Maiastra

Date: 2015
Size: 12″x12″ (excluding margins)

I was inspired to create this piece after viewing Brancusi’s bird sculptures. The word maïastra means “master” or “chief” in Brancusi’s native Romanian, but in Romanian folklore, the title refers specifically to a magically beneficent, dazzlingly plumed bird.

Lyell Castonguay designed, carved, and printed this original artwork. Ink is applied to a carved wooden block and hand-pressed onto Japanese Kitakata paper. Multiple carved blocks layer colors, resulting in a dramatic effect. The artist signed, titled, and numbered the edition in pencil below the image.