Anna's personal journey into the maze has to do with her belief that her anger at lost love incited her miscarriage. Within her own body she "feels" the curse like the twisting of thorns which keeps her in constant pain and makes it impossible for her to create the masks she loves. She believes, as […]
Excerpt from The Innamorati: Anna Surrenders Read More »
Very early in the novel I sought to establish a fantastic relationship between Anna Forsetti and the Commedia masks she creates. The masks speak to her, they are very alive and responsive to her mood. For Anna there is an interconnection between the womb which creates a life within it and a mask like an
Excerpt From The Innamorati: Anna and the Masks Read More »
I have recently come across a host of wonderful green images of spring — a rarity in this desert to be treasured. It reminds of more northern places, where rhubarb leaves unfurl through spring snow, lambs gambol in wet green fields, and the air itself is heavy with dew and rain, and earthly scents. So
Jack and Jill of the Green Read More »
After I posted on the painting fragment of the unknown girl by a Dutch painter (also unknown) I went searching for other portraits — to see what in her might be considered the conventions of such portraits at that time, – and really, I found almost none that matched the uniqueness of this painting. There
Reading Art: The Maiden Read More »
I collect images that either amuse or inspire me. Sometimes they remind me of things I have written on or thought about–almost like proof of collective consciousness — and other times, they appear before me to ask that I consider them. Such is this lovely and haunting image that crossed my path in an unrelated
Reading Art: The Torn Away Girl Read More »
Above is a curious and captivating of two nude jousters — male and female(?) — on snails. This is from the Baldus de Ubaldis. Lectura super Institutionibus. 1480-1481. The best part of this image is that it remains an utter mystery as to what sort of allagorical or rhetorical meaning they were trying to express by
Jousting Snails: A Medieval Martial Art Read More »
The pleasure of unpacking in a rented house is deciding once and for all to unpack everything, knowing that in due time, one will be moving again. So there is a desire on my part to organize and winnow everything that has sat in a box somewhere in my old attic for thirty years waiting
“Forget me not,” More Friendship Calling Cards Read More »
I have been going through a cigar box of collected calling cards from my great grandmother and I am astonished by the variety of pretty designs combined with the elegant scripts. It just seems such a lovely convention and I am rather sorry we don’t do it anymore. Now we hand out “business cards” which
“From A Friend,” the Art of the Calling Card Read More »
I am not at all sure what the artist was thinking when he added this little marginal painting in a manuscript, but I love it. An angry oyster protecting a pearl? unwilling to be eaten? or just ornery from a life time of an irritating parasite giving him a silvery ulcer. Maybe a painter frustrated
What Is An Angry Oyster? Read More »
I am an instant fan of late 19th century illustrator Peter Newell whose work was funny, explosive, and full of hilarious details that made my husband exclaim, “He must have been on drugs.” Hahaha…well, not sure about that last bit, but he is wonderful. Above is one of Alice in Wonderland illustrations — fighting
Peter Newell’s Energetic Imagination Read More »
