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The truth of it is, I had just turned twelve when I was initiated as a guide in the liminal space I now call the BARDOLANDS: the place of transformational tension and required stop on the journey to becoming.
Most of us are familiar with this tension during adolescence, a time when we seek to identify who we are, why we’re here and where we are going. If we're alive, even just a little bit, we are destined to revisit this place throughout our lives. But without the benefit of elders, true community, and a modern mythology to show us the way, many of us get lost in it if we even answer the call to adventure in the first place. My hope and intention is to create art and tell stories that calls people to, and aids them in moving through the transformational tension. Using my own archetypal guides, The Shepherd, Coyote, and the King, I help others "steal" back what is rightfully theirs with a rebellious freedom that requires no apology. Hope to see you there, in the in-between. Yours in service, Capt. R. M. Trotta The Pirate King of the Bardolands |
Totems & Storykeepers
The figures I sculpt are inspired by things I've discovered while dwelling within the Bardolands. A place where rules exist to be broken and the impossible, becomes possible. Be it an owl, bear, a walrus-unicorn, or funny little monster wearing a bunny costume, each one of the Bardolands creatures falls under one of several categories:
Totems - Traditionally, a totem is any “sacred object that serves as an emblem of a particular group of people such as family, clan, tribe, lineage, role, or belief.” Totems often take the form of things found in nature such as animals, plants, or trees. Relevant shapes, patterns, and colors may also be used in the creation of totems.
Each of the totems I sculpt are done primarily from one of three archetypal energies I personally identify and work with; The Shepherd, Coyote, and the King. You'll likely see how this influences my work when I tell you that figures like the Message Monsters are created through the Shepherd and serve as a protector of innocence and childhood wonder. The Coyote, that ever-changing trickster who keeps us on our toes and learning life's deeper lessons, is responsible for such creations as the Raven King (another trickster). Finally, it's the King archetype, the one that calls for a sense of sovereignty and ownership over the self, that lends his hand to the making of many of the Storykeepers.
Before starting a piece, I consult with each of these archetypal influences and allow whichever is best suited for the job to take the lead. When doing a commission piece, I like to spend time getting to know the customer and their intention for the piece, often asking questions that aid with this process in order to ensure the final piece serves them in many powerful ways.
Storykeepers™ - A Storykeeper is exactly as the name implies; a space for an individual, couple, family, or even community to hold, literally and metaphorically, the ever-evolving story of who they are. Each one has an empty chamber inside where smaller totems, scrolls of paper, or special objects can be kept. Think of it as a living time-capsule. Using a Storykeeper creates a sense of ceremony, making it easier for a person to communicate their story and transition into the person they strive to be while at the same time helping loved ones understand how they can support the process rather tan hold that person to their old identity. Each Storykeeper comes with a link to a tele-class that will inspire new possibilities and help get you started. "Storykeepers: Don't wait 'til your dead to fill one with your story!"
Art Toy - Art toys or Designer toys are really more art then toy. In fact, you might argue that they themselves have one foot in the world of child-like wonder and one foot in the Bardolands. Youthful, often cute, sometimes whimsically creepy, art toys tend rely on the juxtaposition of two or more unlike qualities. In doing so, they can speak a truth on both a literal and mythic level, pulling us forward and giving us a glimpse of our own divinity. At least that's what I'm shooting for in the pieces I make. I see the making of art toys on the rise. largely found in the world of comics and movies, I believe there increasing popularity is an unconscious cry for initiatory experiences. Well, I intend to make it conscious.
Totems - Traditionally, a totem is any “sacred object that serves as an emblem of a particular group of people such as family, clan, tribe, lineage, role, or belief.” Totems often take the form of things found in nature such as animals, plants, or trees. Relevant shapes, patterns, and colors may also be used in the creation of totems.
Each of the totems I sculpt are done primarily from one of three archetypal energies I personally identify and work with; The Shepherd, Coyote, and the King. You'll likely see how this influences my work when I tell you that figures like the Message Monsters are created through the Shepherd and serve as a protector of innocence and childhood wonder. The Coyote, that ever-changing trickster who keeps us on our toes and learning life's deeper lessons, is responsible for such creations as the Raven King (another trickster). Finally, it's the King archetype, the one that calls for a sense of sovereignty and ownership over the self, that lends his hand to the making of many of the Storykeepers.
Before starting a piece, I consult with each of these archetypal influences and allow whichever is best suited for the job to take the lead. When doing a commission piece, I like to spend time getting to know the customer and their intention for the piece, often asking questions that aid with this process in order to ensure the final piece serves them in many powerful ways.
Storykeepers™ - A Storykeeper is exactly as the name implies; a space for an individual, couple, family, or even community to hold, literally and metaphorically, the ever-evolving story of who they are. Each one has an empty chamber inside where smaller totems, scrolls of paper, or special objects can be kept. Think of it as a living time-capsule. Using a Storykeeper creates a sense of ceremony, making it easier for a person to communicate their story and transition into the person they strive to be while at the same time helping loved ones understand how they can support the process rather tan hold that person to their old identity. Each Storykeeper comes with a link to a tele-class that will inspire new possibilities and help get you started. "Storykeepers: Don't wait 'til your dead to fill one with your story!"
Art Toy - Art toys or Designer toys are really more art then toy. In fact, you might argue that they themselves have one foot in the world of child-like wonder and one foot in the Bardolands. Youthful, often cute, sometimes whimsically creepy, art toys tend rely on the juxtaposition of two or more unlike qualities. In doing so, they can speak a truth on both a literal and mythic level, pulling us forward and giving us a glimpse of our own divinity. At least that's what I'm shooting for in the pieces I make. I see the making of art toys on the rise. largely found in the world of comics and movies, I believe there increasing popularity is an unconscious cry for initiatory experiences. Well, I intend to make it conscious.
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The Bardolands Flag: "Raise the Black!"
I created the Bardolands flag while engaged in identity work of my own. "The Black" serves as a powerful talisman for me. The idea of a pirate flag speaks to my devotion to rebellious freedom. The skeleton is a reminder of the short time we have in this life so get off your ass and live it! The lightning is how I strive to strike, powerfully and accurate. And the snake... the snake is a symbol of renewal and transformation. All parts together, the flag represents my commitment to living fully and connected to my Original Medicine. |