Alkonost is the Russian name for the half-bird, half-woman creatures that appear in Russia's vibrant and ancient folklore tradition. In this series, I play with both composite creatures (birds and humans) and composite cultures (Russian and Louisianan) to create a new mythology, a new kind of alkonost, one that protects various elements of the Louisiana landscape.
The Guardians of the Magnolia series mix cultural imagery, blending the ancient and the modern. Here, the deities protect the magnolia and safeguard the seed-- that is to say, they oversee and embody the ability to procreate, to give life.
