Rediscovering earlier notes for my article The Swan Maiden's Feathered Robe — I always like to circle back to these notes because they continue to offer insights. These were notes made from BF LEavy, In Search of the Swan Maiden: A Narrative on Folklore and Gender. I have long been fascinated by the "Animal Bride" stories […]
A Few Thoughts on The Swan Maiden Narratives Read More »
Homer offers one of the earliest descriptions of the Sirens in The Odyssey. It comes as Odysseus is leaving Hades, having gotten advice from just about all of the shades in his past. Circe makes it clear that there are still significant obstacles to his journey home and offers suggestions as to how to hear
The Sirens of Homer’s Odyssey I 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 »
There is something fabulous (and enviable for this writer) at the fertile co-creative spirit between an author and a book illustrator. Over the years, author Marly Youmans has worked with artist Clive Hicks Jenkins to create stunning books — old school style with beautiful original color artwork for the covers, and lovely black and
Clive Hicks Jenkins and his Evocative Book Illustrations for Youmans’ Maze of Blood Read More »
“In the end, he thought, a neat labyrinth or an untidy maze was a simple place. You reached its heart and were devoured by the beast, or you reached its heart, and the spot was bare and pulseless. Maybe the beast and the blankness were the same. Maybe it was the emptiness that had teeth
An Early Review of Maze of Blood by Marly Youmans Read More »
Yes…because sometimes writing just feels like this, right before working, in the middle of working, and for the rest of the day after working. It's not scary — but adjustments do have to be made. Probably better not to do anything involving knives or automobiles. Véronique La Perrière M., Dissolution et recommencement (swan), 2011.
Letting Go When Writing Read More »
How stunning is this? The text reads "Ave Maria Gratia Plena" — "Hail Mary Full of Grace." But within the confines of each letter, the calligrapher depicts individual narratives creating tension between the two — the formality of the letters joined into sacred text and the liveliness of the people and animals engaged in very
Life in Letters: A Calligrapher’s Narrative Read More »
Alicia Baladan is an Italian illustrator whose work has given me yet another reason for massively improving my Italian. I love this work — with its beautiful palette of colors and evocative imagery. Her latest children’s book “Una Storia Guaraní” is about the Guaraní Indians of Uruguay and their sacred and incredibly useful relationship to
Alicia Baladan: “Una Storia Guaraní” Read More »
*Please note that posters in the comments provide links to pages that no longer exist — sadly! Yale at one point removed the archive of images from public view. I am sitting at my desk transported by the digital images of the Voynich Manuscript, created sometime between the late 15th century and early 16th
The Voynich Manuscript: Magic, A Garden of Women, and a Secret Language Read More »
I was quite astonished to see this wonderful mythic and western art of Javier Pinon — the unusual combination of cowboys and Greek myths. This is a collage of Icarus Falling — and it struck me so much because it bears an eerie resemblance to a passage of transformation that I wrote years ago in
Falling From the Sky And The Art of Javier Pinon Read More »
