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Constance Tippett
Although I have always been an artist, it wasn't until my children were older
and I was in my 40's that I started taking myself seriously. I first made
Angels. I copied ones from the Neapolitan Crèches of Florence. I even
made a whole Nativity scene that was displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of
Art in Fresno and that was later
bought by St. Mary's church in Tulare.
But, what I really wanted to make were Goddesses. I especially like the
primitive ones that were found at the beginnings of nearly every civilization
around the world. I read every book I could find about Goddesses
written by serious scholars like Marija Gimbutas, Baring and Cashford, and
Merlin Stone. These books had a profusion of Goddesses photos. But, being
a visual learner and teacher I wanted to see them altogether in one place
and compare and study them.
So, I decided to make a Goddess Timeline. Doing my own research,
I drew every Goddesses I could find and positioned her in
her appropriate place on my timeline. There were instances during my
research when I became immersed in various cultures. Mesopotamia was one of my favorites. Other times, I
wondered if there was a Goddess during a certain time period or
culture. Within a week, she would appear. She would show herself in
a book or article. It was an amazing journey.
It took me nearly thirteen years to finish my "Great Work". I decided
to print it myself so that I could have artistic control, and I am proud of the
results. Along with the timeline posters I also created three
dimensional sculptures. I make Goddesses the old fashioned way, one at a
time, by hand, from terracotta clay that is then fired in a kiln, so that
they will last another 8,000 years. I've always imaged a Goddess Museum
or Temple that might
house my work. Because even though men may be made in the image of God, the
Goddess is the creative power of women. And, the
feminine is simply divine.
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