Sowello Ansuz, Sunrise Spell
By Jai Knight
This artwork was originally published in the SeedBroadcast agri-Culture Journal #24
Handmade paper, gouache paint, ceramic sculpture, water, compost, Arizona wildflower clay seed balls
Created at the winter solstice, this work considers proximity to death and the fragile assurance of return. The painting, made from recycled paper, was torn by wind during its making; the ruptures remain visible, holding the image in suspension. A red burst opens at the center, both wound and bloom, while a green stem extends downward, roots exposed. The white ceramic vessel holds water surrounded by seedballs. On the floor, a compost pile actively decomposes, transforming waste into generative soil. Embedded white bowls hold water within the rot, forming small reflective horizons. Renewal here is not transcendence, but emergence through damage, decay, and shared material cycles. Here is provided the materials necessary to plant seeds within visual evidence of the need for protection.
Jai Knight is an interdisciplinary artist, educator, and ceremonialist whose work blends natural materials, spiritual practice, and environmental stewardship. Rooted in the principles of slowness and intuition, they create transformative experiences through art, land-based living, and community engagement. They are the author of House Oracle Bibliomancy (2023), a self-published work that explores the intersection of art, land, and the paranormal through the practice of bibliomancy.Since 2015, Jai has been dedicated to teaching, sharing creative processes in schools and alternative spaces. Their teaching journey has been complemented by a commitment to mental health advocacy and environmental justice, weaving these themes into both their creative and pedagogical practices. They have participated in residencies in New Mexico, Arizona, and Oregon and their work has been supported by organizations like Public Arts Advisory Council of California, Arcosanti, and Arts Connection CA. Jai is currently developing work in an MFA program at Arizona State University.
From where I currently reside, I acknowledge the ancestral stewards including the Piipash, Akimel O'odhmam, and Yavapaiv Apache tribes. This acknowledgment does not offset the impacts of settler colonialism on indigenous life ways. #LandBack #Waterback