Title
Ē Pele Ē
Creator
Date
1989
Format
Medium
Description
The volcano goddess Pele, with a digging stick in one hand and fire in the other. To the left and right are six smaller scenes of Pele legends. Dark brown ink on white paper. Titled, signed, and dated in pencil below the image.
"Here's my latest print. A 'Pele' subject. A brief description follows: The central image is surrounded by six smaller related images which refer to the major 'Pele' legends. These are (from upper left to lower right):
1) Pele in her legendary migratory canoe named Honuaiakea.
2) Pele in her holua sledding contest with the Puna chief named Kahawali.
3) Pele with Kamapuaʻa [a half-boar, half-man demigod].
4) Pele with her 'little egg-sister' Hiʻiaka. [Hiʻiaka was born as an egg and carried in the bosom of her elder sister, Pele.]
5) Pele with her lover Lohiʻau.
6) Pele with her shark-god brother Kamohoaliʻi.
The central image features the old girl herself with her famous 'oʻo' digging stick. She has just found fire and is now about to make her home here in Puna. The central image is surrounded by lehua flowers (sacred to Pele) and the six lesser images by maile leaves. Around the entire subject is a 'niho mano' (shark-tooth) pattern of kapa." — Varez
"Here's my latest print. A 'Pele' subject. A brief description follows: The central image is surrounded by six smaller related images which refer to the major 'Pele' legends. These are (from upper left to lower right):
1) Pele in her legendary migratory canoe named Honuaiakea.
2) Pele in her holua sledding contest with the Puna chief named Kahawali.
3) Pele with Kamapuaʻa [a half-boar, half-man demigod].
4) Pele with her 'little egg-sister' Hiʻiaka. [Hiʻiaka was born as an egg and carried in the bosom of her elder sister, Pele.]
5) Pele with her lover Lohiʻau.
6) Pele with her shark-god brother Kamohoaliʻi.
The central image features the old girl herself with her famous 'oʻo' digging stick. She has just found fire and is now about to make her home here in Puna. The central image is surrounded by lehua flowers (sacred to Pele) and the six lesser images by maile leaves. Around the entire subject is a 'niho mano' (shark-tooth) pattern of kapa." — Varez
Extent (Pages, Duration, Dimensions)
14 1/4" x 21" (image)
Identifier
1990.501.65
Is Part Of
Dietrich Varez Collection
Donor
Rights
© Dietrich Varez Estate