Portal Fire: Reader’s Companion Part 1
An introduction to the textures, characters, artifacts and lore of Portal Fire in the style of a graphic novel series’ supplementary artbook.
Presented at University of Michigan’s Stamps Gallery in 2023.
Map of Azadistan. 2023. AI generated image using a series of my handwoven works as prompts.
Emerging from the developing graphic novel Portal Fire, characters, costumes, artifacts and audio provide texture and context for the story of non-binary orphan Maro and their part in a world-altering prophecy.
The exhibition was divided into four sections, each centered around a character from the Portal Fire story. Each character was displayed as a vignette including a costume, a jacquard woven backdrop, a relevant spiritual artifact and a dyed silk panel. Each vignette contains one piece hand-lettered with an adapted Armenian script with in-world text. These each have a linked transcription and recording of the text in both modern Armenian and English.
Map of Azadistan. 2023. Cotton. 60” x 80”. photo: Rebecca Cook and Michigan Photography
The Eye of the Serpent. 2023. Handwoven silk, rayon, cotton, dye; beads, found jewelry, thread, foam, cord. 15”x7”x2” Backdrop: silk, dye. 72”x48”. photo: Austin Thomason and Michigan Photography
Anarad, the Serpentine Spirit
Time is a fluid and Anarad is its manifestation in spirit. Legend has it, part of her non-humanoid form is held within a reliquary, guarded at an undisclosed location.
Anarad the Performer. 2023. Handwoven cotton, rayon, silk, polyester, dye; dyed silk found fabrics, beads, leather, hardware, acrylic. Anarad’s Backdrop. 2023. Cotton. 80”x60”. photo: Rebecca Cook and Michigan Photography
Anarad, the Traveler/Anarad the Performer. 2023. Handwoven cotton, rayon, silk, polyester, dye; dyed silk found fabrics, beads, leather, hardware, acrylic. Anarad’s Backdrop. 2023. Cotton. 80”x60”. photo: Rebecca Cook and Michigan Photography
Anarad’s Time Portal. 2023. Silk, dye, acrylic, thread. Each of six panels: 72” x 48” photo: Rebecca Cook and Michigan Photography
Anarad’s Time Portal (detail). 2023. Silk, dye, acrylic, thread. Each of six panels: 72” x 48” photo: Austin Thomason and Michigan Photography
Anarad’s Time Portal. 2023. Silk, dye, acrylic, thread. Each of six panels: 72” x 48” photo: Rebecca Cook and Michigan Photography.
Anarad’s Time Portal. 2023. Silk, dye, acrylic, thread. Each of six panels: 72” x 48” photo: Rebecca Cook and Michigan Photography.
The Flaming Rose. 2023. Leather, rayon, beads, hardware, thread, cord. 18”x20”x16”. photo: Austin Thomason and Michigan Photography.
Vartahan, the Spirit of the Flaming Rose
Born yearly from a floating, crystalline rose aflame in pink, Vartahan is the spirit of sensuality and persuasive charm.
Vartahan. 2023. Handwoven Cotton, rayon, linen; found fabrics, thread, leather, hardware. Varthahan’s Backdrop. 2023. Cotton. 80” x 60”. photo: Rebecca Cook and Michigan Photography.
Vartahan (detail). 2023. Handwoven Cotton, rayon, linen; found fabrics, thread, leather, hardware. Vartahan’s Backdrop. 2023. Cotton. 80” x 60”. photo: Rebecca Cook and Michigan Photography.
Fire Temple Pillar. 2023. Silk, dye, acrylic, thread. Four panels each 108" x 24". Photo: Rebecca Cook and Michigan Photography.
Fire Temple Pillar. 2023. Silk, dye, acrylic, thread. Four panels each 108" x 24". Photo: Austin Thomason and Michigan Photography.
Fire Temple Pillar (detail). 2023. Silk, dye, acrylic, thread. Four panels each 108" x 24". Photo: Rebecca and Michigan Photography.
Fire Temple Pillar (detail). 2023. Silk, dye, acrylic, thread. Four panels each 108" x 24". Photo: courtesy of the artist.
Vanagad’s Hmayil. 2023. Leather, hardware, acrylic, found fabric, thread, cord. 72”x4”x4”. photo: Austin Thomason and Michigan Photography.
Vanagad’s Void. 2023. Silk, dye, thread. 72” x 90”. photo: Rebecca Cook and Michigan Photography.
Vanagad, the Obsidian Spirit
Two bodies, one spirit. The mirrored spirit of spatial creation, Vanagad is patron to the orphaned weavers of Azadistan. They beseech her aid through prayers inscribed on scrolls worn on the body for protection.
Vanagad. 2021. Handwoven silk, rayon, cotton, reflective material; altered corsets, found fabric, thread, leather, hardware, beads. / Vanagad’s Backdrop. 2023. Cotton. 80”x60”. / Vanagad’s Void. 2023. Silk, dye, thread. 72”x90”. photo: Rebecca Cook and Michigan Photography.
Vanagad’s Hmayil (detail). 2023. Leather, hardware, acrylic, found fabric, thread, cord. 72”x4”x4”. photo: Austin Thomason and Michigan Photography.
Vanagad. 2021. Handwoven silk, rayon, cotton, reflective material; altered corsets, found fabric, thread, leather, hardware, beads. / Vanagad’s Backdrop. 2023. Cotton. 80” x 60”. photo: Austin Thomason and Michigan Photography.
The Summoner (detail). 2020. Handwoven cotton, rayon, wool, dye; leather, beads, found fabric, thread. / Summoner Backdrop. 2023. Cotton. 80”x60”. photo: Rebecca Cook and Michigan Photography.
The Summoner aka Hyürabedə
Raised by the wild forests of the Northern Reach, the Summoner is charged with a mission to enter into relationship with the 12 spirit patrons of Azadistan. To empower them to reach this goal, they have been gifted an amulet imbued with wildfire magic by the spirit of lush green abundance, another outsider to the social system.
The Summoner. 2020. Handwoven cotton, rayon, wool, dye; leather, beads, found fabric, thread. / Summoner Backdrop. 2023. Cotton. 80”x60”. / The Summoner’s Exit. 2023. Silk, dye, thread, acrylic. Two panels each 72”x48”. photo: Rebecca Cook and Michigan Photography.
The Summoner’s Exit. 2023. Silk, dye, thread, acrylic. Two panels each 72”x48”. photo: Rebecca Cook and Michigan Photography.
Wildfire Amulet. 2023. Leather, beads, thread, cord, foam. 21”x11”x2.5”. photo: Rebecca Cook and Michigan Photography.