Ensemble of 7 Pieces, each 20”x16”
The Pleiades star cluster, located in the constellation Taurus, is one of the most recognizable sights in the night sky. Across cultures and continents—from Ancient Greece to Indigenous North America and Indigenous Australia—the cluster has often been associated with seven young women. Because remarkably similar stories of seven sisters pursued by a hunter and transformed into stars appear around the world, some anthropologists have suggested that this may be humanity’s oldest surviving myth, with origins that could stretch back more than 100,000 years.
In the best-known Greek version of the story, the Seven Sisters—Maia, Electra, Taygete, Alcyone, Celaeno, Asterope, and Merope—were the daughters of the Titan Atlas and the sea nymph Pleione. The giant hunter Orion relentlessly pursued them for seven years. To protect the sisters, Zeus transformed them into a flock of doves and placed them among the stars. Orion, too, was immortalized in the sky as a constellation and is said to eternally pursue the sisters across the heavens, creating a celestial chase that continues night after night.
The Seven Sisters of the Pleiades, each with their unique traits and stories, embody a beautiful tapestry of diversity. The portraits celebrate this multicultural representation, showcasing the sisters as reflections of various races and backgrounds. This artistic choice highlights the universality of their myths, emphasizing that their qualities—strength, beauty, independence, and wisdom—transcend cultural boundaries.
By portraying the sisters as a multiracial ensemble, we honor the idea that every culture has its own interpretation of these celestial figures, creating a rich dialogue between heritage and mythology. Together, they remind us of the strength found in diversity, uniting us under the shared light of the stars.
Life is Good!
Ensemble of 7 Pieces, each 20”x16”
The Pleiades star cluster, located in the constellation Taurus, is one of the most recognizable sights in the night sky. Across cultures and continents—from Ancient Greece to Indigenous North America and Indigenous Australia—the cluster has often been associated with seven young women. Because remarkably similar stories of seven sisters pursued by a hunter and transformed into stars appear around the world, some anthropologists have suggested that this may be humanity’s oldest surviving myth, with origins that could stretch back more than 100,000 years.
In the best-known Greek version of the story, the Seven Sisters—Maia, Electra, Taygete, Alcyone, Celaeno, Asterope, and Merope—were the daughters of the Titan Atlas and the sea nymph Pleione. The giant hunter Orion relentlessly pursued them for seven years. To protect the sisters, Zeus transformed them into a flock of doves and placed them among the stars. Orion, too, was immortalized in the sky as a constellation and is said to eternally pursue the sisters across the heavens, creating a celestial chase that continues night after night.
The Seven Sisters of the Pleiades, each with their unique traits and stories, embody a beautiful tapestry of diversity. The portraits celebrate this multicultural representation, showcasing the sisters as reflections of various races and backgrounds. This artistic choice highlights the universality of their myths, emphasizing that their qualities—strength, beauty, independence, and wisdom—transcend cultural boundaries.
By portraying the sisters as a multiracial ensemble, we honor the idea that every culture has its own interpretation of these celestial figures, creating a rich dialogue between heritage and mythology. Together, they remind us of the strength found in diversity, uniting us under the shared light of the stars.
Life is Good!
