Andrea Tamme: A Young Alberta Artist

Andrea Tamme is a budding young artist with Estonian roots. She lives in Innisfail.

Andrea produced an “ink and watercolor” painting of two youths from Estonian mythology, a girl Dusk (Hämarik) and a boy Dawn (Koit).

The folklore involving Dusk and Dawn is linked to the age-old Estonian fascination with and celebration of Midsummer Eve (Jaanipäev). Bonfires, a walk in the forest to look for a special flower, washing of one’s face with dew, and wearing of a wreath made of wildflowers are part of this tradition.

According to one fable, Dusk was assigned the task to look after the setting sun in the evening. In the morning, Dawn was to again “light up” the rising sun. During the shortest night of the year the two young lovers, blessed with eternal youth, joined hands and their lips met.