Constellation:The Unicorn

This winter I made a vow to myself to complete all my half done projects...

A while back I began a series of sketches of animals based on the constellations and when I posted the first of them- my rabbit ( aka Constellation: The Hare) a few weeks ago, I thought I'd pull them out and finish them up.

The Unicorn Constellation lies near the celestial equator close to Orion. That's a diagram of the constellation itself in the night sky in my drawing. It is large but not very bright, so you'll need a telescope to see it- or maybe that cool new app "Google Sky" that my friend Nancy showed me the other night!

Don't Look Back

This is one of the saddest stories in Ovid's Metamorphoses- Orpheus and Eurydice were newly married when she was bitten by a snake and fell down dead. He followed her to hell to plead to the underworld gods for her life to be restored, and in using all the power of his extraordinary musical ability he was able to convince them to free her.

The only condition was, that he lead her away never looking back until he had left Hades. Just as they reached the light, Orpheus was frightened that his love had fallen behind and desparate to see her he turned, and she was lost forever.

This is my version of the drawing by Edward Burne-Jones titled "The Garden Poisoned"

The Year of the Rabbit

It's my year! I was born in another long ago year of the rabbit. So was my sister, one of her sons and my own daughter. Is it any wonder that rabbits are my favorite animal? They are so sweet, gentle and harmless. Yeah, I know...not if you have a garden! I admit that when I started gardening, the bunnies which charmed me so when I moved to the suburbs lost a bit of their charm as they seriously decimated my new plantings.
It was my own little (then) eleven year old bunny who had read a book about "Spiritual Gardening" ( she reads everything..) who told me to make a "contract" with the bunnies. You are supposed to walk through your garden silently making an agreement to allow the rabbits a share of the garden and that they will promise not to eat too much!
Reader, it works! Since that time, the bunnies rarely eat any portion of my garden and munch happily on the grass. I love to see them scamper about- they live under my deck. The other night, in the midst of an epic snowstorm, I spotted one of mine huddled under the bushes beneath my window and I was worried- why wasn't he safe under the deck? He looked up at me
for a long moment, then dove into a huge mound of snow near the deck- only to pop out again immediately and sit again in the storm. It was as if he was reassuring me that he could take care of himself and was just enjoying the show.
May this year of the Rabbit bring happiness, safe harbor and wonder of the world to you all!

For Auld Lang Syne

Auld Lang Syne has been going through my head all day! That wistful longing for days past, the regret for unfufilled resolutions and maybe a bit of apprehension for the future.
At the same time tomorrow is (as Scarlett reminds us) another day. And another year, another opportunity to do a little better and be a little better!

Looking Eastward

Nothing could prepare me for the call on Thanksgiving morning informing us that in the Ukraine Ashley was in the hospital with stomach pains. Ashley trying to be positive... Ashley crying ...Ultrasound tomorrow...Probably not appendicitis...And then there's the friendly Peace Corps official calling from Washington cheerfully offering that as she is still in training she would get really good care "lots of people to help her there now, it's when she's on her own that you'd be concerned". WHAT??!

Fortunately, everything worked out fine. She's fine- nothing serious! I talked to her yesterday and she is back to normal. Whew! Okay, steady now...just two years to go.

I have an amazing friend, Cathy, who I swear has a pipeline directly to God (she would say we all do!) We are separated by 800 miles and yet whenever I have a crisis in my life she just seems to know. She called me just after all this happened and prayed with me. It was Thanksgiving and after speaking to Cathy I felt grateful for so many things- for her friendship of course-for my family, for the doctors and nurses caring for my child half a world away, for the communication that makes it possible to check on her so easily, for her wonderful host mother who stayed with her throughout her ordeal. For people of Faith and Service. And for having a daughter who can make this kind of committment.

I wake up every morning just before dawn- I like to watch the sunrise. Looking eastward, I think of my Ashley, already well into her day and there is gratitude and thanks giving as I remember how wonderful this world can be.

The Four Gospels

I love the imagery in illuminated manuscripts- the brilliant and faded colors, the gold, the flat patterning, the fanciful beasts. I like to think about the monks who made them so patiently and the love and devotion that went into their creation. I've learned that most of the monks were literate, but not all , so it is possible to find mistakes as some copied words that they didn't understand. And to think of who owned these books. Some were owned by wealthy people who possessed them as status symbols. Some were to grace altars, to be read on special occassions. Some were plundered in wars and stripped of their valuable jeweled bindings. I think of the words they contained, written in Latin and how common people who attended the mass might not understand what was being said, but they would be comforted anyway. Thinking about... a knowing that transcends language.When I made this series I was also looking for a way to express what Rilke says in his advice to a young poet-to not look for answers. To paraphrase: "Love the questions- as if they were locked rooms and books written in a very foreign language- you wouldn't understand the answers if they were given to you- live into the questions and someday you will find yourself living the answer". These pieces are collaged with bits of newspaper and wax (which was the surface used by Romans to write everyday correspondence) to show the ephemeral nature of words, past and present. The newspapers are in Swedish, French, Spanish and Russian- a very foreign language to me. The images are taken from the Book of Kells to represent the enduring power of Spirit- which is ineffable.

These four mixed media pieces represent the four saints. Traditionally, Matthew is symbolized by man, Mark by the lion, Luke as the ox and John as the eagle.

From Catholic Forum.com : "The reasons for this assignment are usually explained by saying that the more human symbol is appropriate to the Evangelist who traces the human ancestry of Christ; the Lion to him whose gospel of Jesus Christ begins with" the voice of one crying in the wilderness;" the Ox to him who writes especially of the priesthood and of sacrifice, of which the ox is symbolical; and the Eagle to him whose inspiration soared to the loftiest heights, and enabled him to reach the paramount human perception of the dual nature of Jesus Christ."

I have become very interested in ecclesiastical art lately. The act of making art as prayer is a concept that is common in all the great religions of the world and a transcendent experience.

Pilsen East Artists Open House

I'll be showing some of my recent work at the 40th Annual Pilsen East Artists Open House next weekend! Please check out my "older posts" on this blog to see what I'll be showing and bring your friends. My gallery is located at 1833 Halsted.

I am sharing this space with four other wonderful artists. We look forward to seeing you!