About The Artist
Aly Brewer | Owner & Artist
Welcome to my creative world! I'm a local artist based in the vibrant Hampton Roads area of Virginia, where the beauty of the coast and the charm of the local community inspire me everyday. My passion for working with my hands has been a lifelong journey, transforming raw materials into pieces that speak to the curious and the mystical.
From an early age, I found joy in creating, whether it was sketching the wonders of nature, crafting unique pieces, or exploring new mediums. My work is deeply influenced by my love for the unique, quirky, and the mysterious.
Each piece I create is a reflection of my fascination with the natural and supernatural worlds, merging the seen and the unseen in a way that invites others to explore their own strange and curious imaginations.
Legend Behind the Name:
The story goes that long ago, the Jade Emperor (the ruler of heaven) wanted to find the most selfless creature on Earth. He disguised himself as a poor, starving old man and went down to Earth, where he encountered three animals: a rabbit, a fox, and a monkey.
To test their kindness, the old man asked them for food. The monkey gathered fruits from the trees, the fox caught fish from a nearby stream, but the rabbit, who could only gather grass, realized that the old man couldn’t eat it. Instead, the rabbit decided to sacrifice himself. He leaped into the fire to offer his own body as food.
Moved by the rabbit's selflessness, the Jade Emperor saved him from the fire and, in honor of his noble act, took him to live on the moon. There, the rabbit is often depicted pounding rice to make tteok (rice cakes) or elixirs, depending on the version of the story.
Cultural Significance:
The moon rabbit (known as "Dal Tokki" in Korean) is a beloved figure in Korean folklore. The image of the rabbit is often associated with the full moon, and many Koreans enjoy spotting the shape of the rabbit on the moon during the Chuseok festival, a major harvest festival.
The story emphasizes themes of selflessness, kindness, and compassion, reflecting the values held in high regard in Korean culture.