Wood and Cast Metal Sculpture by Ed Tajchman - "Jezinka"

This is the latest sculpture from myself (Ed Tajchman) It is made from Cedar and Atlantis wood, carved cow and buffalo bone, cast aluminum. It's called "Jezinka" which is from the word "Yaga", which in modern Czech translates to "wicked wood nymph, dryad". The idea behind it was my take on a Baba Yaga shack. Baba Yaga is an old Slavic myth about a witch who lives in the woods in a shack that travels around on chicken feet. The bones represent those of her victims, but if you approach with caution she might offer a boon. The piece evolved into more of a totemic embodiment of Baba Yaga.

"Jezinka" by Ed Tajchman

"Jezinka" by Ed Tajchman (rear view)

Sarva Buddha Dakini Painting and Poem

Dance and the walls are around you.
Moonlight begins to fill your soul.
Dance and the walls move around you.
Leaves on trees fill the corners of vision.
Dance and the walls dissolve.
A fire starts to burn in your soul.
Dance and the world dances with you.
Colors swirl, emotions converge, unity ensues.

-Ed Tajchman

Sarva Buddha Dakinin, 36 x 53 inches, Ed Tajchman, acrylic on canvas, ©.
This is my version of this mythological figure that Joseph Campbell describes as, "A kind of fairy goddess of all the Buddhas". She drinks blood from the top of a skull. She holds a flaying knife in her left hand in which to dispatch her victims. She wears a kilt of carved human bones and necklace of human skulls. Kali the Hindu goddess is a similar figure. To dance with this goddess is to dance with death, one must be unafraid.