Victorian Ex Votos
Ex Voto : a votive offering
Jo Ellen’s Victorian Ex Votos are paintings representing moments in time of personal realizations or observations.
All Ex Votos are Acrylic on Canvas
Text in the painting is displayed to the right
The Knife Thrower
We had all heard of Hensch, the famous or infamous knife
thrower. He had stepped boldly, or recklessly over the line
never before crossed by knife throwers, and had managed
to make a reputation out of a disreputable thing. He had
wounded an assistant badly. It was here that he introduced
the idea of the "artful wound" . The mark of blood that
was the mark of the master. There were many young
women especially, who long to be wounded by the master
and bear his scar proudly.
"The Knife Thrower and Other Stories"
By Steven Millhauser
14" X 11" (unframed)
Acrylic
Jadoo Wallah's East Indian Rope Trick
It was the Rope Trick, the twenty-third of the Bangali
jugglers' legerdemain display, that was the most marvelous
of all and would become the benchmark against which all
feats of Indian magic would be measured.
They produced a chain of fifty cubits in length, and in my
presence, threw one end of it towards the sky, where it
remained as if fastened to something in the air.. A dog
was then brought forward, and being placed at the lower
end of the chain immediately ran up and reaching the
end immediately disappeared in the air.
John Zubrzychi
Jadoo Wallah's, Jugglers & Jinns
11" X 14" (unframed)
16 1/2" X 19 1/2" (framed)
Acrylic
Ring Master of Trickery
"Damn everything but the circus!.....damn everything that
is grim, dull, motionless, unrisking, inward turning, damn
everything that won't get into the circle, that won't enjoy.
That won't throw it's heart into the tension, surprise, fear
and delight of the circus, the round world, the full
existence..."
e. e. Cummings
16" X 20" (unframed)
25 1/2" X 21 1/2" (framed)
Acrylic
Whispering Birds Arguing
When the wooden birds began to whisper it really didn’t
bother us. We could concentrate on our work. But when
they started to argue, it became difficult to keep our
balance.
Acrylic
14” H X 11” H (unframed)
Cats Bewitched
We sat as we always sat every night. But tonight the cats
were spellbound. They licked the floor, the walls, the
furniture.
“Cats” Charles Baudelaire
In reverie they emulate the noble mood, of giant sphinxes
stretched in depths of solitude; who seem to slumber in a
never-ending dream; within their fertile loins a sparkling
magic lies; finer than any sand are dusts of gold that gleam,
vague star points, in the mystic iris of their eye.
Acrylic
14” W X 11” H (unframed)
To Sleep Inside A Bear
We researched our costumes, made drawings, tried
different materials. i knew about the Bear Clans, the Cat
Cults, the search for animal spirits. Those spirits only exist
in the animal's proper home.
"The Bear" - In late winter, I sometimes glimpse bits of
stream coming up from some fault in the old snow and
close and see it is lung-colored and put down my nose and
know the chilly, enduring odor of bear........
I hack a ravine in his thigh and eat and drink and tear him
down his whole length and open him and climb in and
close him up after me, against the wind, and sleep
Galway Kinwell 1927-2014
W 12" X H 12" painting
W 18 1/4" X H 18 1/4" painting with frame
Acrylic 2019
First He Eats Her Hair
"The very dogs will eat up Jezebel."
Was prophesized by God's own very word,
came true as wicked Jezebel paints herself;
adorns her hair, the harlot leans out to speak -
"Did all go well?" she asks sarcastically.
"Who is with me? Who?" says Jehu...
He rode with fury, righteousness his goal
he commanded, "Let her drop!"
Be trampled by the horses and left,
then eaten up by the dogs, says God's Word
the palms of hands and souls of feet
remained of her, this wicked queen.
Bible Books of 1 Kings 8:16-18, 25-27,
2 Chronicles 22:2,3, 2:7
W11" X H 14" painting
W 16 1/2" X H 19 1/2" painting with frame
Acrylic 2019
Cats in the Cage
"My beautiful cat, come onto my heart full of love;
Hold back the claws of your paw,
And let me plunge into your adorable eyes
Mixed with metal and agate.”
- Geoffrey Wagner, Selected Poems of Charles Baudelaire
(NY Grove Press, 1974)
13 ½" x 17 ½"
Sword Swallower’s Assistant
I was his assistant and that was all. Henry Ringling North
said, “the circus is a jealous wench... who kills the brightest
stars in her crown and will allow no private life for those
who serve her."
12 ½” x 14"
They Shall Not Grow Old
How is it possible to pick one or even two items that
meant so much to them.
Yet we had to decide what reminded us most of those
gone.
There were bound to be disagreements brought on by our
grief.
“They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemm.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning –
We will remember them.”
- Robert Laurence Binyon, 1914
25” x 32 ¾”
About the Shoes
It was never about the shoes. We both knew that.
After all of these years we had finally gone too far.
Even as I grabbed the heel of the red shoe,
All I could think about was the size of her hands and how
awkwardly she moved.
Time slowed down.
I felt like I was floating above us, watching our dance,
our fight….a bystander.
35” x 25 ½”
Bride of the Bees
I felt like a Queen... and now the bees made me their
bride.
“A maiden in glory, upon her wedding day, must tell
her bees the story, or else they’ll fly away – die away,
dwindle down and leave you! But if you don’t deceive
your bees, your bees will never leave you.”
- Rudyard Kipling,The Bee – Boys Song, 1906
18” x 21”
Cats Playing Piano Not Enough
I had hoped my playing would be enchanting...
I practiced and practiced, trying to be entertaining.
We had performed together for years but now, all she
wanted to do was look at herself in the mirror.
It was as though she was hypnotized by her own image.
Even the cats seemed under her spell.
30 ¼” x 26 ¼”
Dancing Stilt Walkers
To walk on stilts was magical. We were the “Moko
Jumbies," telling stories with our movements. It was a way
to dance with our great, greatgrandmothers.
13 ¼” x 17 ½”
Danza Macabra
We helped each other pile the marigolds on our head as
high as possible. We made exquisite shadows.
“Some lovers of the flesh, perhaps will claim thou art a
travesty.
They do not know the nameless elegance of the human
frame.
Tall skeleton, my heart prefers thee so.”
- Charles Baudelaire, translated by Louis Piagit Shanks
Flowers of Evil, 1931
14” x 17”
Dreams of Flying
“I learned what every dreaming child needs to know.
That no horizon is so far that you cannot get above or
beyond it.”
- Beryl Markam, West With the Night, 1942
24 ¾” x 24 ¾”
Hocus Pocus
To make our trick pass without discovery, we knew that
when the eye and ear of the beholder are both earnestly
busied, the trick is not easily discovered.
“Hocus pocus, tontus talontus, vade celeriter jubeo” –
A dark composure of words to blinde the eyes of the
beholder’s” - Conjurers
25 ½” x 38 ½"
Jumping Cats / Birds Singing in an Ear
16 ¼” x 18 ¼”
Monkeys with Crowns / Pigs with Hats
20” x 18”
Mouth Gate Monkey Skeletons
I waited for my turn to move into the mouth gate. There
were others already deep inside, but the monkeys were the
most difficult to compete against. Sometimes they
appeared as skeletons and sometimes as humans with tails
“I broke the spell - nor deemed it’s power
could fetter me another another hour.
Ah, thoughtless! how could I forget
It’s causes were around me yet? For wheresoe’er I
looked the while, was Nature’s everlasting smile.”
- William Cullen Bryant, I Broke the Spell That Held
Me Long
22” x 30”
A Gift of Wind to Delight and Amuse
11" x 14"
Performers Spin and Dance
After all, we were performers. We expected to entertain, to
spin, to dance all night. But I didn’t expect this.
14 ¾” x 16 ¾”
Perfumed Walls
I would press my body against the damp stone wall. It was
more than the comfort of the cool darkness. The smell was
intoxicating to me, like perfume. I could sink into it and
disappear into it’s vapors.
16 ¾” x 15”
Promises Made to the Sick
We prayed on it. I made promises. That’s what I felt I had
to do, but I would have said anything. Now it was time for
me to honor my pledge, while I wondered what would
happen if I didn’t. Who would know?
22 ¾” x 20”
Pushed into the Well
"Little girls this seems to say,
Never stop upon your way,
Never trust a stranger friend;
No one knows how it will end."
- Perault’s Fairy Tales
12 ¼” x 14”
Skeleton’s Tea Party
"England a fortune telling host,
As num’rous as the stars, could boast;
Matrons, who toss the cup and see
The grounds of fate, in grounds of tea;"
- Charles Churchill, 1731 – 1769
16” x 20”
Spider Woman Using Her Web
I used to travel a great deal when I was younger. But now I
question: How did I find my way out of that jungle?
Where were those mountains in India? Did I cross that
desert in summer? As I get older, I hope those memories
come back. But it makes no difference if all of those
fantastic things I think I saw, never really existed.
25 ” x 38 ¾”
Struwwelpeter
She read to us every day with the intent to make a
difference in our lives. ”Struwelpeter”, by Heinrich
Hoffman had a story about about a boy who sucked his
thumb.
"The great tall tailor always comes
To little boys who suck their thumbs
And ‘ere they dream what he’s about,
He takes his great sharp scissors out.
And cuts their thumbs clean off-
And then, you know, they never grow again.
Mamma scarcely turn’d her back,
The thumb was in, Alack! Alack!"
16” x 20”
Stepping Off the Edge
“When you come to the edge of all the light you’ve
known, and are about to step off into the darkness of the
unknown: Faith is knowing one of two things will
happen, you’ll have something solid to stand on, or you’ll
be taught to fly.”
- Patrick Overton, The Leaning Tree
27” x 31”
The Magician
I believed I could get what I wanted if I practiced and
practiced. Levitation wasn’t enough anymore. I wanted to
make something disappear.
40” x 36”
A Song to Ease the Dying
A Poem by Tecumseh
“When it comes your time to die, be not like those whose
hearts are filled with the fear of death, so that when their
time comes they weep and pray for a little more time to
live their lives over again in a different way. Sing your
death song and die like a hero going home.”
- Chief Tecumseh, 1768 - 1813
28 ½” x 21¼"
Transitioning With Music
I am in need of music that would flow over my fretful,
feeling fingertips, Over my bitter-tainted, trembling lips,
with melody, deep, clear, and liquid-slow. Oh, for the
healing swaying, old and low, of some song sung to rest the
tired dead, A song to fall like water on my head, and over
quivering limbs, dream flushed to glow!
“I Am In Need Of Music” by Elizabeth Bishop 1911-1919
Acrylic
Size 9” X 11”
To Run Away From Wicked Deeds
To wicked deeds I was inclined, and wicked fancies crossed
my mind; And every man I chanced to see, I thought he
knew some ill of me. No peace, no comfort could I find,
no ease, within doors or without; And crazily, and wearily,
I went my work about. Oft-times I thought to run away;
for me it was a woeful day.
William Wordsworth 1815
Acrylic
Size 9” X 12”
To Be Like Amelia
I’m dreaming, I’m floating. I should be happy, but all I can
think about is the danger below.
In 1928, Amelia Earhart wrote a letter to her father to be
opened upon her death.
She wrote:
“Dearest Dad, Hooray for the last grand adventure! I wish
I had won but it was worthwhile anyway. You know that.”
I wish I was more like Amelia.
Acrylic
Size 8” X 10”
Wolves Driven Crazy By Perfume
How splendid the sunsets are on warm evenings! How
deep space is!
How potent is the heart!
In bending over you, queen of adored women,
I thought I breathed the perfume in your blood.
How splendid the sunsets are on warm evenings!
“The Balcony”, By Charles Baudelaire 1836
(Translated By William Aggelep 1954)
Acrylic
Size 10” X 12”