Rare Originals Currently Available for Purchase
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Art and Soul for the Earth
Big Island of Hawai'i
THE RAMA EXHIBITION ~ An Epic Journey of Art and Soul for the Earth
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/////////////////////////////////By Calley O’Neill and Rama the Elephant
The Story: Renowned Hawaiian conservation artist and muralist Calley O'Neill is widely recognized for her dedication to environmental and cultural preservation through public art. ..A scholarly artist, she is currently leading a small team in creating the Mālama ‘Āina mural at Kona International Airport, a 321-foot-long mixed-media stained glass mosaic commissioned by the Hawai'i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts. ..This mural, a testament to her artistic prowess and commitment to conservation is set to become a landmark in the airport and serve as a powerful reminder of the need to protect our environment. ..Calley won this prestigious commission unanimously from over 300 applicants.
After graduating summa cum laude from Pratt Institute in 1974, Calley honed her work before earning her master’s degree in Social Ecology at Goddard College in 1980. ..Her work has always centered on the intersection of art, ecology, and cultural storytelling.
In 2006, after two decades of painting Hawaiian cultural murals and easel paintings, Calley embarked on an extraordinary five-year interspecies collaboration with Rama (1983–2015), a 26-year-old male Asian elephant from the Oregon Zoo. ..Under the guidance of innovative zookeeper Jeb Barsh, Rama had been encouraged to paint as a form of enrichment, producing elegant, expressive abstracts. ..Instantly moved by Rama's artistry, Calley envisioned a collaboration leading to an international traveling exhibition illuminating the plight of endangered species and their habitats. ..After a year of letter writing, she was ecstatic to be invited into the elephant barn at the Oregon Zoo as a Project Volunteer.
This wildly creative trio brought The Rama Exhibition to life, blending Rama's sophisticated backgrounds with Calley's intricate wildlife portraits and habitat-color palettes. ..What Rama achieved with Calley’s direction and larger canvases was astonishing, stopping everyone lucky enough to see them in their tracks. ..Each painting became a sacred Wildlife Thangka masterpiece (or will someday), a fusion of Rama's breath and brushstrokes with Calley's mastery of drawing, design, and glaze painting.
Their groundbreaking collaboration reached a global stage in 2016 when The Rama Exhibition premiered at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress in Honolulu. This historic gathering, the first held in the United States, brought together over 10,000 world leaders, scientists, NGOs, and conservationists. ..The exhibition was a smashing success, featuring 22 original paintings just outside the General Assembly, creating an immersive experience that captivated attendees and brought broad critical acclaim, including from Calley’s heroes, E. O. Wilson, Jane Goodall, and Sylvia Earle.
Calley never intended to sell any Rama paintings, believing they belonged to the world. ..However, with three Asian elephant paintings and only one needed for the final exhibition, she now offers two for museum acquisition or private sale to establish a home and studio for her ongoing conservation work. These are not just paintings. ..They are treasures, rare and extraordinary testaments to the power of art that crosses boundaries and speaks on behalf of life, reminding us that every choice we make impacts the future of the living world.
BIOPHILIA, OUR LOVE OF LIFE
By Calley O’Neill, 2000
Medium: Tiffany-style stained glass window
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Dimensions: 28” by 29”
This work reflects Biophilia, our innate love of nature. ..It is embedded in our genes, despite our fast-paced lifestyles and often non-nourishing environments. ..This instinctual connection to the living world is the essence of our humanity.
Biophilia is our biological drive to connect with life and living systems. ..This affinity for nature is hardwired into our evolutionary history, shaping our well-being, creativity, and sense of belonging. ..We are not separate from nature — we are nature, and our survival, health, and happiness depend upon this relationship.
Climate and biodiversity are not our two greatest problems but our two greatest gifts. ..As Indigenous wisdom carriers share, take care of the Earth, and it will take care of you!.. Our health depends on the health of nature.
This artwork is a Feng shui cure and carries healing power ~ a light-filled symbol of integration and tranquility. ..In Japan, doctors now prescribe Shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing — quiet, mindful walks in nature to reduce stress, boost immunity, and promote healing.
This window was designed by Calley as a logo for her ecological landscape company, ..Team Earth Works. ..She transformed it into glass to serve as a joyous reflection of her profound love of life.
Price: The asking price for this rare stained glass artwork is $35,000. ..Serious collectors and interested buyers are invited to contact Calley or her representative, Mr. Murti Vinayaga, to discuss its value and acquisition details. ..The window can be enlarged to fit a larger opening or door through a custom design process led by the artist.
Certificate of Authenticity and Provenance: All of Calley O'Neill's original works of art come with a signed Certificate of Authenticity verifying its originality, materials, and date of creation. ..A Provenance Record and Legend will accompany the piece, detailing its artistic significance and history,
Guardian of the Canopy – The Red-Eyed Tree Frog:
By Calley O'Neill, 2014, using Piotr Nazkreki's photo reference
Medium: Tiffany-style copper foil stained, fused and hand-paianted fired glass
Dimensions: 45” by 45”, framed size ready for installation
Conservation Status: Near Threatened IUCN (Red List)
The Story: A wild-eyed living jewel of the rainforest, the Red-Eyed Tree Frog (Agalychnis callidryas) clings to the fragile balance of our planet’s biodiversity. ..This luminous stained glass painting captures its ethereal presence —an emissary of the night, a guardian of the canopy, and a symbol of resilience in a world where habitat loss and disease threaten countless species. ..We are in the midst of an Amphibian Crisis.
Once abundant in the rainforests of Central America, the Red-Eyed Tree Frog is now considered Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List, facing peril from habitat destruction, pollution, and disease. ..As a 'canary in the coal mine', this species is highly vulnerable due to its delicate, permeable skin that absorbs environmental toxins. ..The survival of this Keystone Species is crucial, not only for their unique role in the ecosystem but also because their decline signals broader environmental imbalances that could affect all life, including humans. ..The time to act is now.
Red-Eyed Tree Frogs have survived over 50 million years, and as a Keystone Species, its continued presence in rainforests underscores the health of those ecosystems. ..Without them, the delicate balance of the rainforest would unravel, leading to the overpopulation of insects, loss of biodiversity, and a decline in the entire ecosystem's health. ..Their survival means the survival of vibrant rainforest ecosystems that provide clean air, water, a healthy climate, and natural resilience.
This stained glass masterpiece is more than art; it is a living symbol of the interconnectedness of all life. Light transforms the frog, shifting through time like the rainforest itself—ever-changing, ever-beautiful.
The border reflects the human family's love and protection of Nature, and is to be mirrored on all of the Biodiversity windows in The Rama Exhibition.
Your investment in this rare stained glass painting is not just a commitment to art, ecology, and the future...It is a promise of long-term benefits to the artist and her conservation work in public art. ..The proceeds will help secure land for Calley O'Neill's home, studio, and stained glass shop, ensuring the completion of the decade-long Kona Airport Mālama ‘Āina mural commission.
Price: The asking price for this once-in-a-lifetime, rare stained glass painting is $125,000. ..Serious collectors and interested buyers are invited to contact me or my representative, Mr. Murti Vinayaga, to discuss the value and details of owning this Biodiversity stained glass window.
Ancient Spirits of the Sea – The Endangered Hawaiian Hawksbill and Honu
By Calley O'Neill, with reference photos by Keoki Stender
Medium: Tiffany-style copper foil stained, fused, and hand-painted fired glass.
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Dimensions: 45” by 45”, framed size ready for installation
Conservation Status: Hawksbill Sea Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricate) Critically Endangered (IUCN Red List, protected under CITES Appendix I, which bans international trade in this species. ..A Keystone species, the Hawksbill plays a vital role in maintaining coral reef health by controlling sponge populations, allowing corals to flourish. ..It is rare in Hawaiian waters, a living link to the deep past, fighting for survival in an uncertain future.
Honu (Chelonia mydas) Endangered globally (IUCN Red List) and Threatened in Hawaii under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA).
The Story: For 110 million years, Honu, the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles, and the Hawksbill have navigated the vast Pacific Ocean long before the first humans set foot on these islands. ..More than endangered species, these turtles are revered ‘aumakua, ancestral guardian spirits in Hawaiian culture, embodying wisdom, endurance, and the sacred connection between the people and nature.
This stained glass masterpiece captures the Honu's ancient presence in luminous detail, its shell shimmering with the ocean and coral reef's shifting hues—emerald, gold, pink, and blue. ..Calley O'Neill's unique artistic process involved designing the window and watercolor painting before her long-term artistic partner, 80-year-old Master Stained Glass Artisan Lamar Yoakum, crafted the glass construction... This collaboration brings together the vision of a contemporary artist and the skill of a seasoned artisan, resulting in a work of art that is truly one-of-a-kind. ..Lamar's craftsmanship is extraordinary, allowing light to bring the Honu to life. ..They glide through shadow and brilliance like the great navigators they are. ..To witness this window is to pause and remember the wisdom of patience through slow breathing, presence in the moment, and harmony. ..Anyone who sees this window when the sun is shining through stops in their tracks.
The border reflects the human family's love and protection of Nature, and is to be mirrored on all the Biodiversity windows.
More than art, this piece is a profound statement of ocean preservation. Honu have thrived for 100 million years, yet today, habitat destruction, climate change, and human impact threaten their existence. The urgency of their circumstances deserves our active participation in their preservation. ..This work activates their story over and over again, embodying the heart of Hawaiian culture: ..Take care of the ocean, and the ocean will take care of you.
Your investment in this rare stained glass painting will help secure the home, studio, and stained glass shop needed for Calley to complete her decade-long monumental Kona Airport Mālama ‘Āina mural commission. ..By investing in this artwork, you are supporting Calley’s lifetime conservation efforts and securing a work of art that will appreciate in value.
Price: The asking price for this once-in-a-lifetime, rare stained glass painting is $125,000. ..Serious collectors and interested buyers are invited to contact the artist or her representative, Mr. Murti Vinayaga, to discuss the value and details of owning this once-in-a-lifetime stained glass window into the sea.
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ROSE’S DREAM
THE RAMA EXHIBITION: AN EPIC JOURNEY of ART and SOUL for the EARTH
By Calley O’Neill and the late Rama the Elephant with Elephant Whisperer, Jeb Barsh, 2007
Medium: An Interspecies Wildlife Thangka painting; aquamedia on canvas framed in upholstery fabric according to traditional Tibetan Thangka painting proportions.
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Dimensions: 7’ by 5’
Conservation Status: The Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species since 1986 due to severe habitat losses and poaching of their tusks for the ivory trade. ..The species is also protected under CITES Appendix I since 1975. CITES regulates international trade in species threatened with extinction. ..This situation calls for heightened awareness and action.
The Story: This painting is a love story. ..It is the story of Calley's lifelong love of elephants, and here she paints her partner Rama's sister, Rose Tu, who was pregnant when Calley took this portrait (even though no one knew at the time). .. Calleyʻs children, Leianna and Noa, are included at the bottom of the painting, praying that elephants thrive for all time.
The biggest, most powerful, and one of the most beloved animals on Earth, Asian Elephants stand 7’ to 12’ tall, can be 30’ from trunk to tail, and weigh between 6,000 and 15,000 pounds. .. They spend 18+ hours a day feeding.
Asian Elephants are KEYSTONE SPECIES, whose contribution to the ecosystem is vital in maintaining its health and balance. ..Elephants keep the savannas and grasslands from turning into forests. ..They provide water holes for other species in dry riverbeds, spread seeds, and make paths that act as firebreaks and rainwater conduits. ..Asian elephants are ecosystem engineers. ..Their movements, knocking down trees, stripping bark, and uprooting plants shape the environment revealing food sources for other animals and stirring up insects, amphibians and reptiles for birds to eat. ..They are compatible with long-term sustainable forestry and agriculture.
In cultures worldwide, elephants are symbolic of wisdom, peace, and power. In 1879, the Elephants Preservation Act was passed in India, protecting all elephants from harm and honoring them, as they have walked beside humankind for more than 40 centuries carrying our burdens shaping our landscapes and sharing our stories.
Elephants are revered for their memory, high intelligence, sonic communication over great distances, and complex social and emotional behaviors, including grief, compassion, tolerance and social openness, altruism, and self-awareness. .. Elephants truly never forget.
Asian Elephants are at a high risk of extinction in the wild and are in a much more precarious situation than African elephants. .. Their primary threats are conflicts with humans, primarily loss of habitat from development, population growth, and the expansion of agriculture, especially palm oil plantations.
Price: The asking price for this extremely rare Wildlife Thangka painting by Rama the Elephant and Calley O’Neill is $500,000. Serious collectors are invited to explore this unique offering. ..Please get in touch with Calley O'Neill or her Art Representative, Mr. Murti Vinayaga, to arrange this once-in-a-lifetime sale and a private visit with the human artist.
THE FORGOTTEN FORESTS
THE RAMA EXHIBITION: AN EPIC JOURNEY of ART and SOUL for the EARTH
By Calley O’Neill and the late Rama the Elephant with Elephant Whisperer Jeb Barsh, 2007
Medium: An Interspecies Wildlife Thangka painting; aquamedia on canvas framed in upholstery fabric according to traditional Tibetan Thangka painting proportions.
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Dimensions: 7’ by 5’
Conservation Status: The Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) has been listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species since 1986 primarily due to habitat losses and poaching of their tusks for the ivory trade. ..The species has also been protected under CITES Appendix I since 1975 . CITES regulates international trade in species threatened with extinction. ..This is not just a conservation issue, it's an urgent situation that calls for heightened awareness and action.
The Story ~ The Time is Now: Upon first sight of this abstract painting by Rama, a wildlife biologist at the Oregon Zoo was dumbstruck by its profound message: He shared, "This is the story of the vanishing forests of Borneo and Sumatra, the last remaining original forests of Southeast Asia, global treasure troves of Biodiversity."
Borneo and Sumatra, the world's third and sixth-largest islands, are home to nearly 70 million people, including indigenous communities whose livelihoods are intertwined with the land. Sumatra alone supports 50 million people. ..These islands and 18,000 tiny islands host an unparalleled array of life found nowhere else on Earth. ..The challenge lies in ensuring the prosperity of these human populations while safeguarding the ancient forests that sustain them.
Historically, elephants played a vital role in clearing forests during Southeast Asia's agricultural expansion. However, since 1980, satellite data has revealed that over 70% of their habitat has been destroyed. ..The late Harvard biologist E. O. Wilson (one of Calley's mentors) cautioned, "Destroying a rainforest for profit is like burning all the paintings in the Louvre to cook dinner."
These forests, among the last refuges for Asian elephants, also shelter critically endangered species such as the Sumatran tiger, orang-utans, Borneo pygmy elephants, and Sumatran rhinos. ..Towering ancient trees support vast ecosystems, while massive rivers provide sustenance for wildlife and indigenous peoples.
Once blanketed in pristine rainforest, Indonesia now leads the world in deforestation. ..Rapid economic expansion has brought immense threats to both people and nature. ..Yet, there is hope: reforestation and sustainable land management initiatives demonstrate that humans and elephants can thrive while protecting the last great forests. ..The UN has identified rainforest preservation as the most effective strategy for combating climate change.
The future of these forests and the countless species that call them home rests in our hands. ..You can participate in their preservation and conservation efforts on these big islands by acquiring and sharing this Wildlife Thangka in your home.
Price: The asking price for this extremely rare Wildlife Thangka painting, a collaboration between the late Rama the Elephant and Calley O'Neill, is $500,000. ..This is a truly unique opportunity for serious collectors to own a piece of art history, which includes a personal visit with Calley to hear about her remarkable experience with Rama and Jeb. ..For more information and to arrange a private sale, please get in touch with Calley O'Neill or her Art Representative, Mr. Murti Vinayaga.
CONTACT
Artist Calley O’Neill: (808) 987-7003
//The Rama Exhibition
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Rare Original Works for Sale by Calley O’Neill
Calley O’Neill’s Rare Stained Glass Biodiversity Paintings
The Story: Concealed within these exceedingly rare stained glass paintings are narratives of profound significance. ..While I can only allude to them here, I am eager to share their stories with those who wish to honor, preserve, and display these unique biodiversity treasures.
Life often presents us with moments of unexpected rediscovery, where we reconnect with the origins of our deepest inspirations. .. For me, such a moment arrived four decades after high school. ..Returning to Ridgefield Park, New Jersey for a class reunion, I felt a compelling urge to visit Saint Francis Catholic Church. I hadn't set foot inside since grade school, but something drew me back.
The moment I entered, I was overcome by its beauty, particularly the exquisite stained glass windows. Though I had gazed at them every Sunday as a child, I had forgotten them until that moment. .. The hand-painted faces masterfully rendered, rivaling the finest works in Europe, left a deep imprint within me. ..At that moment, I finally understood the unconscious roots of my lifelong passion for stained glass and my penchant for the nearly forgotten ancient technique of fired glaze painting on glass. ..This technique, which involves applying layers of colored glass and then firing them in a kiln, is a labor of love that I have dedicated my life to mastering.
Another sacred, early influence on my work is the world of illuminated manuscripts. ..These are hand-written books that are embellished with gold leaf, intricate borders, and decorated initials. ..The ingenious division of space and the use of vibrant colors in these manuscripts deeply inspired me and came into my inner space, shaping my approach to stained glass painting.
These stained glass Biodiversity Paintings, a rare sight to behold, were designed as the first two of 36 stained glass windows for The Grotto of Hope ~ the world's first Biodiversity Chapel. ..They were conceived as part of my vision for the future home of The Rama Exhibition: ~ A Journey of Art and Soul for the Earth. While the future of the chapel remains uncertain, these windows stand as more than just works of art: they are illuminated prayers, a call to honor and protect the Earth and its species for all time, a call that you, the audience, can answer.
Together, these two windows celebrate nature and serve as a visual prayer for preservation. .. They speak to that which we must protect. Land and sea are one, so these windows are offered as a pair.
Additionally, a third, smaller stained glass work, Biophilia (innate love of nature), honors the essential role of bees in sustaining life. ..Biophilia adds another luminous dimension to this collection, a tribute to the intricate interdependence of all living things.
These works are an investment in art and a legacy of reverence, beauty, and hope.
