Green Man Blog - Green Man Artists

Today He Meets Humanity

nospam@example.com (Green Man) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 04:07:00 -0700

We featured Australian artist Graham Wilson a while back, but we were only barely dipping into his full body of work.

He maintains a website that illustrates not only his woodcarvings, but also other works including stone sculptures, paper drawings, a Green Man play, and a few short video pieces ranging from whimsical to poignant.

Below are the opening lines to his play, Green Man, which he wrote for the 1996 Adelaide Fringe Festival.

(The Adelaide Fringe Festival is the second largest Arts Festival in the world, with this year’s event attracting over 1 million people).

The YouTube video clip is a short film Graham produced that we liked very much. To us, the film (titled, "Sea Door") speaks on many levels about our inherent connection with nature; the discovery of the wondrous feeling created when the natural elements of the world surround us.

The combined symbolism of the key, the locked door, the innocent girl and nature, captures, we think, a part of that “collective unconscious” Carl Jung spoke about many years ago. But see for yourself.

When we contacted Graham about doing another short article about his work, we mentioned the day it would run and that we couldn't remember if Australia was one day ahead or behind us here in San Diego. We added that he should check his sundial or hourglass or whatever Aussies use for timepieces down there. His reply:

"G'day. Yes we are a day ahead of you. We live in your future and you live in our past... Try getting your head around that..."

Opening lines to the play, Green Man, by Graham Wilson:

Every culture has a tale about a spirit that lives in the forest
or within the trees.
In ancient Europe this spirit represented the new life of spring...
the voice of the primordial forest....
a dark dense wood that stretched, unbroken,
from the shores of Gaul to the grass plains of Mongolia.
A forest so vast it was believed to have gone on without end.
A forest older than humanity.
To the native North American their grand woods, too,
were filled with spirits.
The Green man but one of many.
He was, however, seen as an agent of bad luck....
a creature bound to make you doubt your own will.
In the East he was a giant ape... a 'wild man'...
to be both feared and respected.
In early Christian Europe he was seen as the devil's agent...
for their god ruled the heavens whilst the devil ruled the earth.
Whilst here in Australia he was the voice of the ancestors...
the song of the trees...a song as old as the dreaming.
Whatever the belief one thing is constant...
the Green Man has dwelt in the wild
since the dawn of the forest.
He lives on in our cities,
his face hidden amongst the leafy decoration of Gothic facades...
Known by many names he is seen with many faces...
for today he looks like this [actor holds up mask]...
and today he meets humanity.

Nina's Window

nospam@example.com (Green Man) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 05:54:00 -0700

“Bonita Road Sunset” by Nina Robinson. Original acrylic on a gallery wrap, 5 ft x 4 ft.

Over time we have featured various artists on the Green Man Blog. These artists have come from far-away places like Australia or England, but now we thought we'd feature one of our own from San Diego.

“Rainbow” by Nina Robinson. Original watercolor of sunflower pedals in multi-color, 12" x 16."

Though not a "Green Man" artist in the classic sense, Nina Robinson has a close connection with nature.

Much of her work celebrates the colors found in nature, and she brings out the varied hues and richness of nature's palette like few other artists.

“Tie Dye” by Nina Robinson. Original watercolor, 18” x 24.”

Her paintings, seen live, seem to glow.

Nina has an interesting story behind her work, and it's best heard in her own words:

"I have been painting for seven years without any formal education in the arts. Nine years ago, when I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, I had to give up a very active lifestyle of hiking, swimming, biking and camping. I prayed and asked God to give me a new passion.

“Modern Myth” by Nina Robinson. Original abstract, 36" x 48."
I believe that when God closes a door, He opens a window. A friend of mine believed I would be good at painting and gave me some canvas and oils and told me to go for it. I credit my success to God and call my painting ability 'Nina's Window'."

We see Green Man imagery in Nina's work, and we see it even in her paintings like Modern Myth. Stare hard at the painting and, to us at least, one can see and feel the clash and conflict of nature caught in the modern world.

In the short time Nina has been painting, she has accumulated an impressive list of awards and recognition.

Nina Robinson has an extensive collection of her work for sale on her Etsy site.

“Scarlette” by Nina Robinson. Acrylic on canvas, 5 ft x 8 ft.”

T-Shirt Art Gallery

nospam@example.com (Green Man) — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 11:45:00 -0700

Here's a closer look at our t-shirt designs, and a few comments about each one. Visit Green Man T-Shirts to see the designs on actual shirts. Some of the designs have been re-worked over time, so there may be some changes. It's hard to keep up with Rob; he just keeps churning out new stuff all the time.

Feel free to leave comments or suggestions. And feel free to leave scathing criticisms, also. It'll take a while, but we'll eventually find you through your IP address. (Just kidding. We value all comments).

"No Worries" Juszak Designs 2010.

"King Lion" Juszak Designs 2010. Photograph taken of the Hard Rock window display, San Diego CA.

"Collective Unconscious" Juszak Designs 2010.

"Green Man and Fairy" Juszak Designs 2010.

"Green Man Surfing" Juszak Designs 2010.

"Blue Moon" Juszak Designs 2010.

This is our Iconic Green Man. It's hard to miss the symbolism with this one, but that was the whole point. These are printed on men's organic cotton black t-shirts. The color and detail on this image is fantastic.

This line drawing is available for now on a regular (non-organic) light green colored t-shirt. After these are sold, we'll have it printed on a natural color organic cotton t-shirt. It will probably be available by January of next year.

Part of our Out of Stock series. We are staying with animals recently wiped out, and sadly we have many more to come in this series. Available on white organic cotton t-shirts, both men's and women's style.

Part of our Out of Stock series. People still ask if we are referring to the shirts or animals on these. Unfortunately, it's the animals. Available on white organic cotton t-shirts, both men's and women's style.

Part of our Out of Stock series. The x???? is the last year of the animal's existence. Most people get this, but some still ask. Available on white organic cotton t-shirts, both men's and women's style.

This is the first of our Low on Stock series. The image was so pretty we didn't want to splash the red-ink across the bottom like the Out of Stock series. Depending on the animal, we'll design for either men's or women's organic cotton t-shirts. This one is for the women, available in a white organic cotton t-shirt.

One of our first efforts, we had this silkscreened on white colored t-shirts by a local printer before we went totally organic. We have discontinued this one for now.

Grow Love Forever: A very popular design by Rob Juszak. It combines the infinity and heart symbols, interwoven into a growing vine.

U?: A simple concept asking are you part of the problem or part of the solution? Printed on a men's black Ultimate Statement organic cotton t-shirt only.

William Anderson

nospam@example.com (Green Man) — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 08:02:00 -0700

The author of the book, Green Man: The Archetype of Our Oneness With the Earth, was also a poet:

Like antlers, like veins of the brain the birches
Mark patterns of mind on the red winter sky;
'I am thought of all plants,' says the Green Man,
'I am thought of all plants,' says he.*

*stanza 1 of 13, from the poem, "The Green Man."
Author: William Anderson (1990). Green Man: The Archetype of Our Oneness With the Earth. London: Harper Collins.

That Green Man is Really a Doll!

nospam@example.com (Green Man) — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 07:00:00 -0700

A collection of Green Men/Green Women pillow dolls handmade by Mimi Kirchner.

We've written before about the Green Man archetype and how the image keeps re-appearing in so many different ways.

Well, here is another one.

You gotta admit, this doll has a certain style to it, doesn't it?

This doll (or pillow, really), and others, are handcrafted and sold by Mimi Kirchner.

She maintains a very extensive blog called Doll.

Like many talented craftspeople, Mimi sells her products on Etsy.

Her Etsy site can be reached here.

The Green Man Blog is written to spread environmental awareness and appreciation of the natural world around us. Thank you for visiting! Stay green, support the organic movement, and be sure to visit www.greenmantshirts.com for the best in organic cotton and bamboo t shirts!

Paul Sivell

nospam@example.com (Green Man) — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 08:43:00 -0700

Paul Sivell is a wood carver in England who recently finished a project known as the tallest carving in the world. At over 60 feet, the carving was done for the Isle of Wight's Gardens in Bloom celebration.

Paul does Green Man representations in some of his work. The image shown here was carved into the dead section of a living oak tree.

His website is called: The Carved Tree

The Green Man Blog is written to spread environmental awareness and appreciation of the natural world around us. Thank you for visiting! Stay green, support the organic movement, and be sure to visit www.greenmantshirts.com for the best in organic cotton and bamboo t shirts!

Artist Graham Wilson

nospam@example.com (Green Man) — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 17:36:00 -0700

Graham Wilson is an Australian artist who has some interesting themes centered on the Green Man. The image right is his wood panel called “Weighing.”

Look closely and you can see a woman weighing gold, money, and jewels against a tree. The tree weighs more, to everyone’s surprise.

Or almost everyone: see the Green Man and the small child holding an owl? They know the value of nature.

Pretty cool, eh?

The Green Man Blog is written to spread environmental awareness and appreciation of the natural world around us. Thank you for visiting! Stay green, support the organic movement, and be sure to visit www.greenmantshirts.com for the best in organic cotton and bamboo t shirts!

The Green Man Comes in Unusual Forms!

nospam@example.com (Green Man) — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 08:40:00 -0700

William Anderson wrote Green Man: The Archetype of Our Oneness with the Earth (San Francisco: Harper Collins, 1990).

From his book: "An archetype such as the Green Man represents will recur at different places and times independently of traceable lines of transmission because it is part of the permanent possession of mankind. In Jung's theory of compensation, an archetype will reappear in a new form to redress imbalance in society at a particular time when it is needed. According to this theory, therefore, the Green Man is rising up into our present awareness in order to counterbalance a lack in our attitude to Nature."

Image right from the 2007 Summer Solstice Parade and Pageant, Fremont Fair, Seattle, Washington.

The Green Man Blog is written to spread environmental awareness and appreciation of the natural world around us. Thank you for visiting! Stay green, support the organic movement, and be sure to visit www.greenmantshirts.com for the best in organic cotton and bamboo t shirts!