BEAUTY: Sculpture--Leah Fraser

Sydney-based painter and sculptor Leah Fraser makes deliberately naïve- and tribal-looking figures she calls Shamans which incorporate crystals and gem stones into their bodies. The effect is totemic, appearing as ethnic objects a Shaman might actually use in practice.

Crystal Mountain Shaman, earthenware and assorted crystals

Ongon Shaman, earthenware and assorted shells and crystals

River Song Shaman, earthenware, selenite, and lapis lazuli

These Things Take Time Shaman, earthenware and assorted crystals

Turn Your Body To Light Shaman, earthenware, citrine, and apophylite

She also makes "Magic Bottles," which, again, look like something in which a Shaman would store herbal remedies or healing powders.

Crow Magic Bottle, earthenware and turquoise

Flight Magic Bottle, earthenware and chrysocolla

Swallowtail Magic Bottle, earthenware and sea shell

White Stone Magic Bottle, earthenware and assorted crystals

Fraser does not have a dedicated website that I can find but her work is featured at and sold by Arthouse Gallery in New South Wales.

http://www.arthousegallery.com.au/stockroom/fraser_leah/

Fraser's Shamans remind me of "River Man," a fantastic song by the incomparable David Sylvian from his 1986 opus "Gone To Earth."

I see your eyes light up like fire
It's medicine to me
But as the hunted live their lives
You're keeping out of reach

So I keep running, falling
Till I reach the water
Run with me, holyman
When I reach out I find I'm
Standing right beside her
Now we're living blessed with
All the thunder in the world

Should you ask me to come home
To wake up from the sleep
Like a boat inside a storm
Is there no hope for me?

So I keep running, falling
Wade into the water
Run with me, riverman
But when I reach out I find I'm
Standing right beside her
Now we're living blessed with
All the thunder in the world

So I keep running, falling
Till I reach the water
Run with me, holyman
An' when I reach out I find I'm
Standing right beside her
Now we're living blessed with
All the thunder in the world

Blessed with all the thunder in the world
Blessed with all the thunder in the world
Blessed with all the thunder in the world
All the thunder in the world
Blessed with all the thunder in the world

http://www.davidsylvian.com/