The Toes of the Turtle

Arising of our heart the origins of Art on our journey together. The great orientation on a stone canoe a stone women a luminous pearl on her milky way, honoring Honua and Lani. Recognizing the majesty of three ancients the He’e, Hahalua and Honu the essence of the mind, hands and heart of man.

I acknowledge and revere our common ancestor our guardians, the spontaneous people the turtle people. Finders of the blessings way, going into the expanse of time, beyond the limit. Circumnavigating their own hearts. Circling Honua, encompassing Lani. Walking between worlds finding their toes. Following their ancestors to rainbow’s realization of innocence and virtue, finding the primal colors of humanity.

I found a story in the gourds, or the guards found a story in me. WE wrote “My Turtle Toes” poem together. Pouring out of the “Fruit of Emptiness”, entering the lpu’s curve of equanimity. My knife’s edge finding mystery feeling form pattern pulse, forever vessels in one! One seed changed my life. Weaving while I was woven. I’ve been planted with the seeds we have grown as one.

When we awoke and walked into our dream, the art the heart of our being the spontaneous people. Finding our voice. Finding the rhythm of heaven and earth and moon on turtle’s back, wrapped around 230 million years. Turtle gave us the past, we found a future, we found infinity! Like Honu we need to know where we come from to know where we return. Hatchlings in the nest wait to happen together to emerge as one. We’ve come full circle. Re-embering what I come from, what I go to, what I remain with. Re-embering circle.

My work is my bio, my biology, my body. In my paper foundry using hemp and abaca. Shaping hand cast, one of a kind art works, giving fibers form. For the love of surface my hands primal colors and pearls, translucent gleans and glazes, finding relief in the art of it. In between the sheets, skins, shells, leaves, weaves, finding the sacred in a vein. Illuminating life in reflection, seeking colors found in mothers’ treasures, stones, feathers, gems, butterflies, lava captured in the layering of freedom, resulting in patina and raku finishes for over three decades.

I’ve shaped pieces for museums, hospitals, airlines, banks, hotels, condos, shopping centers, beaches and many private collections in Hawaii and around the world, for many family and friends and the community. I am grateful to have this opportunity, to be standing here in a dream for this show that I had 13 years ago. Love sharing some of turtle’s knowing. Hope you enjoy the showing.

Art is a path of reverence a way to continually expand my comprehension of the mystic, the majesty of all of life.

Mahalo nui loa’,
Terry Taube