Saturday, February 19, 2011

Summer is almost here...

Summer's almost here ...
You should be able to see the deer moving around in your back yard!




While, here in Miami, the temperature is a lovely 81 degrees and two mocking birds are fighting over the nesting rights in our mango tree.


What can I say....

Monday, February 14, 2011

Happy Valentine..

Where did the Tradition of Card giving on St. Valentine come from? We have to go back to a time before the Christians took over the "civilized world".

It all started as a pagan tradition in the third century. The god Lupercus, was said to watch over the shepherds and their flocks and keep them from the wolves. During this time hordes of hungry wolves roamed outside of Rome where shepherds kept their flocks. So the Romans celebrated a feast called Lupercalia to honor Lupercus so that no harm would come to the shepherds and their flocks.

Additionally, during the Lupercalia, but in honor of the goddess Juno Februata (are you still with me here?) , the names of young women were put into an urn. Later their names were drawn by lot. The boys and girls who were matched would be considered partners for the year (yes, the Romans invented the friends with benefits), which began in March. It will probably surprise nobody that this celebration continued long after the wolves ceased to be a problem to Rome.

After Christianity took over Rome, the Christian Church sought to replace this holiday with something a little more tasteful (read less ... way less sexual). It changed the name-drawing. Now, both men and women could draw names. Surely, the young Romans felt cheated as they found the name of a Christian saint on their cards rather than the wonderful companion they wished for. Instead of getting a companion through the lottery, they got a saint which they were to exemplify for that year. 

The Romans were miffed. They missed their friends with benefits every February. Some ingenious Roman lads thought up an idea. Instead of hoping that the woman they admired would be on their card, they went about sending cards with their names on them to these women. This tradition has carried on to this present day. 

So if it was not for the Romans (a.i. Italians) we would not have a Valentine Day Card Tradition. Life is so much better with an Italian...(I know... I live with the Hitman!)

Happy Valentines Day

Friday, February 11, 2011

Two expositions in February!!!

Once upon a time there were two "call for artists". I entered my work for both the events... Yes I was feeling gutsy and you never know, right? 
And then I was juried into both events...

Tonight is the opening of the first event. It is the Cheesecake Pinup exposition and I have two small male nudes showing there (yes, MALE nudes.... why should all pin ups be female?). 
The show is at Galerie Jenner in Fort Lauderdale and will continue until March 31.

The second event I was juried into is the "River of Art"; an annual event organized by Life is Art here in Miami. The event is only one evening and every year 7 or 8 artists are selected to show one painting at the event. And there is my painting on the poster.... the third one from the right bottom row.

Meanwhile I am working on a new painting ...

Life is just wonderful...