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Through these series of paintings L. Gina
Canter strives to preserve and honor the history and culture of her ancestors as well as
Appalachian heritage.
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see enlarged image (25 K)
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Council. 36x48,
acrylic, 10/95. According to Cherokee legend, the bears and other animals would hold
council meetings each fall before it was time to settle in for the winter. They
would discuss the year and their dealings with humans, and hold dances to celebrate and
honor their fellow animals. Council represents this legend of the animals. |
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| The Source. 48x48,
acrylic, 4/95. The Cherokee believed that the source of a spring was a doorway to the
"other world" or dimension. The lights coming out of the spring are
"spirit" or "fairy lights" which the Cherokee believed were the
wandering spirits of their ancestors. These lights are still sometimes seen in the forests
and mountains of this area. |
see enlarged image (62 K) |
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see enlarged image (60 K) |
Reflections. 36x48,
acrylic, 4/97. Reflections represents the heritage of Appalachian music. The fiddle,
banjo, and guitar are shown in the foreground to represent a few of the instruments that
were first brought to the mountains during early settlement. The fiddle was one of the
most common early instruments in this area. |
| The mountain view
shown within the instruments, and the quilt squares that include area native plants, are
interwoven and surround the scene. They symbolize the handicrafts and traditional folk
music of the Appalachians as true reflections of the land and the people who settled here.
Their music and handicrafts were and are today a way of living - a way of art. *Special thanks to Jerry Adams of Marshall, NC. His guitar
and banjo (1894 Cole Eclipse) were models for this painting. Also special thanks to Josh
Goforth and his fiddle (c. early 1800’s). |
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| Long Ago
(Go-hi-tsi-ge-sv). 36x48, acrylic, 9/95. Long Ago represents a window in time of how
things used to be before the settlers came to this area. A time when the elk, wolf, and
mountain lion still lived here. It was painted to honor those that are now gone but still
exist in heart and memory. |
see enlarged image (61 K) |
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see enlarged image (73 K) |
One. 48x48,
acrylic/mixed media, 11/96. One represents the coming together of all peoples and their
integral relationship with the universe and others. The mirrored discs throughout the
painting are placed so that the viewer may realize that they are an integral part of the
universe and composed of the same materials as the stars. When we look at the stars we are
also seeing parts of ourselves. Similarly, when we learn about and understand other
cultures we also gain knowledge and understanding about ourselves. |
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| The Portal. 42x42,
acrylic, 7/97. The Portal is the first in a series of paintings exploring Celtic legend.
According to Celtic tradition, stone arches (portal dolmens) were considered to be
doorways to the "Otherworld." Standing at the center of the Otherworld was the
Tree of Tradition where all wisdom and knowledge was stored. |
see enlarged image (67 K) |
| Whoever sat at
its base received and shared the circulation of power and cleansing energy coursing from
the ground through its branches. The figures surrounding the dolmen represent those shown
in the Book of Kells, an ancient Celtic book of the four gospels. The tree of life sprouting from the four chalices represents unity
of life; the birds inhabiting the tree are symbols of friendship between the spirit and
soul; gold represents immortality of the spirit. |
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| All images are available in 11x14 print and
greeting card form. Originals are also for sale with pricing available upon request. For
additional images, please visit the HeartSong Artworks Homepage at: http://members.aol.com/SbanjoC/homepage.htm |
Limited Edition Prints $20.00 each
11x14, matted and shrink wrapped |
Greeting Cards $2.75 each
approximate size, 5x7 with envelope |
To order, please print out the HeartSong Artworks order form and fill out completely. Send check,
money order, or credit card information, payable to Gina Carter to:
Gina Canter
PO Box 207
Barnardsville, NC. 28709
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