Art on Sunday

The wonderful work of James Christensen.

Top: "Saint with white sleeves"

Middle: "Ten lepers"

Bottom: "One light"

Bye Santa!

I'm reluctantly taking Christmas down today. I'll leave the exterior lights and decorations up for awhile longer though. I loved Christmas this year - it was so unusually peaceful and quietly contemplative. I hate to see it end. I keep Christmas from December 6th through January 6th. Despite the fact some people consider it liturgically incorrect, I can do that because I am neither a church or a religious community.

[Art: "Brendan the Navigator" - James Christensen]

Frida and me.

I finally got to view the Frida Kahlo exhibit at the Walker.

I completely forgot how hot the Walker is... I kept thinking to myself, 'I cannot believe how warm they keep the galleries!' The new galleries are so cramped and IMO, poorly lighted; Kahlo's work was difficult to see, especially since the exhibit was so crowded. There were at least 3 docents conducting small group tours at once. They are always fun to listen to, because they so often get things wrong - either about the art or the painter. No doubt, I would be a very fun tour guide - let me tell you.

"Yes, this was painted when she was sleeping with..."

Viewing Frida's work was like visiting an old friend I never got along with, yet loved dearly. Everything was fine if I always told her what she wanted to hear. With Frida one has to listen to her go on endlessly about Diego and listen to the story of her traumatic injuries and surgeries - over and over. It would be okay if you could drink and smoke while you are with her, but you want to get away quickly before she insults you. That is pretty much Frida Kahlo.

Misery loves company.

I discovered Frida around 1990. I had finished a major work entitled "The Descent Into Hell" - it was a painting I made - "with scenes from the life of" - that is, it contained a central panel of the descent of Christ into hell, with scenes from my life in 15 little boxes. I did it as an altar piece with trompe-l'oeil niches on either side containing painted statues of saints. (No - there is no photo available.) I only tell you about it because it was the first time I combined icon-style painting with my Latino style retablo, in a trompe-l'oiel composition. Each vignette carried a scroll with verses from the Abbey-Road album by the Beatles. I kept the piece hidden until a friend told me it reminded him of Frida Kahlo's work and I ought to exhibit it. (Long story short - I exhibited it and it was sold.)

Painting a life.

I soon investigated Frida and was astonished how closely my work fit in with some of her pieces. Before discovering her art, I thought my blend of religious style art with secular themes was almost sacrilegious. I understood her work, and yet I was repulsed by some of it. In some cases, such as "A Few Small Nips" and "The Suicide of Dorothy Hale" (two of my favorites) one can have the experience of looking at crime scene photos. While some of her surgical paintings can come off as metaphysical x-rays of the artist.

Almost immediately I understood that what Frida had been doing in her art, was documenting her life, as well a few well chosen significant events outside of her immediate experience, which resonated with her. Her work, no matter how self-absorbed and dolorous, exists as valuable documentation of a person - indeed, a personality - living during the chaotic epoch that was revolutionary Mexico. Her art mirrors the cultural malaise that Mexico experienced within her lifetime.

I was not at all surprised - nor enlightened by the exhibit - as I said, it was like going to visit an old friend. Which is why I avoided the photography exhibit, I didn't need to be reminded of how tragic her life had been... Her paintings say enough about that.

[Art: Top - "The suicide of Dorothy Hale" Middle - "A Few Small Nips"]

The writer's strike.

The only good thing about it is that I watch much less TV since all the shows are reruns. But it is very bad for all those affected by the strike - not just the writers - but set people, camera people, lighting people, everyone involved in a television production. Don't forget the advertisers... it all has an impact... you know - the economy stupid.

My patron for 2008...

St. Peter Chanel

The saint chosen for me to be my patron this year is St. Peter Chanel, and the devotion chosen for me is the devotion to the Precious Blood of Jesus - which is a sinner's delight, let me tell you. I know who St. Peter is, and I have devotion to the most Precious Blood, which I will renew with the help of His grace. But I will have to examine the life of St. Peter more closely to determine why he chose me.

My thanks to Angela for orchestrating all of these graces for me.

Celebrity look-a-like bloggers.

I told Vincenzo that I thought Cathy of Alexandria looks a lot like Kathy Najimy - actually, I think they are one and the same. Vinny and Cath had been discussing who Fr. Z looks like - Bobby Darin or Kevin Spacey. (I could go either way - whatever - Father looks very cool in shades and his cassock.) I love to pick out celebrity look-a-likes. I'm often told I look like Aaron Eckhart - but I don't really see the resemblance myself.

Maybe I'll do a post on what celebrities my other favorite bloggers look like - don't steal my idea now!

What I really think... and other New Year's resolutions.

Wouldn't that be a great post - or series of posts? "What I really think..."

I want to do it - you know, how I'm always critiquing Spirit Daily - I could do the same thing with other blogs. But my New Year's resolution is a restraining power and that means I am going to try and stop saying (writing) and posting inappropriate things. I'm going to try really hard to be nice to people and say good things, things people need to hear, things that will really help them. I noticed when another blogger linked to a post I did, he felt the need to add the following cautionary statement - "Be forewarned, Terry sometimes writes things that may offend some people." (I had no idea I did that. No wonder certain blogs I respect do not link to me, and those who once linked, no longer do so.)

Some British bloggers have referred to me as "off-the-wall" and I believe one even suggested I was eccentric. Now that is coming from British bloggers and you know how fond British people are of their eccentrics - like the Royals! (Also, keep in mind some of the British TV reality shows, such as, Absolutely Fabulous, Faulty Towers, Keeping Up Appearances, and others like them which document normal life in the UK. Yeah - really normal all right. And yet they think I'm eccentric and off-the-wall - I don't get it.)

So from now on, I'm going to try and be normal.

(Photo: Homely, old, fat-lady blogger who failed in her New Year's resolution to lose weight and bought a corset instead. - - - What?)