The World of Gerard van Oost and Oludara

Posts Tagged ‘artwork’

Yandir

The pajés, besides being healers and practicing different kinds of medicines, also could communicate with spirits, becoming prominent in their tribes due to such occult powers. Some may make comparisons with shamans, because of the similarities with the use of plants for medicinal purposes, and invocation of entities, but even so, no one can doubt the knowledge and strong magic that they carried and passed from generation to generation. Yandir, as well as any pajé, was respected by his tribe, and the power of his magic could impress anyone, even a man as wise as Oludará.

Yandir – painting by Ursula “SulaMoon” Dorada for The Elephant and Macaw Banner board game.

#ElephantMacaw

Jakoo

Although thousands of natives were indoctrinated by the Jesuits, not all of them learned the Portuguese language fluently, making it difficult to communicate with those who came from outside. Those few who could get by in the language served as a communication bridge between their people and the invaders. Besides Arany and Cabwassu, Jakoo was able to speak well enough to communicate with the Portuguese, and make them aware of the tragic fate that they might, or not, suffer.

Jakoo – painting by Ursula “SulaMoon” Dorada for The Elephant and Macaw Banner board game.

#ElephantMacaw

The Elephant and Macaw Banner in the Whitney Plantation Museum of Slavery

I’m honored to announce the contribution that The Elephant and Macaw Banner was able to make to the Whitney Plantation Museum of Slavery.

wp logo high res

Last year, Dr. Ibrahima Seck, Academic Director of the museum, entered in contact with me and Leonardo Amora, asking permission to include the painting “Arrival in Salvador” as part of their permanent collection. I had commissioned this painting from Amora back in 2010, to represent Gerard’s arrival in Salvador, although it just as easily represents the tragic arrival of the slave ships from Africa. Both of us readily agreed to donate a permanent license to the museum. You can also find the image on their website, listed as “Portuguese Caravel”.

I’m honored that The Elephant and Macaw Banner was able to make this contribution, however small, to further education about the terrible past of slavery in the Americas. Education is the only way we can begin to correct the effects of these wrongs which continue on today.

If you’re ever near Wallace, Louisiana, please pay the museum a visit and see for yourself the incredible educational work they’re doing there.