I know Allen less well. He has a Ph.D. in Political Science. He has taught at the University of Washington. He is a really good artist and has also been life and business partners with Leon for 15 years as of last August.
Leon was a psychic from early adolescence and became a Wiccan in 1973 in Victoria in an eclectic group called Hern-Ra-Ha. He came to Seattle in 1977 to manage the Beltane Bookstore. He pursued initiation in Kingstone British Traditional Craft. He joined the Gorsedd of the British Druid Order three years ago at Avebury.
Lavender Magick was the brainchild of James Moore, "Laughing Otter," and Tim Ness, both now deceased. Allen and Leon were also both there and signed up immediately. It allows people who want to show their support for the gay and lesbian rights cause to self-select. They began a contingent in the annual gay rights parade in 1983 and have begun a local Druidic circle - or Gorsedd. It was founded about one year ago and is called the Gorsedd of Bards of Caer Pugetia.
They just opened a new store and gallery called Travelers.
Sylvana: How long have you been interested in art, and what type do you now do?
Leon: My art is altar-making and the (ritual) performances which are done at them.
Allen: I've been interested in art all my life. Painting and drawing since I could hold a crayon.
S: What do you think about the role of the gods in inspiring
artistic endeavors?
L: It is my feeling that the gods build the situations
we deal with in all learning situations. I am not sure that there
is any reason to fear the gods, or their plans.
A: For me, art is personal expression refined beyond the
merely prosaic. I guess that means it is "poetic," though
not necessarily verbal. In my case, it is mostly visual art. I'm
also interested in provoking subjective responses in people beyond
what I can control myself. My paintings, often, do not intend
to cause a particular response, but to provide a stimulus or catalyst
for the viewers to discover something about themselves in the
work.
S: I know you are both initiated as Bards; how does that relate to the whole issue of pagan art?
L: The Bardic arts are poetry, storytelling, lineage keeping (including heraldry), family legends and so forth. All art is pagan if it's not produced by and for the people of the book - Christian, Moslem, or Jew.
A: The Bardic path, at least in Seattle, has been a way for me to cultivate my connection to this place as a foundation for artistic expression. Much of my Hindu art has grown out of my connections with India as a sacred place. The two are starting to work together for me a bit.
S: Why is the Druidic path so focused on the Bardic traditions of music and storytelling?
L: Storytelling is the oldest form of history. As Bards, we are walking historians and living libraries.
A: The gods inspire me to try and invoke them through artistic representation, I suppose. I have been creating images of pagan deities since I was in junior high, way back in the Sixties (albeit late Sixties). The paintings in my shop were all created "ritually," in that I worked on them on particular days of the week dedicated to them in Hindu tradition. And I know that a work is done when the deity seems to me to take residence in the image. When Lakshmi gives you a wink and a smile, you know she's in there!
S: Do you think the Druid path is innately more artistically
inclined in general than generic paganism?
L: I feel people are attracted to the art they resonate
to. Artists are attracted to do art. It's really not surprising.
A: Generally it is a more explicit goal of Druidry than
of other paths, but not necessarily in every individual instance.
Druidry, for me, is about channeling earth/place/spirit
into artistic expression.
S: How involved are you personally with the artistic energy?
L: The artistic energy is the creative impulse of Cerridwen's Cauldron. The magical cauldron was cooked down until three drops remained. These are the Awen or creative impulse.
A: I like all kinds of art. The best art is that which effects a change in the viewer (or listener, as the case may be).
S: Do you yourselves do any specific kind of art?
L: Art - if dance, chant and circle casting are in many ways equivalent to Yantra, Mantra and Tantra of Hindu traditions.
S: Who as far as contemporary pagan artists do you like and why?
L: I'm very fond of Allen's oils, and I love many of the symbolists and the Tarot artistry of the last 20 years. I am also very fond of Heidi's art and Man-Woman's, as well as Laurie Anderson and similar performance artists.
S: What function do you think art serves in the pagan community?
L: Art serves to keep our stories and myths in forms accessible to the individual.
S: We know that you have just opened a new store called Travelers. What is it, what kinds of things do you have and how does it relate to pagan art?
L: We have many roles to play at Travelers. We see ourselves as serving the community of travelers; we are all traveling somewhere. We have a focus on handicrafts, hand-blown and fine art. We also have healthy teas, herbs, both organic and wild-crafted and spices, cards and so forth. The name tells the tale best. Travelers: world products for health and home.
A: Travelers is in part a "reincarnation" of another shop, Dancing Shiva, which was previously at the same location. I guess all my years of devotion to Shiva finally paid off. After gaining a Ph.D. (in Indian politics) and being eager to teach and lecture, it has been frustrating not to find an outlet for my expression. Since the shop focuses partly on objects from India and Nepal, it draws people with an interest in the region. Also it gives me a place to display my art, which is nice. I didn't paint all these big paintings to have them sit at home, so it's nice to get them out there. And of course Leon is a great incense maker and oil blender, as well as herbalist, so I wanted a place where his expertise would shine. In time we hope to bring in travelers to share their adventures and do evening get-togethers of people interested in South Asia and other topics.
S: Is there anything else you'd like people to know? How can people find you?
L: We want people who have traveled to schedule time to come in and show their pictures and tell their stories. We also invite any who want to join us for the Druid Gorsedd to come to the next one, near the end of April in Volunteer park (watch for flyers). I also want to thank the pagan community for the financial support that they have shown both the store and the Gorsedd. We still have a long way to go, but we are slowly getting there. Heartfelt thanks to you all!
Leon and Allen can be found drinking tea most days from noon till 8 p.m. at their new store, Travelers, which is located on lower Capitol Hill at 501 E Pine. Phone (206) 329-6260, or come in for tea - your first cup is free!
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