Jara-Yaga

Since the Jara-Yaga is based several cultural influences I thought it would be fun to write about its inspirations!

First, is the Baba-Yaga of Slavic origin, the timeless donor and villain in many northeastern European fairy tales. Baba-Yaga’s motifs, the famous flying mortar and her chicken-legged house make up the main body of the Jara-Yaga.

Second 瓶長 (Kameosa) the Japanese Yokai who first appears in Toriyama Sekien's 1784 anthology 百器徒然袋 (Gazu Hyakki Tsurezure Bukuro). Kameosa an earthenware jug that after a long life of careful, loving use becomes a tsukumogami. Kameosa’s legendary inexhaustible supply of liquid is where Jara-Yaga’s constant outflow, was derived!

Third I drew on was California’s local wildlife, the green herons inspired the base coloration of the spirit, and my own very lucky encounter with juvenile herons and their mother inspired the giving nature of the Jara-Yaga depicted in this piece.

Lastly, I have to give a shout-out to the UV light-filled arcades and bowling alleys that informed the palette for the Jara-Yaga helping me tie all of this together with bold florescence that can’t be found elsewhere.

I hope this description of my influences provided insight into how I develop art and the ways in which my practice is informed by the cultures around me!