Giving and Receiving

Gebo is the rune of generosity. X marks the spot!

Gebo is the name of this rune, meaning “gift” in Old Norse. It is the seventh letter in the Elder Futhark writing system, and usually represents the hard “g” sound as in the English word ‘give’. The rune is always associated with generosity, exchange, reciprocity, and basically a joyful and harmonious giving and receiving.

The two elements of the X form are basically on equal footing, though each would fall, architecturally speaking, if it weren’t for the other. The X form has always been used for structural soundness, church buttresses, seismic retrofits, even the humble lean-to. This rune acknowledges that any two entities could form a give-and-take relationship that benefits each and leads to prosperity, setting a rule for the society’s operating system that emphasizes the bond of duty of those who have to those who lack. It is a sharing of abundance in accordance with perceived need.

The Anglo-Saxon text is in the artwork, as follows:

Gyfu gumena byþ gleng and herenys,
wraþu and wyrþscype and wræcna gehwam
ar and ætwist, ðe byþ oþra leas.

And its translation in English:

Generosity brings credit and honour, which support one’s dignity;
it furnishes help and subsistence
to all broken men who are devoid of aught else.

One Nordic legend holds that the gebo rune, written three times, was considered protection against the poisoned cup, perhaps referring to the old saga story of Gunnhild trying to poison Egil’s ale. Historically, brewers used X marks on barrels indicating age or strength, so that even today, especially in some vintage comics, the cartoonist draws three Xs on a barrel or bottle to indicate ale or whisky. All kids know this. The gebo-rune has permeated our culture and has garnered many different meanings.

The method I used for this art is consistent with others in this series, testing the interaction of pigment with various inks while working with the design. I used two brushes, one filled with Daniel Smith Indanthrone Blue and one with Winsor and Newton Cadmium Red Purple, the colors associated with Gebo. There were a couple of drops of Carmine introduced into the wet strokes as well. The brushes are so fluid that there is a lot of activity above the paper before they even touch the surface; they never actually plant themselves on the paper. With the rune still damp or wet, I used the Pratikpen to write across the surface of the Arches 300gsm rough watercolor paper. Sometimes the stroke is balky, catches on a rough spot, but I just carry on as usual. For the rune poem at the bottom, I used the same intense blue gouache and a small folded Tim’s Pen. I used a vintage Brause pointed nib for the small informal upright cursive text.

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Next week I plan to share some of the pieces that will be available during Silicon Valley Open Studios on the weekend of May 11-12, from 11-5. It will be fun to see visitors!

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