From Star dust to Star dust
Takaya, The Lone Wolf
25” x 19”
Soft pastels, pastel pencils, colored pencils on Canson Mi-Teintes paper
Private Collection
Artist Statement:
In October 2019, I watched the film about Takaya on The Nature of Things. I was struck by his intelligence, resilience, how he adapted, his beauty, and last but not least his mesmerizing eyes. His eyes drew you in. I sensed Takaya had a serene side as well. He lived in the moment. Deep down, I feel/think he knew Discovery Island, in British Columbia, Canada, was a safe haven.
Sadly, after being relocated in January 2019 on Vancouver Island, Takaya was legally shot and killed by a hunter in March 2019.
Creating the painting of Takaya was a grieving process, and at the same time, paying homage to an extraordinary sentient being.
My rendition of the yellow/orange highlights from the sunlight symbolizes Takaya’s last dawn/dusk on this Earth. The blue shadows, with the lines on Takaya’s face represent his consciousness departing from this world and merging with the intelligence/creativity of the Cosmos. The soft pastels lines emanating from Takaya’s back, front of the body, and up from the top of his head represent the molecules, the atoms, dispersing from his physical form, and reuniting with the Natural world, the galaxies, the Universe – from star dust to star dust.
Everything is impermanent - Impermanence guarantees hunting wolves will end one day.
Because of you, Takaya, my compassion for The Natural World has opened wide and growing now more than ever, and that it’s ok to share my grief with the Natural World. Mother Earth has witnessed your life and your death. She feels, she sees, she hears the people’s grief, and it’s loud and clear.
To Takaya:
May you be happy
May you be well
May you peaceful
May you be free
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