Carol Alleman - Seeds of Harmony

Includes custom easel.

2015 Green & Gray Exhibition, Tempe Center for the Arts, Tempe AZ. 2014 American Women Artists Master Signature and Signature Juried Exhibition; earned BRONZE AWARD. 2014 Featured in Western Art & Architecture Feature Article. 2014 Four Points Contemporary Juried Exhibition; Honorable Mention. 2013 Art League of Hilton Head, FIRST PLACE in 3D.

"Seeds of Harmony is a broad open bowl presenting nine pomegranates and a golden serpent subtly intertwined among the ripened fruits. Seeds of Harmony speaks of the potency of current times and opportunities for transformation (symbolically the serpent). The six-sided pomegranate represents harmony and abundance - a call to create abundant harmony in our lives. Seeds of Harmony was inspired by the rich, beautiful and unique pomegranate fruit.

It is published that each fruit holds an average of 600 ruby-red seeds. That's an incredible amount of potency! The sheer abundance of this inspiring fruits' seeds is enough to cause anyone to pause in great wonder and awe. The shape of the fruit is rounded hexagonal. The number six holds the symbolic quality of absolute harmony. The "rounded" (as in a circle) hexagonal shape suggests unending harmony - an unending, harmonious peel, bearing a fruit of 600 potent seeds! Our lives are already over-flowing with abundance and harmony simply awaiting pure recognition by us.

The pomegranate is also highly regarded as a symbol of fertility and growth. We all stand together, on profoundly potent soil, for planting and nurturing the true seeds of change. In this season of seemingly deep and expanding economic, environmental, political and moral challenges in our world, each pomegranate offers 600 seeds of hope. If, with each decision we make, we consider this simple question: will this decision foster harmony with all my neighbors (near and far) and with the earth? Perhaps then we would indeed quickly realize profound and vital changes in our world - and in ourselves.

If a decision is good for our neighbors, it is indeed good for us as well. We are our neighbors. What one small seed might I plant today to support a fertile, balanced and harmonious presence for all of us? The subtle serpent weaving among the branches of the pomegranate echoes a message of transformation and of growth. It speaks of shedding/leaving the old behind and growing into a new "skin" - a very new way of moving in this world. What is it, I asked, that needs to die in my life to create space for something far more harmonious to be born? I remain hopeful we are collectively moving rapidly toward a place of realizing absolute harmony.

The edition size of 45 was chosen as a derivative of the number nine. Nine is symbolic of completion. We are in the healing process of "completing" a huge transformational and profoundly vital change in the manner in which we live, consider and act - individually and collectively. This message is echoed in Seeds of Harmony with the potent and fertile volume of blood-red seeds (5400); the meandering serpent of transformation; and the harmonious and unending form of the nine pomegranates. When adding the numbers one through nine together the result is 45 - hence the edition size of 45. " - Carol Alleman.

Pomegranate Facts:

1. Pomegranate leaves are opposite or sub-opposite, glossy, oblong and narrow.

2. The fruit is rounded hexagonal in shape with approximately 600 seeds in each. The seeds are called arils. Its name is derived from the Latin pomum (apple) and granatus (seed) - meaning apple with many seeds.

3. Pomegranates are stated to be symbols of fertility, fecundity, abundance, blood and fruitfulness. According to Cirlot's "A Dictionary of Symbols," they represent the perfect illustration of multiplicity. And, Walker in the "Womens' Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets," they are symbolic of giving birth, and eaten by souls in the underworld to bring about rebirth. Personally, they are symbolic of both birth and death - the blood-red, plentiful seeds in its interior reflective of the blood of both birth and death.

4. Pomegranate is one of the three blessed fruits in the Chinese Buddhist tradition. In the Jewish tradition, pomegranates represent the 613 commandments in the Torah. For this reason (and others), many Jews eat pomegranates on Rosh Hashanah. Rosh Hashanah is the head of the year in Jewish tradition. It is the first of ten days of repentance that includes the holiday of Yom Kippur. Repentance means confession and changing action to live according to religious law in harmony. Christian tradition questions whether the pomegranate may be the true fruit of the tree of life. Pomegranates are prominent at Greek weddings and funerals. It is also traditional, in Greece, to break a pomegranate on New Year.

5. The plant is deciduous in the form of a small tree or shrub.

6. The beautiful and showy ruby bloom is displayed in the spring.