spiral 1/New Morning Gallery among others since 2001. I've also done Public Arts Commissions: 2- 300 sq ft murals enhance the children’s section of the Greensboro Public Library: Vision Quest: An Ancient and Modern Interpretation (1998). I continue marketing my children's books, and for adults- Tara, a multi-faceted collection based on the female aspect of the Buddha and her 21 desirable qualities. This work was born in the desert and finished in a rainforest.
By 1990, I settled into children’s trade and textbook illustration and also began doing my own writing, focusing on multicultural and creation story themes. My previous books for children are published by Houghton Mifflin Co: Cry of the Benu Bird- An Egyptian Creation Story (1996), The Fifth and Final Sun- An Ancient Aztec Myth of the Sun’s Origin (1994) which received the Scientific American Young Reader’s Book Award and The Boy Who Spoke Colors written by David Gifaldi (1993). I also moved to New Mexico, drawn by its multicultural flavor, the Southwest landscape and its spiritual aspect. It was here that I discovered that my artistic process is my practice.
Having learned the lessons of the jagged mountains, I came back east to the healing green of western North Carolina where I've lived since late 1995. I've exhibited my Waterfall paintings through Asheville’s Blue Spiral 1/New Morning Gallery among others since 2001. I've also done Public Arts Commissions: 2- 300 sq ft murals enhance the children’s section of the Greensboro Public Library: Vision Quest: An Ancient and Modern Interpretation (1998). I continue marketing my children's books, and for adults- Tara, a multi-faceted collection based on the female aspect of the Buddha and her 21 desirable qualities. This work was born in the desert and finished in a rainforest.
TARA
Tara's roots are in Sanskrit and the tradition of Indian Buddhism; however, the Tibetans have made the practice of chanting praises to Tara their own. As the female aspect of the Buddha, Tara reveals the awakened state of mind in feminine form to inspire and liberate all. She embodies the enlightened aspects and activities of all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and is readily accessible to everyone. Non-traditional paintings depict each of Tara's 21 exquisitely desirable qualities. The first of the series- Tara 00- is not a rendition of a specific quality, but an overall representation describing her beginnings and titled by her mantra- Om Tare Tutare Ture Soha. (The book-cover shown below highlights Tara 01-Swift Courage.)
Tara's roots are in Sanskrit and the tradition of Indian Buddhism; however, the Tibetans have made the practice of chanting praises to Tara their own. As the female aspect of the Buddha, Tara reveals the awakened state of mind in feminine form to inspire and liberate all. She embodies the enlightened aspects and activities of all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and is readily accessible to everyone. Non-traditional paintings depict each of Tara's 21 exquisitely desirable qualities. The first of the series- Tara 00- is not a rendition of a specific quality, but an overall representation describing her beginnings and titled by her mantra- Om Tare Tutare Ture Soha. (The book-cover shown below highlights Tara 01-Swift Courage.)
Tara- Book Proposal
Each of Tara's 21 qualities are either peaceful or fierce and activities or attributes. They are: 01- Swift Courage, 02- Creative Wisdom, 03- Six Perfections, 04- All Victorious, 05- Giver of Intelligence, 06- Worthy of Praise, 07- Invincible Conqueror, 08- Destroyer of Negativity, 09- True Refuge, 10- Resplendent Laughter, 11- Dispeller of Misfortune, 12- Auspicious Light, 13- Bestower of Maturity, 14- Fierce Compassion, 15- Virtuous Peace, 16-Subduer of Passion, 17- Bliss Endowed, 18- Remover of Poison, 19- Dispeller of Distress, 20- Advent of Spiritual Power, 21-Total Enlightenment.
The flow of the book mirrors the Tibetan practice of chanting praises to Tara and invites the viewer to participate. Powerful, non-traditional paintings depict each of Tara's Twenty-One exquisitely desirable qualities. Each is accompanied by an adaptation of the corresponding traditional icon and my interpreted, rewritten verse.
Tara- Paintings- Acrylic on Canvas, 42" x 31" (47" x 36" framed)
Tara- Fine Art Prints- from the original paintings are available.
Each of Tara's 21 qualities are either peaceful or fierce and activities or attributes. They are: 01- Swift Courage, 02- Creative Wisdom, 03- Six Perfections, 04- All Victorious, 05- Giver of Intelligence, 06- Worthy of Praise, 07- Invincible Conqueror, 08- Destroyer of Negativity, 09- True Refuge, 10- Resplendent Laughter, 11- Dispeller of Misfortune, 12- Auspicious Light, 13- Bestower of Maturity, 14- Fierce Compassion, 15- Virtuous Peace, 16-Subduer of Passion, 17- Bliss Endowed, 18- Remover of Poison, 19- Dispeller of Distress, 20- Advent of Spiritual Power, 21-Total Enlightenment.
The flow of the book mirrors the Tibetan practice of chanting praises to Tara and invites the viewer to participate. Powerful, non-traditional paintings depict each of Tara's Twenty-One exquisitely desirable qualities. Each is accompanied by an adaptation of the corresponding traditional icon and my interpreted, rewritten verse.
Tara- Paintings- Acrylic on Canvas, 42" x 31" (47" x 36" framed)
Tara- Fine Art Prints- from the original paintings are available.
Tara 02 Creative Wisdom
A thousand stars blaze round her hair,
One hundred autumn moons at full
Gaze from her faces milky white.
The enchanting voice of Tara
Of three bodies- Blue, White, Gold--
Harmonizes, whispers Om.
She is creator, Sarasvati
With perfect wisdom, Manjushri.
Long life Tara smiles, she dazzles,
Dispels ignorance, sets minds free!
One hundred autumn moons at full
Gaze from her faces milky white.
The enchanting voice of Tara
Of three bodies- Blue, White, Gold--
Harmonizes, whispers Om.
She is creator, Sarasvati
With perfect wisdom, Manjushri.
Long life Tara smiles, she dazzles,
Dispels ignorance, sets minds free!
Tara 07 Invincible Conqueror
Tara 09 True Refuge
Tara 12 Auspicious Light
Tara 14 Fierce Compassion
Tara 15 Virtuous Peace
Tara 16 Subduer of Passion
WATERFALLS
When I saw the billboard.... Welcome to Brevard, Land of Waterfalls... I knew I was home. I started painting them after finishing the Taras but have just discovered that Waterfalls are (also) a symbol of the divine feminine. I originally planned a series of about 12 large paintings (based on small studies) but they caught on and so I adapted, producing many more. As it turns out, just about everyone loves a waterfall. I am still pulling out early studies of Waterfalls that I just haven't gotten to yet...more about my process
Twin Falls #2 (on #8f) 60 x 40
Turtleback Falls #3 20 x 24
Douglas Falls #2 ( study) 12.25 x 14
Upper Yellowstone Falls (on #6) 36 x 36
Raven Cliff Falls #2 (on #5b) 44 x 24
Looking Glass Falls ( on #2a) 66 x 44
Most important to me is an archetypal theme or iconic element. After Waterfalls came Picnic Tables and Birds. These series are all Ongoing.
meanwhile ... of making books, there is no end...
