Venus of Willendorf – Symbol of Fertility
My life in clay took a huge turn at the corner of Organic Ware and Sculpture when I accepted a challenge to sculpt my favorite character in clay. A likeness of the person I was intent on sculpting had been stuck in my head for quite some time.
Venus of Willendorf the Goddess of Fertility, a small talisman held in a woman’s hand to help her conceive, has held such mystery for me. To my immediate dismay, I was to sculpt my image of Venus of Willendorf, from memory – a least until I could carve away no more clay from memory . Soon I could scarcely remember Venus of Willendorf’s features – face, hair, hands, feet. At least I could give her both rotund belly and buttocks. Time for me to examine the pictures that had so inspired me.
I studied several photographs of Venus of Willendorf. All seemed to emphasize her egg-shape, large breasts, and pubic areas rather than the usual facial features, hands, and feet of women. Plus, Venus wore an unusual head covering or cap. Why was that cap to keep her head warm while other clothing was not apparent?
As I subtracted and added clay, this wonderful sculpture emerged quickly as did my love for her story. The first figurine of Venus of Willendorf was discovered 25,000 years in the town of Willendorf, Austria. It is only 4.4 inches long but is noted for its display of fertility. The simplicity of Venus spoke to her perceived powers of influencing fertility whether the powers were real or not
My first sculpture of Venus of Willendorf now resides as artists say in Elk Rapids, MI. She had accompanied me to several art shows. A study in and of itself was the reactions of art show patrons. Many people “got it” while some people laughed at her huge belly and naked body. Near the end of the show, a woman recognized Venus. She rushed across to my tent saying, “I have to have her! I am a mid-wife. I know what she is about. I talk to my patients about her often. I rode to the show with my son-in-law and didn’t even pick up my credit card. I’ll have to find him to pay you!”
This mid-wife understood that the “hat” made for Venus’ head with a shell was representative of the “caul” – a piece of membrane that sometimes dried on a newborn’s head believed to indicate that child would have special powers! The mid-wife understood so much more.
The midwife took her treasure home. I packed up and left the show. Venus was the first of only one of a few pieces I have missed when a show was over. The mid-wife and I hugged tightly as she left for home. What a blessing it was to me to have her love my sculpture as much as I did making it!
Subsequently, I have sculpted a large of group of women who have influenced the contributions women have made to the rights of women today. Many of them have vanished into anonymity. I still come back to Venus of Willendorf a couple times a year. I have made several more, but this first will always remain special to me!