French Artist Finds a Home on Easter Island
2023-01-09
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1Rapa Nui, widely known as Easter Island, is a Chilean territory in the Pacific Ocean.
2The island is home to a French-born artist who is offering beautiful gifts to the island's Roman Catholic Church.
3The artist, Delphine Poulain, was born in Paris 52 years ago and has been in love with Rapa Nui since she first visited in 1994.
4She smiled remembering her decision.
5"I was riding a horse through the beach when I first ... thought 'I want to live here,'" she said.
6Poulain said she loves the freedom and the peace provided by the island, which is home to about 7,700 people.
7Last year, Poulain offered a gift: stained-glass windows representing important moments leading to and including the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
8The windows show the 14 Stations of the Cross.
9They were a gift to Holy Cross Church in Hanga Roa, the island's main city.
10The Rapanui community is mostly Catholic, but its religious activities are mixed with its ancestral beliefs.
11The music that people sing during church events describe biblical stories translated to the Rapanui language.
12The wooden statues that show Christian figures such as the Virgin Mary and the Holy Spirit are unlike Western images.
13Instead, they were influenced by the art of the islanders' ancestors.
14The statue of Mary, near the altar of the church, looks like ancient human figures known as moai.
15Close to the main entrance, the third symbol of the Holy Trinity is not a dove, but a manutara -- a bird that was considered holy more than 120 years ago.
16The Rapanui people are protective of their identity.
17They sometimes welcome foreigners only if they work to learn about the islanders' culture.
18On a burial place, or tomb, where the remains of missionary Sebastián Englert are kept, the writing says: "He lived among us and spoke our language."
19Poulain said that winning acceptance from the local people was not easy, but she has been patient.
20Her stained-glass windows were another step.
21Since she began placing them in the church on December 24, 2021, some Rapanui who did not communicate with her before now wave their hand when they see her pass.
22"I have so much respect for the island and the people," she said.
23"Before I was alone, but now people know my husband and my children."
24Poulain's desire to become part of the island is clear in her daily life.
25Her family lives near the beach on the coast.
26The color of their house is similar to the color of the area's rocks.
27The water used at their home is collected from rain.
28The family uses a solar energy collector for electricity.
29When Poulain's family moved here, they only had a tent to protect themselves.
30Now their house stores many things the island has given them.
31The top of the house was built with metal and the rest with wood.
32The dishes are washed on what used to be the bottom of a bathtub; above the dining room is a light that was once a metal waste can.
33"There has been a lot of difficulty, but also a lot of happiness. This was my dream and living your dream is incredible," Poulain said.
34I'm John Russell.
1Rapa Nui, widely known as Easter Island, is a Chilean territory in the Pacific Ocean. The island is home to a French-born artist who is offering beautiful gifts to the island's Roman Catholic Church. 2The artist, Delphine Poulain, was born in Paris 52 years ago and has been in love with Rapa Nui since she first visited in 1994. She smiled remembering her decision. "I was riding a horse through the beach when I first ... thought 'I want to live here,'" she said. 3Poulain said she loves the freedom and the peace provided by the island, which is home to about 7,700 people. 4Last year, Poulain offered a gift: stained-glass windows representing important moments leading to and including the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The windows show the 14 Stations of the Cross. They were a gift to Holy Cross Church in Hanga Roa, the island's main city. 5The Rapanui community is mostly Catholic, but its religious activities are mixed with its ancestral beliefs. 6The music that people sing during church events describe biblical stories translated to the Rapanui language. The wooden statues that show Christian figures such as the Virgin Mary and the Holy Spirit are unlike Western images. Instead, they were influenced by the art of the islanders' ancestors. 7The statue of Mary, near the altar of the church, looks like ancient human figures known as moai. Close to the main entrance, the third symbol of the Holy Trinity is not a dove, but a manutara -- a bird that was considered holy more than 120 years ago. 8The Rapanui people are protective of their identity. They sometimes welcome foreigners only if they work to learn about the islanders' culture. On a burial place, or tomb, where the remains of missionary Sebastián Englert are kept, the writing says: "He lived among us and spoke our language." 9Poulain said that winning acceptance from the local people was not easy, but she has been patient. Her stained-glass windows were another step. Since she began placing them in the church on December 24, 2021, some Rapanui who did not communicate with her before now wave their hand when they see her pass. 10"I have so much respect for the island and the people," she said. "Before I was alone, but now people know my husband and my children." 11Poulain's desire to become part of the island is clear in her daily life. Her family lives near the beach on the coast. The color of their house is similar to the color of the area's rocks. The water used at their home is collected from rain. The family uses a solar energy collector for electricity. 12When Poulain's family moved here, they only had a tent to protect themselves. Now their house stores many things the island has given them. 13The top of the house was built with metal and the rest with wood. The dishes are washed on what used to be the bottom of a bathtub; above the dining room is a light that was once a metal waste can. 14"There has been a lot of difficulty, but also a lot of happiness. This was my dream and living your dream is incredible," Poulain said. 15I'm John Russell. 16Maria Teresa Hernandez reported on this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English. 17___________________________________________________________________ 18Words in This Story 19stained glass - n. colored glass that is used to make pictures and patterns in windows 20translate -v. to change words from one language into another language 21figure -n. a form representing a person 22altar -n. a table or raise structure in a church used in Christian religious ceremonies 23symbol -n. an object that represents an idea or quality 24missionary - n. a person who is sent to a foreign country to do religious work (such as to convince people to join a religion or to help people who are sick, poor, etc.) 25tent - n. a portable shelter that is used outdoors, is made of cloth (such as canvas or nylon), and is held up with poles and ropes 26bathtub - n. a large and long container in which people take baths or showers