RUNNING THE WAVES
ACRYLICS ON CEDAR W/RED OAK FRAME
FALL 2022

     The popular Japanese motif of a white rabbit running above the waves is one frequently seen in paintings, ceramics, and textile designs.  The design itself refers to the story “The Hare of Inaba” which dates from the year 710 CE.  This legend tells how the hare ran across the backs of sharks, thus appearing to run on the waves.  I have loved the design combination of rabbits, waves, and the moon, and finally was able to compose a painting using these motifs.  Several textile designs and two paintings from the Kano School provided artistic inspiration.  The design for the rabbit was also inspired by both Northwest Coast Native and Celtic art traditions.  I included a Japanese textile pattern of interconnected circles (called Shippo-tsunagi) in the interior of the rabbit to emphasize its spiritual significance (this is no ordinary rabbit).  Including the textile pattern for the rabbit unintentionally makes a further connection to the story of the Velveteen Rabbit.  The frame was made out of red oak using pegged, hand-joined, mortise-and-tenon construction methods.  The Japanese technique (shou-sugi-ban) of charring and oiling the oak was used to finish the frame.
 
DIMENSIONS:          HEIGHT:  14 inches
                                  WIDTH:  25 ½ inches

                                                             PRICE $500

Rabbit, Wave, and Full Moon-Kano Tsunenobu

KANO OSANOBU (1796-1846) Rabbits Frolicking in the Waves

a Kyoto noren with rabbits & waves