A Journey of Art and Soul for the Earth
by Rama the Elephant and Calley O'Neill
THE GROTTO OF HOPE FOR THE MOTHERS OF EARTH:
THE STAINED GLASS BIODIVERSITY CHAPEL
RAMA: AMBASSADOR FOR THE ENDANGERED ONES
Speaking Passionately on Behalf of Those who Cannot Speak
No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it.
Albert EinsteinPeople often enter art shows in the same busy state of mind and at the same speed in which they live everyday lives. Imagine sitting in a quiet little grotto of native trees, stained glass, water, the sounds of nature and a heartbeat rhythm. It feels good to pause and empty the torrent of thoughts before entering a new journey. A voice guides you inside to a bird’s eye view and a spacious awareness you may never forget. Welcome to the consciousness of UBUNTU.The old South African principle called Ubuntu is the essence of being human. I am what I am because of who we all are. I am because you are. Ubuntu is the realization that we are connected to all that is and what we do affects the whole world. In Hawaiian this is called Lokahi ~ the triadic union of each other with nature and The Great Spirit. It is the truth that has always been lived by indigenous peoples everywhere throughout time.Somehow we have lost the sense of the sacred in everyday life – of Ubuntu. Stained glass has been used since antiquity to evoke this sacred connection to the Creation. In these 36 stained glass biodiversity windows, the wonder of light and the beauty of the Creation seek to stir the soul to awaken. This is an opportunity to step out of thinking and recharge through a practice of heart awakening, visualization and ecological sensitivity. This pause will be rekindled throughout the exhibition to access inner peace, balance and wisdom. Only in peace can we reach for higher wisdom, and realize that what we do to heal ourselves is the same as healing the world.The Biodiversity Windows: Twelve vertical panels, each with 3 illuminated stained glass windows stand in between native potted trees. Each one reveals one or more vanishing species from each of the Earth’s 34 terrestrial biodiversity hotspots and hint at the little known aquatic hotspots. The variety of life forms depicted will include microscopic life, flora, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals. Biodiversity Hotspots: The windows give a glimpse of the terrestrial biodiversity hotspots, where more than half of the Earth’s plant species, nearly a third of all the mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians live on less than 2.3% of the Earth’s surface. Several panels will also show diverse life forms in the major ocean zones: the deep sea, and shallow-water habitat such as an estuary, inter-tidal zone or coral reef.Above the center, a stained glass skylight with Sun, Moon, and Earth hangs suspended over water and a large carved ceramic Earth Prayer Wheel by master prayer wheel maker, Chris Moench, which honors the five high-biodiversity wilderness areas.High Biodiversity Wilderness Areas: Each of the 5 high-biodiversity wilderness areas holds more than 1,500 endemic species, is sparsely populated and has remained largely intact, retaining more than 70% of the original vegetation. Together, Amazonia, the Congo Forests of Central Africa, New Guinea, the North American deserts, the Miombo-Mopane Woodlands and Savannas of Southern Africa hold more than 17% of the flora and 8% of the vertebrate fauna on EarthMitakuye oyasin.
We exist only in relationship to the whole. All are my relations.
Lakota Sioux