Markus Ray’s “Art Look”

We are up here in Iceland, where, on this “Nordic Hawaii” of volcanic action, I have been contemplating Viking Art. My mind is vaguely recalling the intertwining tracery of intricate woven patterns of geometry, intermixed with simple animal and human figurines making various [...]

PASSION FOR THE FEMALE FORM Almost all of Modigliani’s greatest works are of the female form. His portraits of figures elongated and simplified are his hallmark, especially elongated necks in his portraits. But what distinguishes his work mostly is an unrelenting passion for Life, and a [...]

A SACRED SPACE OF IMMENSE BEAUTY Where would you put a crown of thorns? Let’s say tomorrow someone gave you the “crown of thorns” that was on Jesus’s head during his crucifixion, and you knew for certain it was that, what would you do with it? Now of course, all [...]

AMSTERDAM’S JEWEL Renovations on the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam took nearly 10 years. But what they came up with is a masterpiece, and well worth the wait. Some of the greatest paintings in the world are housed in this Jewel in the crown of Dutch Art and Culture. There are the expected [...]

PEACEFULNESS ABOUNDS POLAND and ESTONIA have been on our tour schedule for many years. Not only have we met some wonderful people there, a peacefulness abounds in these countries in North Eastern Europe. We go in the summertime, so the weather is perfect, as the days and nights are moderate. [...]

THE FAMOUS AND THE NOT SO FAMOUS A couple years ago we did some work in Madrid, and as usual I am on the look out for Art. I look at Art. My own, and the Art of others. Being close to Toledo, we spent a day going there, as I was sure about the […]

THE ORACLE OF ORACLES Five years ago last June we worked in Greece. Our friend Yiannis was our host in Athens, and he drove us to Delphi for the day. One of the most powerful places in the ancient Mediterranean world, Delphi was known for the Oracle, a residing female priestess who had the gift [...]

ARTISTS OVERLOOKED There are countless artists, painters, who we will never see. They are not in the popular mix of notables. Charles Burchfield is one of these marginally “famous” artists with whom most are unfamiliar. I only know about him because he went to the Cleveland [...]

Who Is She? The Divine Mother plays a huge role in our life. We have Her all over the place. As soon as you come into our apartment, She flanks both sides of the hallway and you cannot escape Her surrounding you with Her presence. People feel Her, whether they know She is there or […]

THE DIVINE MOTHER We often think of God the creator as a male entity. What about God the Mother? Who is She? Most humans have come out of the womb of a mother. Who is the Divine Mother? We don’t seem to have a grasp of Her in the Western world, outside of the Virgin […]