‘Vessel of the Sacred High Waters No.5’ - Original 8x8 Painting

‘Vessel of the Sacred High Waters No.5’

8x8

Watercolor, Ink, Acrylic, Gold Leaf

On 100% Cotton Japanese Rag

An homage to the island of Puerto Rico and made in response to the water crisis. Inspired by Taino symbolism found on ancient artifacts such as water vessels, duhos, and zemis. The Taino spiral is used heavily, a symbol for water or wind.

The name of this painting is partially a translation of Jatibonicu. In the Arawak/Taíno language, Jatibonicu translates to "The Great People of the Sacred High Waters," referencing sacred mountain waterfalls.

To the Taíno, water was sacred. Ceremonial grounds were often built next to rivers or right on the coast. The highest concentration of petroglyphs and ceremonial sites have been found along these areas. The very geography of the Boriken was seen as sacred, but especially the mountains and waterfalls. Atabey, the Taíno Mother Earth goddess, was revered among other things as the supreme goddess of freshwater. Water was respected so much that the there was even a destructive version of Atabey, called Guabancex, the goddess of hurricanes, storms, and chaotic waters. There was also another god, called Boinayel, the spirit or god of rain. He was represented with large tears running down his face to symbolize the rain necessary to nourish the earth and fertilize crops.

For years now, the island of Puerto Rico has been facing a water crisis caused by colonial abuse, the neglect of its infrastructure, extreme climate events like Hurricane Maria, and industrial contamination. The island’s outdated system of aquaducts, paired with neglect of their care, has resulted catastrophic pipe failures. Local groundwater has been heavily filled with industrial contamination since the 1980’s, and many wells have had to close. Climate change has not only brought about destructive hurricanes but also droughts that have depleted the islands reservoirs and coastal aquifers. 

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10% of the sale of this painting will be donated to Ridge to Reefs, a grassroots nonprofit to support emergency relief to Puerto Rican communities.