Sunday, February 13, 2011

Year of the Rabbit

This is the year of the rabbit. I love rabbits. I don't know why, really. Perhaps it is because they are so quiet and gentle. Above are 2 handmade scrolls.


I have stone and metal rabbits throughout my home.


I have stone and metal rabbits in my Zen gardens.

This is the Chinese Year - of - the - Rabbit horoscope. If you were born in 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987 you would be a 'rabbit'. When Buddha lay dying, he summoned the animals to bid them farewell. The cow was the first to hasten to the scene but the rat, riding on the cow's back, jumped off and arrived first. Thus the rat became the first animal in the Asian zodiac, a cycle of twelve years that assigns a different animal to each year. A person is thought to take on characteristics of the animal representing the year in which she or he was born. Since nature is the source of all art and design in Japan, you can find animals depicted in many of their art forms.


Wood carving.
Those that are born in the year of the rabbit are considered articulate, talented and ambitious. They are often lucky.


Macau postage stamp 1999


Netsuke are miniature sculptures invented in 17th century Japan. They were first used as 'toggles' to help close bags that Japanese men wore to carry around their belongings.
Eventually, netsuke became a highly honored art form.


A ceramic cup


Rabbit's frozen pose--
breaking loose he springs away,
melting through the fence.


You can find more of Kris Hargis' drawings at this gallery in Portland, OR here.


Geoffrey Gorman creates his animal sculptures from all sorts of materials.
Find more of his wonderful sculptures at his website here.


"I don't see much sense in that," said Rabbit. "No," said Pooh humbly, "there isn't. But there was going to be when I began it. It's just that something happened to it along the way." --- Winnie the Pooh

42 comments:

Leslie Avon Miller said...

"I don't see much sense in that," said Rabbit. "No," said Pooh humbly, "there isn't. But there was going to be when I began it. It's just that something happened to it along the way." --- Winnie the Pooh.

Gee, this quote explains so many things that happen in my studio and life!

Great rabbit post Donna. Happy Year of the Rabbit!

Teri said...

I, too, have many rabbit items in my house. Perhaps I will photograph them tomorrow and post for you to see. I was born in the year of the rooster and have lots of those things around too. (chickens, roosters). I seem to collect many items and really don't know why except that they speak to me. I never even knew that I was born in the year of the rooster but when I found out I realized that I had been collecting rooster things and then it all made sense. What is it that draws us to certain things? It is nature calling to us or the personality of that item or what it says to us intrinsically? Makes me wonder. Nice post. I love that rabbit cup!!!

lyle baxter said...

rabbits run thru my house and garden too! In the garden there are concrete, metal and living breathing rabbits . the live ones stand as still as the metal and concrete ones when I speak to them! we have had much snow this year and I see their distinctive tracks every morning! their feet must get cold. happy rabbit year to you too!

Hannah said...

I'm not sure that the rabbit is often given its due--but 2011 is indeed another chance. One of my colleagues, a Chinese American, has been trying to teach us the qualities of one born in the year of the Rabbit--& seeing your pictures of the wood carving, the netsuke and the ceramic cup have given me a wonderful & visceral understanding of those qualities.

ArtPropelled said...

Great to see all the rabbits, Donna. At one stage I had about 50 but when we moved to a smaller house my rabbits stayed behind. Love the wooden rabbit!

ZenDotStudio said...

What a beautiful way to welcome in the year of the rabbit. So many beauties here! Especially love the rabbit in your Japanese Garden.

Noela Mills said...

Donna, your posts are always so beautiful. Unfortunately, rabbits get a bad rap here in Australia - they are ferral and most states don't even allow them as pets. Love your Japanese rabbit painting - I have printed him out as my year of the rabbit reminder xoxoxo

Judy Martin said...

I have just discovered your beautiful blog and want to tell you how serene and inspiring it is.

Your blog is serene and inspiring.
From one born in the year of the rabbit.

Lisa said...

wonderful post Donna. i love rabbits as well...we've had many as pets over the years and a few statues around the house too.

Unknown said...

Winnie the Pooh is one of my all time heroes! I'd forgotten this little snippet, which seems to suit me at the moment!

RosieK said...

I love that Winnie the Pooh quote - brilliant post Donna I so enjoyed it!

Ian Foster said...

What lovely images of things 'rabbit', and some super links as usual. Thank you.
I have just checked and found that I was born in the year of the Tiger, quite relieved that I was not a rat.

ELFI said...

bonne année du lapin, mais avec ce talent.. pas de problème!

Emma said...

No rabbits in my garden, ok, I'm a rat ;)(I don't collect rats!) Love that Pooh quote & Geoffrey Gormans work is divine, I'm going to go & collect (more) sticks!

Wen said...

Beautiful! Beautiful! I always love hopping on over to your blog- now I know why!
Makes me smile in pleasure and kinship.

Caterina Giglio said...

just beautiful!

Laura said...

Love this post Donna...such a lovely collection of Rabbits. I had rabbits as pets as a little girls, loved them so! The ceramic cup you've displayed is fantastic! And well, as for Pooh's wisdom, always clear and down to earth! Hoppy Valentine's Day!

Missouri Bend Paper Works said...

Love all the rabbit images! There is something delightful about rabbits....thanks so much for the insights on the Year of the Rabbit!

Beth Rommel said...

I love this post. Thank you for the bites of rabbit this morning. We have a wild brown rabbit who shows up in our woods in the afternoon. There is something dear about them, isn't there?

Deborah said...

Lovely post. I think the Pooh quote may be my favorite.

Anna Mavromatis said...

As always a perfect post!
Written by a most ARTICULATE and TALENTED person who is LUCKY enough to have the most wonderful zen gardens, views, collections of lovely objects; are YOU a RABBIT?
Happy rabbit year!

nancy neva gagliano said...

BUNNY LOVE REIGNS!!
about time too...:~)

Pat Vivod said...

I'm a rabbit! Love the illustrations for your post, especially the mug with the bunny handle. All beautiful stuff. Haven't seen many rabbits around my yard in a long time. I'm overrun by squirrels because of the 39 walnut trees.

Donna Iona Drozda said...

Oh I so love all things rabbit and am so happy that they live here in my yard dancing about in the moonlight often leaping high into the air.

The little rabbit cup is my fav...

I'm currently reading a marvelous rabbit story with the most glorious illustrations...The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Katie DiCamillo take a google...I feel it would be a special read.

mano said...

I love your rabbit collection very much! wonderful pictures!

Barry said...

D- had a good chuckle when I saw the rabbit in the mug; and of course loved the rabbit netsuke. So many of the netsuke pieces are so delicate. Thanks for sharing. B

Lynn said...

Very, very lovely.

There is something both playful and wise about rabbits; both bold and shy. Fascinating creatures. Thank you for sharing such beautiful depictions of them.

Seth said...

I love seeing the different ways all the artists interpret rabbit. Such a great collection!

Anonymous said...

the zen of pooh..


and as a rat, I never knew i was "first"

thankyou!

magpie said...

wonderful virtual hutch!

mansuetude said...

lovely post. I once drove home heartbroken from losing someone i loved, and as i turned the corner to near my home a little girl stopped me and offered me the white rabbit she was playing in the grass with. it made me think, no matter what i lose, Soul will pass something new into my hands immediately.

blessings

Oxana said...

So many beautiful rabbits!!! Great post!
Oxana

Michele Meister said...

Such a great rabbit post ! wonderful ... Beuys did also use a lot of rabbit in his work.... But I might prefer Winnie the Pooh :-))

SKIZO said...

Wonderful
work
good creations

Anonymous said...

gorgeous post! i love rabbits too -- grew up with them (and goats, chickens, ferrets, etc.). your rabbits are so lovely!

Bridgette Guerzon Mills said...

Thanks for the lesson in the year of the Rabbit! I was born in 75, so that makes me a Rabbit. hmm....
Love Kris Hargis' drawing.

Illuminated Manuscripts Workshop said...

love love love all the Rabbit items -- is the cup for sell anywhere?? Thanks too for the observations about this gentle creature... Your blog is always very spiritual and quiet... inspiring.

blessings,
Rosalind

annell4 said...

A Wonderful post! Thanks so much! I loved it! And I love rabbit!

Sophie Munns said...

You have the most fantastic collection of rabbits Donna...the cup was marvellous...and I do love that stone one up on your desk.... I had to go back and look at that cup!
Sophie

Mieke van Sambeeck said...

As always another beautifull blog, were do you find al these goodies, just love it.

Cynthia Monica said...

Oh, I love rabbits, and just found out I am a rabbit, since I was born in '51. Thank you Donna!

nancy neva gagliano said...

honey bunnies,
so sweet.
each so unique and expressive.
and POOH,
philosopher extraordinaire!