Disney-Britton

CBS NEWS | DC By Peter Milo "One Nation Under Socialism" UTAH--- Jon McNaughton , a controversial artist who often mixes religion and politics in his work, has released a new painting. In “One Nation Under Socialism,” President Obama holds the U.S. Constitution as it burns. While McNaughton previously depicted Obama stepping on the nation’s founding document, “One Nation Under Socialism” glowers directly as if challenging the viewer. His right hand is holding the Constitution and his left hand is pointing to the flames. [ link ]

THE WASHINGTON POST By Mark Jenkins "Ram Darwaza 1" (2008) by Anil Revri. Private Collection WASHINGTON, DC - Anil Revri is a God seeker. The Indian-born, Corcoran-educated artist is from a Hindu background, but the work in his “ Faith and Liberation Through Abstraction ” encompasses, and respects, many traditions. These “visual aids to meditation,” on display at the American University Museum, contain no images that transgress some sects’ ban on representing living creatures. Instead, they’re constructed from lines, dots and words. [ link ]

ALPHA OMEGA ARTS By Ernest Disney-Britton For Holy Week, we are doing something a little different. After some debate, we've selected the works of eight contemporary artists to tell the Passion Week story from Palm Sunday through Easter. The artists include Believers, and Skeptics too. Here's the schedule: Palm Sunday: William Hemmerling (Jesus enters Jerusalem to the waving of Palms) Monday: Douglas Blanchard  (Jesus expels the Money Changers from the temple) Tuesday:  Adi Nes (Jesus fearlessing teaches in Jerusalem) Wednesday: Ed Knippers (Jesus demonstrates humility by washing the feet of his disciples) Thursday: Gerda Liebmann (Jesus demonstrates how to remember him, during the Last Supper his family is together) Friday:  David Mach (Jesus, the son of God, is crucified) Saturday: David LaChapelle (Jesus lies dead in the tomb) Easter Sunday: Tony Melendez (Christ is Risen)

CAPE MAY COUNTY HERALD By  Arthur Schwerdt This is a detail of a bronze triptych (a three panel wok of art) of the Resurection. It is possibly a Victorian re-cast of an original 17th Century German sculpted altarpiece NEW JERSEY - With both Easter and Passover this weekend, this week’s column is a photo essay of some interesting devotional art. Religious art of all the world religions, from main steam to tribal, has been attracting collectors’ attention lately. Handmade pieces are especially impressive, not only for their exceptional craftsmanship, but also for the passion and commitment communicated by the artists. [ Link ]

"Christ Washing His Disciple's Feet" by Jacopo Tintoretto

THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE By Glen Warchol Syrian scroll with Arabic caligraphy dating to the Middle Ages UTAH - " Beauty and belief in Islam " exhibition will be at the Brigham Young University Museum of Art in Provo through Sept. 29. Altogether, this timely exhibit of the nexus of faith, calligraphy, architecture and design gives non-Muslim visitors some idea of the sacredness of the written word to Muslims and its place in Islamic art. A saying attributed to the Prophet Muhammad helps explains the outrage over the Quran burning in Afghanistan: "The ink of the scholar is holier than the blood of the martyrs." [ link ]

DISCOVERY CHANNEL Can an image and inscription found in a Jerusalem tomb constitute the oldest Christian art ever discovered and hold the key to the mystery of Jesus' earliest followers? The answers lay are revealed in Discovery's world premiere event special THE RESURRECTION TOMB MYSTERY airing Thursday, April 12 at 10pm e/p. The revealing groundbreaking film probes what the concept of resurrection meant to the first followers of Jesus, offering a dramatic archaeological witness evidence as to what the people who knew Jesus actually believed. [ link ]

CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO By Dana Perrigan "Totus Tuus" hangs in Hopedale, Ohio CALIFORNIA - Lisa Andrews not only paints what she preaches – she practices it as well. The Bay Area artist, who may devote months of research to her subject before applying paint to canvas, invariably begins a project the same way: “I always start with a prayer,” she said. Andrews’ “The Assumption” has been installed at Father of Mercy Chapel of the Franciscan Sisters, in Toronto, Ohio. Her painting of Pope John Paul II and Mary together (“Totus Tuus”) hangs at the Church of the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts of Jesus and Mary in Hopedale, Ohio. [ link ]

ALPHA OMEGA ARTS By Tahlib Neo-Pop artist Marilyn Artus is pissed-off at how "my" Roman Catholic Church dominates women, and on Good Friday she will make her point with a new portrait, "The Lady of Nazareth Chose to Play Along." This new portrait of the Virgin Mary is a statement of protest of what Artus considers infringement of women’s rights by the Catholic Church and of many prominent conservatives.

ABC ONLINE (Australia) By Damon Young "The Crossing of the Red Sea" (1597-1600) by Sebastian Vrancx AUSTRALIA - The Red Sea has parted, graciously let the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage, and then dumped its salty death upon the Egyptian pursuers. The exceptionalist god has again made his alliances clear: the Jews are his, to save and punish as he sees fit. But if we look closely at 'The Crossing of the Red Sea' , Sebastian Vrancx's painting hanging in the National Gallery of Victoria, the story has been revised to suit the late-16th-century Low Countries.

SUN SENTINEL By James Davis FLORIDA - Is there such a thing as Jewish art? Historian Marilyn Becker says so, and she'll explain why in a show-and-tell April 1. "The Legacy of Jewish Art and Artists" is set for 3 p.m. at Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton. Becker will give her presentation on the fifth floor of FAU's Wimberly Library. Becker will give an overview of the role of Jewish artists from various stages of history. Among them will be French impressionist Camille Pissarro, Italian painter and sculptor Amedeo Modigliani, German-born British painter Lucian Freud and Russian-American abstract expressionist Marc Rothko. [ link ]

"Christ washing disciple's feet" by Giovanni Agnostino da Lodi

ALPHA OMEGA ARTS By Tahlib UNITED KINGDOM - To reduce interfaith conflict, a gallery in London launched a national art competition across the UK in 2009 to explore the underlying issues around interfaith conflict, and bring faiths together. This year, the competition is tied to the International Olympics, and the annual event, " My Place On The Isle: Exploring Faith & Identity " shall again be exhibited at the Mica Gallery. The winners will then be celebrated at an Awards Ceremony in central London in Summer 2012, receive media coverage and potentially showcase their work during 2012, as part of a tour of the UK, which organizers hope will be part of the 2012 Olympic Games.

" A New Jerusalem " by Zoe Ali and Christos Tsiolkas Courtesy of Blake Prize for Religious Art, Australia

BLOOMBERG NEWS By Katya Kazakina and Scott Reyburn A Chinese Imperial jade seal and album of calligraphy are being re-offered for sale this week after their Asian bidders failed to pay. HONG KONG - Amid a growing appetite by wealthy Chinese for art, wine and other collectibles, sellers are demanding deposits by bidders on top lots and, in some cases, suing the non-payers.  Olivier Doutrebente in Paris has put a valuation of as much as $1.6 million on a 35-sheet album of 18th- century Buddhist texts associated with the Emperor Qianlong, up for sale on March 30. The album, owned by relatives of the Sinologist Georges Soulie de Morant, was bid to 3.6 million euros by a Chinese buyer a year ago. It will be re-offered by the Paris-based auctioneer Olivier Doutrebente on March 30, a year after it first appeared for sale in the French capital. The successful bidder in March 2011 failed to pay. [ link ]

HUFFINGTON POST UTAH - Wow! This amazing video shot by filmmaker Devin Graham and his friends documents color-covered goings on at this year's Holi Festival in front of the Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork, Utah. The Hindu festival of Holi has various legends attached to it, according to HoliFestival.org . [ link ]

ALPHA OMEGA ARTS By Ernest Britton Detail of untitled work in Indianapolis with swastika, cross, ankh in a collage Sometimes you come across a work of art that stays on your mind because you simply cannot figure it out, and you want to figure it out. Such is the case with a painting (above), that I stumbled upon in a warehouse in Indianapolis. It's unsigned, and no one has yet been able to identity the painter but I am thinking of buying it  as a teaching tool because of its intriguing use of religious symbols: Christian, Buddhist, and Hinduism's holy swastika.

THE TELEGRPAH UNITED KINGDOM - She says she regrets the public's lack of understanding of the Gospel stories, and adds that as a consequence they cannot grasp the meaning of much of the canon of European painting. Sister Wendy, the nun-turned-television-presenter, has warned that modern-day ignorance about Christianity and the Classics has left people unable to appreciate much of Western art.  [ link ]

"The Last Supper" by Rubens

"Adam & Eve" (1507) by Albrecht Dürer, oil on panel. At midnight, " Mirror, Mirror " arrives in a movie theater somewhere here in NYC, because big red apples are everywhere!What's the story behind apples--good & evil? I've often thought it would be a great idea for someone, back-home to do an entire exhibition on the myth & mythology of this mystical or forbidden fruit. Americans, walking in the steps of Johnny Appleseed are fascinated with apples, and of course they are advocated by our doctors too (once a day). But the apples on billboards this week in NYC are the opposite of the good apples. These are the apples of Adam's sin; Eve's sexual seduction; and of "Fairy tale" deaths. This weekend, I going to buy a couple of big red apples from our corner street vendor, and take my wife (and daughter) to see "Mirror, Mirror." Maybe I will see you there.

THE DAILY PROGRESS By: David Maurer VIRGINIA - After traveling thousands of miles, the 600-pound shipping case arrived at the University of Virginia Art Museum. Meticulously fitted inside was “The Adoration of the Magi,” the priceless 14th-century altarpiece painting by Italian master Bartolo di Fredi. For two days the case remained unopened in the main floor gallery, giving the contents time to settle. On the third day the case was raised gently into the proper upright position for disassembly. Bruce Boucher, director of the art museum, watched as the screws from the outer and inner cases were unfastened. [ link ]

HUFFINGTON POST America remains a generally religious nation, with more than two-thirds of the nation's residents classified as very or moderately religious. Gallup classifies 40 percent of Americans nationwide as very religious ; another 32% of Americans are nonreligious; the remaining 28 percent of Americans are moderately religious. These overall national averages, however, conceal dramatic regional differences in religiosity across the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Residents of Southern states are generally the most religious. On the other hand, residents of New England and a number of far Western states tend to be the least religious.  [ link ]

Galmer with his sculpture "The Ten Commandments" Michael Izrael Galmer, well known for creating numerous Judaica for The Jewish Museum of New York over the past ten years, has completed a new masterpiece called “The Ten Commandments,” an expressive five-foot sculpture made of highly engraved sterling silver. Scheduling is currently underway for exhibits beginning in early Spring 2012. [ link ]

ALPHA OMEGA ARTS By Ernest Britton Video streaming by Ustream On March 25, in Illinois, the pastor's sermon at Cherry Valley United Methodist Church was on the stress & the comfort experienced by Jesus Christ during his Garden of Gethsemane. As illustration, Pastor Monty Fox used the real life example of his brother, Kansas artist Todd Dayton Fox who received God's comfort through painting his surrealist Passion Series. The lesson? God will always be there.

THE FRONTIERSMAN By Terry Mattingly TEXAS - The leaders of Ecclesia Church in the hip, edgy Montrose neighborhood near downtown Houston — created in 1999 by a coalition of Southern Baptists, Presbyterians and others — have raised eyebrows and inspired headlines by embracing tattoos as the artistic medium for their eighth annual art exhibit during the 40-day season that leads to Easter. The title is “ Cruciformity: Stations of the Cross on Skin .” Put all of these images together, said artist Scott Erickson, and they tell the stories of broken people. [ link ]

IPSWICH CHRONICLE By Beverly Perna Pysanky Easter Eggs MASSACHUSETTS - Unlike the familiar dyed Easter eggs, these are strictly to look at and appreciate as religious, art, and cultural artifacts. Eggs decorated with a lot of black and detailed designs are indicative of a long life and thus a longer story. The Orthodox Church of St. John the Russian, 16 Mt. Pleasant St., will offer Pysanky Easter egg decorating classes for adults on Wednesday, March 28. Xenia Schneider, wife of priest Spyridon Schneider, said that the eggs were originally part of the pagan spring traditions, but with the advent of Christianity became a symbol of the resurrection. [ link ]

“Jesus washing his disciples’ feet” by UK artist Dinah Roe Kendall

MUSLIM MATTERS | ART OF MONTH Qurʾān 3:190, by Samee Panda | Courtesy of MuslimMatters.com

THE NATIONAL By Hannah Westley Mouvement décomposé, 2010, by Mehdi-Georges Lahlou . Courtesy Galerie Dix9 FRANCE - As this exhibition goes to show, the body, contrary to popular belief in the west, has long been present in the work of certain Arabic artists and occupies an increasingly important place in the work of contemporary artists. Historically, art from the Arab world has focused on floral, vegetal and geometric motifs and calligraphy. The arabesque in Islamic art is often used to symbolise the transcendent nature of God but representations of the human body have generally been avoided as they are considered by many Muslims to be a form of idolatry. Le Corps Découvert opens today and continues until July 15. For more information visit imarabe.org. [ link ]

BUSINESS MIRROR By Roderick L. Abad INDONESIA - Who would have thought that contradicting Islam and Catholic religions could come together harmoniously—at least visually? This is what up-and-coming Indonesian artist Anin Baroto presents in his ongoing art exhibit, dubbed Indonesian Expressions, at the Diamond Hotel in Manila. “This [Christian-themed figuration] is something I’m very interested in, and with this exhibit I really want to introduce how Hindu-Islamic-inspired art can be used to promote Catholicism, and show that the two religions can get along well through visual arts,” Baroto says. [ link ]

ARTDAILY MASSACHUSETTS - The Rt. Rev. M. Thomas Shaw, SSJE, Bishop of The Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts announced the selection of artist Donald Lipski to complete the long-unfinished pediment of the Cathedral Church of St. Paul at 138 Tremont St, in Boston, as part of major renovation plans in celebration of the 100th anniversary of its dedication as the diocesan cathedral. Lipski’s proposal incorporates a non-traditional sculpture depicting a cross-section of a chambered nautilus placed against a blue field, to be dramatically lit at night. The pediment has been empty since the building’s completion in 1820. [ link ]

Staging for photo by Leivur Reinert Djurhuus

THE TIMES OF INDIA By Sajjad Shahid The Taj Mahal INDIA - The first major contact between India and the Arab world occurred with annexation of Sind by the Umayyad Caliphate in 711. After a preliminary period of polarization, there began a slow but inevitable exchange of ideas and beliefs that impacted both cultures, bringing about perceptible changes in both. Although obscure, the process of interaction eventually led to the evolution of the religious and cultural traditions which define modern India. Indo-Islamic art has absorbed all these symbols into its own imagery along with adding a lot more from the extensive Indian repertoire. [ link ]

ALPHA OMEGA ARTS By Tahlib As expected, when I saw " The Hunger Games " on Saturday night, the theater was packed with teen-age girls, but this is not a "teen movie," but a movie about a teenager. The lead is a strong young woman whose story is powerfully told. It's an inspirational, innovative movie for& males & females of all ages (well, except for my toddler daughter, but one day it will be). It also says a great deal about matters of faith, particularly: hope, love, sacrifice; and what happens to a godless society. I left lifted, as did the teen-age girls (& boys) in the house, and I hope they felt as grateful as I did for those who do practice love, hope and sacrifice.(Go see)

NUVO | INDY'S ALTERNATIVE NEWS By Dan Grossman "Fort Wayne" by John Sherman, poem & photograph INDIANA - "Three Journeys That Redefined Lives: John Sherman" is on display at the Indiana Interchurch Center Art Gallery, 1100 W. 42nd St., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, through March 30. Copies of two of Sherman's books — War Stories, a memoir of his experience as an aid worker in Nigeria during the Biafra War, and Marjorie Main — are available at the show. Born in 1944, John Sherman grew up on a farm 50 miles south of Fort Wayne, a city that was, believe it or not, a cultural Mecca for him during his youth.

"Christ washing the feet of his disciples" is by Leszek Forczek

ASSOCIATED PRESS By Kyle Hightower FLORIDA - Wearing hooded sweatshirts similar to the one that Trayvon Martin wore on the night he was killed, many preachers and worshippers echoed calls for justice Sunday in the shooting death of an unarmed black teenager in Florida last month. The one-month anniversary of Martin's death is Monday. He was shot while wearing a "hoodie" as he walked home on a rainy night in a gated community. [ link ]

THE OTTAWA CITIZEN By David Warren The symbol I propose to take literally today is that of the dove. It is familiar to everyone, in its quasireligious role as the peace symbol. Appropriated from Christian iconography, it is now an easily recognized item of international signage: a kind of marketing logo, to go with jingle or slogan. Its meaning has been narrowed to "no more war" - an unachievable condition on this planet. Yet it resonates still, from the depth of the spiritual tradition it appropriated. The Christians, for their part, took it from the Jews, and indirectly from the pagan Greeks and Romans upon whom the Hebrew people had made some impressions. It was a symbol of purity and peace from the most ancient times: in ancient Egypt, for instance, the insistent cooing of the dove at daybreak, was taken as summons to the sleeping soul, to awaken into immortal life. [ link ]

ALPHA OMEGA ARTS By Greg Disney Our A&O Movie Night experience was " Big Miracle " at the $1 movie theater, and it was a feel-good, great time of inspiration about the good inside all people. Inspired by the true 1988 story that flooded the national and international news media, "Big Miracle" is a documentary fused with the drama of "Free Willy" but told through the lens of the world of Public Relations. I found it interesting that there were no references to what church leaders like Pat Robertson, or congregations were saying back then but there is a great deal to say about Eskimo spirituality. Anyway, it was my pick for the weekend, and we both liked it.

ALPHA OMEGA ARTS By Tahlib " THE SILENT DAY " (above), a Hindu ritual performed on the island of Bali in Indonesia is the NEWS OF WEEK . This holy-day marks the cleansing of the "evil one" from the coming new year. The mask of the evil one is created to be as ugly and horrifying as possible. Bali's nickname is the "island of hinduism," and is home to most of Indonesia's small Hindu minority. You may know the island as the location for the 2010 film, " Eat, Pray, Love " starring Julia Roberts.

THE NEW YORK TIMES By Terrence Rafferty On March 30 Tarsem Singh’s “ Mirror Mirror ,” a zippy new version of the Snow White story, arrives, and yet another retelling, “ Snow White and the Huntsman ,” is threatened for this year. “ Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters ” looms on the horizon too, scheduled for early 2013. And two of the livelier series of the current television season, “ Grimm ” and “ Once Upon a Time ,” are based on tricky fairy-tale premises. Not all these movies and shows are destined to live happily ever after in the memories of their target audiences, but the entertainment industry, with its childlike trust in the powers of its own magic, clearly believes we’ll be enchanted. [ link ]

" Crucifixian " by Rommel Bundalian (b. Philippines) Photography, Poser, Photoshop with Tablet

" Cardinals and Choirboys " (2011) by Tom Torluemke

CNN By Dan Merica COLORADO – When star quarterback Peyton Manning signed with the Denver Broncos this week, Denver pastor Jim Mackey signed at the thought that Tim Tebow probably wouldn’t be wearing Broncos blue and orange next season. The Broncos don’t need two star quarterbacks and the New York Jets announced Wednesday that Tebow is now theirs. “It is an emotional thing and a bit more emotional for people who have connected with Tebow’s expression of faith,” Mackey said. “Rather than just a QB controversy, which is not unique in the NFL, this does seem to have hit more of a personal nerve for those in the Christian community.” [ link ]

CNN By Dan Merica MARYLAND - Sitting in a chilly hotel hospitality suite in a suburban Maryland hotel, David Silverman plans his attack. As a kid in Massachusetts, Silverman was the only atheist he knew. Silverman was raised Jewish. His parents sent him to Hebrew school and he had a bar mitzvah, even after telling his mother that he did not believe in God. “I remember it clearly, getting up on stage and everybody in my life was in front of me. Everyone,” Silverman says, recalling his bar mitzvah. “And I stood up there, and I looked everyone in the eye, and I lied. I lied. And I hated it.” For Silverman, it was a turning point, a moment when he resolved not to lie about his disbelief. [ link ]

ALPHA OMEGA ARTS By Tahlib Hindu devotees carry an effigy locally called "Ogoh-ogoh" a demonic representation, ahead of the Silent Day in Bali . Picture: CLARA PRIMA/AFP/Getty Images

KTBS By Jessica Ravitz, CNN Israeli national flag FRANCE - The four victims of Monday's shooting at a Jewish school in Toulouse, France, were buried Wednesday morning -- not in their home community but, after an overnight flight from Paris, in Jerusalem. Being laid to rest in Israel, the birthplace of Judaism, ensures that their remains will not be tampered with. "It goes all the way back to the Bible , when Jacob passed away," explains Rabbi Shaul Ginsberg. Another incentive to be buried in Israel [is] rooted in the belief that when the Messiah comes, those buried in Jerusalem will be resurrected first. [ link ]

ALPHA OMEGA ARTS By Tahlib " The Crucifixion " by Spencer Williams

USA TODAY By Remy de la Mauvinere, AP FRANCE - An Islamic extremist who boasted of killing seven people to strike back at France died after being shot in the head by police as he jumped out of his apartment after a fierce gunfight with police, authorities said. His dramatic death ended a more than 32-hour standoff with an elite police squad trying to capture him alive. The suspect, 23-year-old Mohamed Merah, was wanted in the deaths of three paratroopers, three Jewish schoolchildren and a rabbi. Merah had filmed all three killings, and claimed to have posted them online . Police have viewed the videos . [ link ]

ARTDAILY TUNISIA - Tunisia's government on Monday condemned the desecration of the Muslim holy book and attacks on mosques as attempts to sow discord in society. On Thursday in the town of Ben Guerdane near the Libyan border, two mosques were vandalized and Qurans inside damaged. On Friday a Star of David, a symbol of Judaism, was spray painted on the al-Fath mosque in the capital, Tunis. There has been no word on the identity of the perpetrators of the attacks, but they came at a time of heightened tensions between religious and secular elements in society. [ link ]

ALPHA OMEGA ARTS By Ernest O. Britton "I Give to You. John 14:27" by Mark Lawrence Image courtesy GreatBIGcanvas

CHICAGO TRIBUNE By Thomas Grove A child dressed as Hindu Lord Krishna poses with a miniature Bhagavad-Gita in Chandigarh (Ajay Verma Reuters, REUTERS / May 1, 2009) RUSSIA - A Russian court rejected a call from prosecutors on Wednesday to ban one of Hinduism's holiest books.... Prosecutors argue that the book - a translation of the Bhagavad Gita - included a commentary that was 'hostile to other faiths'. The Bhagavad Gita takes the form of a conversation between Hindu god Krishna and a prince called Arjuna prior to a battle. The book, praised by Albert Einstein, forms the bedrock of the Hindu belief system. [ link ]

ALPHA OMEGA ARTS By Tahlib Art lovers, especially people of faith, want to know the inspiration for truly imaginative works of fine art. Are you willing to share them? This is your chance! The process is simple: Answer seven questions (25-50 words each) and send images as illustration of those answers. You will then be added to the " US Artists "  roster; be profiled as the A&O Artist of the Month ; and a permanent link will be added linking your website site to ours. We will also track news stories about you, and your artwork to include them on the blogsite. Interested? Here's the format: What is your faith tradition, and where did you develop into an artist who explores religion? How do you describe your art? What style or genre is it? Have you ever had to defend exploring religious themes? What do your collectors say about your work? Who would you like to collect your work, and why? What artists have influenced your style? Where can A&O readers fin...

ALPHA OMEGA ARTS By Tahlib  "Agony in the Garden" (1460) by Andrea Mantegna Depicts Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL By Margherita Stancati NEW YORK - A 13th-century bronze figure from Nepal sold for around $2.49 million at a Christie’s auction in New York on Tuesday — seven times more than its expected sale price. Christie’s expected it to sell for up to $350,000. The statuette, which is around 18 inches (45 centimeters) high, is a representation of the Padmapani, one of the many guises of the Buddhist god of compassion, Avalokiteshvara. [ link ]

SONOMA STATE STAR By Danielle Flores CALIFORNIA - The University Art Gallery on campus was buzzing with excitement last Thursday as student artists presented their best works from 2011 for the “Juried Student Exhibition 2012.” Sophie Benjamin’s piece was one that challenged the audience. Her cross-stitch pieces with phrases that said, “God hates you,” and “Homo sex is sin” took many audience members off guard. “It’s based on the signs you would see (from) Westboro Baptist Church,” she said, in regards to the religious group who has conducted protests at soldiers’ funerals. [ link ]

A nine pointed star of the Bahá’i faith

BANGKOK POST THAILAND - "Mara", a series of spiritual paintings by Thanapon Junkasain runs until March 31 at the Banyan Tree, Sathon Tai Road, Bangkok. Located in the lobby of the Banyan Tree Bangkok, "Mara" is being staged by the non-profit arts organisation Wai Art. The contemporary Buddhist acrylics in Thanapon's first exhibition, "explore the concepts of right and wrong", according to the promotional material, by drawing on traditional mythology. For more information about Wai Art exhibitions, visit www.facebook.com/WaiArtProject . [ link ]

CHANNEL 10 NEWS | SAN DIEGO CALIFORNIA -- The "Surfing Madonna," a stained-glass mosaic by Marc Patterson , is currently sitting in storage in Encinitas, instead of at the entrance to Moonlight State Beach where he wanted it to be. On Friday, the state Attorney General's Office decided against allowing the mosaic to be displayed on public lands, because its religious intent would violate the California Constitution's no preference clause. Patterson has said he is spiritual, but is not religious. He also said there is no religious significance to the 10-foot-by-10-foot mosaic, which displays Our Lady of Guadalupe on a surfing alongside the words "Save the Ocean." [ link ]

ALPHA OMEGA ARTS By Tahlib Stonehenge in UK. Courtsey of USA Today

ALPHA OMEGA ARTS By Tahlib “Krossfesting” by Leivur Reinert Djurhuus