Art and Soul for the Earth
Big Island of Hawai'i
The Dance the Spirit Series
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Rare Original Works for Sale by Calley O’Neill
GAIA HAWAI‘I ~ MOTHER EARTH
By Calley O’Neill, 1980
Medium: Politec acrylic glaze painting with an a’a niu (coconut cloth) and koa frame crafted by the artist.
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Dimensions: 49” x 35”
The Story: This highly detailed illuminated manuscript-style painting is a tribute to our Mother Earth, revered across time and cultures as the source of life and renewal....At its center is Papa, the Hawaiian Earth Mother...She is surrounded by ancient manifestations of the life giving primordial Mother. who has been acknowledged by agrarian societies around the world since time immemorial...From the Neolithic era to modern times, these figures represent wisdom, fertility, abundance, and the cycles of creation and transformation...She is the Great Mother of all....Their names are meticulously and subtley hand lettered in the painting (listed below).
Since time immemorial, agrarian societies have honored the Earth Goddess today’s scientists call Gaia, associating her with abundance and the sustenance of civilization...The persistence of this ancient tradition is a testament to the enduring significance of the Earth Mother in our cultural heritage...Many of these ancient deities were linked to grains and staple food...In homage to this tradition, the painting’s border features the seven primary food staples that sustain humanity: breadfruit, rice, wheat, corn, taro, cassava, and sweet potato.
Commission and Dedication: Commissioned by the University of Hawai’i Sustainability Committee as Hawai'i's signature artwork for the 20th Anniversary of Earth Day in 1990, this piece is not just a tribute to our Earth, but a dedication to Calley’s dear friend and patron, the late Paul Mitchell...His visionary work establishing sustainable business practices and funding projects for a solar-powered future was a testament to his love for the Earth...This painting is a celebration of his legacy.
Price: The asking price for this rare, provocative once-in-a lifetime painting is $125,000...Serious collectors are invited to explore this unique offering. ..Please get in touch with Calley O'Neill or her Art Representative, Mr. Murti Vinayaga, for more information and to arrange a private visit to Calley's home for an intimate viewing of the artwork.
Legend – Earth Mothers Portrayed in the Painting: Clockwise from upper right corner, each name is subtly inscribed on its respective icon.
•Mother Earth of Crete
Mother Earth of Crete•Dakini (Bringer of Wisdom) – Nepal
Dakini (Bringer of Wisdom) – Nepal•Female Shinto Deity – Japan
Female Shinto Deity – Japan•Faceless Mother Goddess – Malta
Faceless Mother Goddess – Malta•Bear Mother (Primordial Genitrix) – Northwest Coast Indians
Bear Mother (Primordial Genitrix) – Northwest Coast Indians•Goddess Figure – Sanchi, India
Goddess Figure – Sanchi, India•Great Goddess of Harappa – Indus Valley
Great Goddess of Harappa – Indus Valley•Hindu Fertility Carving – Khajuraho, India
Hindu Fertility Carving – Khajuraho, India•Coatlicue (Goddess of Death and Rebirth) – Aztec, Mexico
Coatlicue (Goddess of Death and Rebirth) – Aztec, Mexico•Astarte / Horned Ishtar – Ancient Near East
Astarte / Horned Ishtar – Ancient Near East•Ceres (Corn Goddess) – Rome
Ceres (Corn Goddess) – Rome•Ibo Earth Mother – Nigeria
Ibo Earth Mother – Nigeria•Isis (Exemplary Mother) – Ancient Egypt
Isis (Exemplary Mother) – Ancient Egypt•Prehistoric Goddess Figure – Japan
Prehistoric Goddess Figure – Japan•Gaia – Greece
Gaia – Greece•Demeter (Giver of Wheat) – Greece
Demeter (Giver of Wheat) – Greece•Rare Female Hawaiian Aumakua (Ancestral Spirit) – Hawai‘i
Rare Female Hawaiian Aumakua (Ancestral Spirit) – Hawai‘i•Diana (Artemis) of Ephesus – Turkey, 100 AD
Diana (Artemis) of Ephesus – Turkey, 100 AD Center Band:
•The Supreme Goddess as Void – 14th Century, India
The Supreme Goddess as Void – 14th Century, India•Birth of a Goddess – Greece
Birth of a Goddess – Greece•Pre-Columbian Figure – Mexico
Pre-Columbian Figure – MexicoDANCE THE SPIRIT 17: CHICAGO ~ A TIMELESS CONNECTION
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By Calley O’Neill, 1988
Medium: This unique piece in the Dance the Spirit series is a mixed media Politec acrylic glaze painting on a Gatorfoam panel with pencil, newspaper and a'a niu (coconut cloth) collage, beads, brass, and a lashed bamboo frame.
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Dimensions: 50” by 40”
In a world where time bends and the past and present coexist, there is a story of unity, strength, and contrast woven into a single moment of transformation...This painting is an echo of the extraordinary dance of humanity.
On either side, two African women emerge as symbols of an ancient heritage, grace, and wisdom from Mother Africa...Their portraits rise from the depth of time, carrying the tribal spirit of ancient African traditions in harmony with the Earth...Their hands are connected to the soil and the roots of the world, where knowledge is passed through generations and embedded in the land they tend...These women are one with an ancient continuum, mothers, daughters, and sisters of a vibrant, resilient culture.
In the center, a black Chicago woman stands strong as a beacon of modern history, a peaceful warrior in her own right, standing for equality, justice, and change...She represents the strength of the present moment and the heartbeat of a city that stands as a monument to human perseverance and power...Her spirit pulses above the towering skyscrapers of Chicago, giants made of glass, steel, and ambition, symbols of modern progress and urban life.
These two worlds, one of ancestral wisdom and the other of modern-day life, are intricately linked by a newspaper collage of Chicago’s downtown, where past and present collide in place...The newspapers, worn with age and stories, became the fabric of this connection...They tell the stories of everyday life, lived and forgotten, imprints of our collective memory.
We live in an amazing time when everything is happening at once and we have many choices to make. It is a time when we are called to remember our roots and to face forward, to question, to love, and to create a good life for all life...It is an extraordinary time to be alive.
This painting is a visual tribute to this sacred moment: we are all together in a single breath. It reminds us that in the dance of life, everything is happening now. and we are a part of creating the future.
Price: The asking price for this rare, provocative once-in-a lifetime painting is $85,000...Serious collectors are invited to explore this unique offering...Please get in touch with Calley O'Neill or her Art Representative, Mr. Murti Vinayaga, for more information and to arrange a private visit for an intimate viewing of the artwork.
DANCE THE SPIRIT 23 ~ THE TRANCE DANCE
By Calley O’Neill, 2008
Medium: Politec acrylic glaze painting on Gatorfoam panel with lashed bamboo frame, feathers, beads, shells, and leather handcrafted by the artist,
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Dimensions: 48” by 38”
One of Calley’s most cherished Dance the Spirit works, this captivating piece hangs in her bedroom, emanating the spirit of peace, harmony, deep rest, and good dreaming...It has daily nourishing significance in the artist's life, which adds a layer of depth and connection, making it a striking work in any space and an evocative conversation starter...The luminous depth and unparalleled vibrancy of this work is achieved with the old-world, labor-intensive glaze painting technique.
This painting is a pivotal work in the Dance the Spirit series, an invitation to liberate oneself from excessive thinking and doing...This work invites us to relax and dream of what we really want. It invokes us to take sacred pauses often and meditate in silent stillness for calming moments during the day.
Here, one is invited to let the painting relax your thoughts and allow them to float...Calley’s favorite word in Hawaiian is mana'olana, hope, literally floating thoughts...May we all dream big dreams to benefit all people everywhere.
Price: The asking price for this rare, peaceful glaze painting is $85,000...Serious collectors or interested buyers are invited to get in touch with the artist or her representative, Mr. Murti Vinayaga, to arrange a private viewing and discuss the value and details of this Dance the Spirit work.
DANCE THE SPIRIT: 26 ~ ONCE THERE WAS A RIVER, NOW THERE’S A STONE
By Calley O’Neill, 1978
Medium: Politec acrylic glaze painting on the artist's only handmade gessoed panel with beeswax candles and the artist’s handcrafted lashed bamboo frame.
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Dimensions: 48” by 38”
The Story: Calley's fascination with rivers is deeply personal...She loves rivers, finding them endlessly mysterious and astonishing. ..How do they keep flowing?..This painting is about a day the river stopped. Once There Was a River, Now There's a Stone is a visual prayer for water...As Indigenous wisdom carriers around the world teach, water is life.
Fresh, clean water is the most precious and limited resource on Earth...Only 2.5% of the planet's water is freshwater, nearly all of which is locked away in ice, the atmosphere, or deep underground...Less than 0.5% is available to sustain all life...More than 99% of Earth's water is unusable for humans and all species, yet this delicate balance has remained unchanged for millennia. ..Water is not infinite; it is sacred and must be conserved and protected.
In 1983, the Rio Grande faced one of its greatest crises, drying up in Albuquerque, New Mexico, for the first time in recorded history....Decades of water diversions, damming, and increasing agricultural demands had pushed the river to the brink, and a deepening drought made matters worse. ..By the late 1980s, growing alarm over the river's decline sparked a shift in public awareness, leading to conservation efforts such as a water conservation strategy and agricultural water efficiency practices to restore its flow and safeguard its future....This moment marked a turning point, a recognition that the Rio Grande was not an endless resource to be taken, but a lifeline in need of care.
This painting captures a farmer’s sincere prayer for water...It is a visual call for water conservation and reverence for the rivers that sustain us...The cracked riverbed reflects the challenges of a changing climate, while the man's quiet prayer, his lighted candles, and the gentle coming of rain remind us that healing is possible through awareness, care, and action...IIndigenous wisdom keepers remind us that water is true wealth.
During a time of drought, Calley tucked this painting away for years... When she saw the painting many years later, she realized how much she loved it and added the rain as a sign of renewal...The painting reflects our deep interconnection with nature, the climate, and the spirit of life itself. ..Once There Was A River remains one of her most cherished paintings.
Price: The asking price for this rare powerhouse of a painting is $85,000. ..Serious collectors and interested buyers are invited to contact the artist or her representative, Mr. Murti Vinayaga, to arrange a private viewing and discuss the value and details of this artwork.
DANCE THE SPIRIT: 31 ~ URSA MAJOR
By Calley O’Neill, 1987
Medium: Politec acrylic glaze painting with a'a niu (coconut cloth fiber) and ‘Ohi’a branch handcrafted by the artist.
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Dimensions: 43” x 34” including frame
Conservation Status: The polar bear (Ursus maritimus) is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of threatened species primarily due to the significant threat posed by climate change, leading to the loss of sea ice habitat essential for their survival...The species is also protected under CITES Appendix II, which regulates international trade for species threatened with extinction.....This is an urgent situation that calls for immediate action and heightened awareness...The time to act is now.
The Story of Ursa Major: In the night sky, Ursa Major, the Great Bear constellation, is visible throughout the Northern Hemisphere. ..It has long been recognized (with the Big Dipper and North Star forming its upper aspect) as a beacon of stability, strength, and endurance. Its stars align with an important story: extinction or conservation?
Ursa Major, depicted in this painting, is a powerful symbol of hope and resilience. It portrays a mother polar bear and her cubs resting, with a stream of trees and bears flowing out of or into the mouth of a pale figure in a deep trance. ..The vanishing footprints mark their path across a changing landscape, serving as a reminder of our choices. ..This painting is a call to action for the polar bear to inspire hope and resilience in the face of adversity. ..Polar Bears are beloved symbols of what we can protect. ..We protect what we love... Our future and theirs are one.
Polar bears have long been Calley’s favorite animal...They are among the most magnificent creatures on Earth....As apex predators, they play a crucial role in the health of the Arctic ecosystem. ..However, with the warming of our planet, their habitat is melting...The artist’s intention is that this is not the end of their story....This is the beginning of our renaissance...Their precarious status is a call to action for us to awaken from our trance...It is time to protect the Arctic and the breath of life and restore balance to the natural world. ..There is enough good work in this quest for everyone.
This small but mighty painting is more than just a piece of art; it is an invitation to join the spirit of Ursa Major and become a part of the constellation of conservation that will guide us to a brighter future.
Price: The asking price for this rare, once-in-a-lifetime painting is $75,000...This is a unique opportunity to own a piece of art that carries the essence of hope and conservation... Serious collectors are invited to explore this unique offering. ..Please get in touch with Calley O'Neill or her Art Representative, Mr. Murti Vinayaga, for more information and to arrange an intimate viewing of the artwork.
One day in 1980, my brother Rick Calley and I were walking on the Kahala beach road on Oahu and were struck seeing a’a niu (coconut cloth) all over the road...A’a niu combines the qualities of beautiful wood, woven fabric, and suede...This unique material, which we asked the tree trimmers for permission to gather, became the foundation of the Dance the Spirit series...Rick gave them to me to create with them, and the bags of lovely a'a niu went into the closet...Two years later, I pulled them out, and inspiration struck.
The Dance the Spirit series grew out of these pieces 'speaking to me.' I placed a particularly beautiful piece on watercolor paper, and that was the spark that invoked a series...Over time, dozens of paintings emerged, freeing my mind of its perennial research, deep meaning, and lofty ideals...I did not ask questions...I simply followed the visions...When people asked what they meant, I asked them to sense what it meant to them or not need to know.
In an authentic and spontaneous way, Dance the Spirit honors the Earth and the extraordinary diversity of life of which we are an integral part. ..It is a series with contemplative power and magnetism.
I have a few favorites left in my collection, and I am offering them for sale to private collectors to transform them into a home, land, and studio in Waimea.
Dance the Spirit 27: Hawaiian and African Mothers
By Calley O’Neill, 1990
Medium: Politec acrylic glaze painting on Gatorfoam panel with wooden cut-out figures, leather, and the artist’s handcrafted lashed bamboo frame.
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Dimensions: 38” by 48”
The Story: Before the world was carved by time, borders, and names, there was only the Great Mother. She was the giver of life, the first cradle of warmth, the source of all breath. ..She emerged in the heart of Africa, where the pulse of humanity first beat with the rhythms of life. ..From her, the first children walked out into Nature, carrying the fire of their ancestors in their bones, their stories in the wind, their songs in the waves, their fish from her rivers. ..Some found their way to the vast Pacific, where the blue stretched further than sight, where green and lush islands rose out of the depths of the sea. ..There, an indigenous Hawaiian mother emerged ~ rooted, timeless, her lineage woven from the fabric of the land of her birth.
In this Dance the Spirit painting, these two mothers exist together....They are not separated by oceans or time but connected through the great lineage that flows beneath all human history. ..The Hawaiian mother holds the deep, peaceful wisdom of the land and sea... The African mother, carved from spirit and clay, is a monument to the first womb, nourishment, and love. ..They are not just two individual figures; they represent our shared human origins, history, and destiny.
Behind them, a strange and wild story unfolds. ..Primitive figures in a canoe fight, some tumbling into the unknown. ..Is this the journey of those who dared to leave the cradle of humanity, moving across the great waters to new worlds? ..Or is it simply a frozen moment in time of the chaos of creation and Being, the eternal dance of evolution and adaptation? ..This journey of humanity is not just a historical timeline, it reflects our own life journey, struggles, impulses and triumphs.
This painting is born from wonderment and creativity unchained, from a love of the indigenous, the ancient, and the Great Mystery. ..It speaks of our roots, shared bloodlines, and unwritten stories whispered through the ages. ..Whether shaped in clay, woven into chants, or painted in Earth, the truth remains: we all began in the arms of Mother Africa. ..Our cultural heritage is not just a part of our past, but it is a living, breathing entity that we carry with us every day, shaping our now and our future.
Price: The asking price for this expressive origin story painting is $65,000. ..Serious collectors and patrons are invited to explore this unique offering. ..Please get in touch with Calley O'Neill or her Art Representative, Mr. Murti Vinayaga for more information and to discuss acquiring this piece, currently on display in Burlington, Vermont.
CONTACT
Artist Calley O’Neill: (808) 987-7003
Certificate of Authenticity and Provenance: All Calley O'Neill's original works of art come with a signed Certificate of Authenticity verifying its originality, materials, and date of creation. ..A Provenance Record and Legend will accompany the piece detailing its artistic significance and history.
