Penny Otto

Demeter is the Greek goddess of harvest known to the Romans as Ceres. Even when there are storm clouds overhead and her golden grapefruit are being washed with rain this can remind us of summer, there’s still something in her presence that reminds us of summer’s warmth and abundance.

Classics lecturer Betsy Towers captures this beautifully in her poetry book, “The Family of Zeus” where she writes:

“Thin man, fat man fussy eater,

All rely on sweet Demeter.

Whose horn of plenty overflowing

Provides the food which keeps us going.”

Above is my book illustration for this poem.

I had these lines lingering in my mind when I created the pieces you see below. Betsy’s words shaped the colour palette, influencing my choice of colours that told the story of opulence in any harvest, no matter how big – how small.

Dimeter’s Harvest, oil pastel on paper

The Winter Gifts of Demeter, 2025 acrylic on canvas

Next March the works pictured above will be under consideration for a group exhibition in ‘Morrinsville Gallery, titled “Haere i Tawihi – Going the Distance”.
The show is scheduled for 4th – 30th March at 167 Thames Street, Morrinsville.

Exterior view of the Morrinsville Gallery, as featured on their Facebook page.