Listening To Raven~Drawings,  Myths & Realities by Beth Surdut

While I was creating The Ravens of  Truth and Memory with pen and colored pencil, heart and mind, two tiny Zuni fetish ravens carved by a married couple into black marble and bound together with turquoise and coral perched on the paper's edge. I found them through the grace of the Bronwyn the White Raven who owns Keshi in Santa Fe.
The Norse God Odin sent two Ravens out each day--one named Thought (Hugin), the other Memory (Munin). Here, I've changed Thought to Truth.
Memory allows Truth to gently pick through her feathers until both birds shine. Chosen by bird guide author  David Allen Sibley for the exhibition For the Birds at Brush Gallery in Massachusetts until June 18.
For the beginning of the Raven story that brought this mermaid to the desert, start with Drawing Raven. Meet the Raven Clan http://www.listeningtoraven.com

Ten Generations

Ten Generations by Beth  Surdut 2011

Listening To Raven series

In Alaska, Mark has been caring for ravens and eagles for the past 16 years. Although there are certainly professional nature photographers with admirable patience, skill, and talent, this man’s love is uniquely communicated through his actions and photographic documentation of his avian friends. His photographs and the stories he tells me gave flight to this newest drawing as well as  The Ravens of Truth and Memory which nods to the Norse God Odin’s raven.

Mark writes: I must say I think your drawing of Raven is the best that I have seen yet...

 Raven flew over the office of the apartment complex where I worked. I put some meat out for him and soon he came down and got it. Next, he brought his partner and although she was much more tentative they both started stopping by each day. I started to develop a call that sounded like when the male Kushka called the female Feathers. After time, when I called, they would come down off the mountain. That summer, I noticed that they brought their fledge down to my truck and from that time on I became their babysitter.

  After 10 generations of fledges, I believe the original couple moved on and now all their children come back in the winter to live nearby cause they know I will have food for them if times get bad. 
Come meet Ten Generations and the rest of my raven family at the Randall Davey Audubon Center exhibition opening July 9, 5-7 pm in Santa Fe, New Mexico

Ravens Roost

Truth and Memory

and

Walks Like a Man

may be the current top two favorites so far, with The Compass of My Heart an active Contender, but this swaggering guy is the one who's been going home with people. I love the stories you are bringing to these characters--bird tales, spiritual experiences, intolerant neighbors and macho husbands!

See you at the solo exhibit opening July 9, 2010 at the Randall Davey Audubon Center in Santa Fe!

The Ravens of Truth and Memory

The Norse God Odin sent two Ravens out each day--one named Thought (Hugin), the other Memory (Munin).

Here, I've changed Thought to Truth.
Memory allows Truth to gently pick through her feathers until both birds shine.
While I was creating Truth and Memory (paper size 15" X 22") with pen and colored pencil, heart and mind, two tiny Zuni fetish ravens carved by a married couple into black marble and bound together with turquoise and coral perched on the paper's edge. I found them through the grace of the White Raven who owns Keshi in Santa Fe.
My thanks to kind-hearted Cordova Raven, who cares for ravens and eagles in Alaska.
For the beginning of the Raven story that brought this mermaid to the desert, start with Drawing Raven.

Drawing Raven

from the series Listening to Raven

Raven comes here to find me in the cool desert morning, announcing his presence in an apricot sky. I see myself reflected in his blue-black eyes and feathers.

According to Native American lore, Raven is the bringer of magic. He is my birth month totem and  for  three years we've engaged in an ongoing dialogue of  art and  story.
I saw no ravens in my three years of river paddling with   alligators and birds in Florida, but once I made the decision to move to New  Mexico, Raven came to see me in my  tropical  garden. Always chased by a noisy escort of mockingbirds and blue jays, Raven would perch on the turquoise-colored wood railing of my front porch to watch me draw. If he couldn’t find me, he would caw and dance on the little tin roof covering back stairs. I'd come out and he’d cock his head to get a good look. That bird never missed a day for weeks.
A friend of mine who is a lay minister tells me that somewhere in the bible a visit from a raven can mean prosperity and the Medicine Wheel offers the same possibility. Here is a place for people to unbind themselves, to expand their hearing and seeing, both inward and outward, in the vast beauty of a limitless sky.
For another glimpse of Raven, look at Listening To Raven- Drawings,Myths & Realities
This drawing is on 10" x 14" paper using pen, pencil, heart and mind.