tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55798401588578219132024-03-13T19:22:31.535-07:00Patrick McGrath MuñizArtist Blog and JournalAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07867543787640762294noreply@blogger.comBlogger94125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579840158857821913.post-91340308983659778592018-12-17T13:43:00.000-08:002018-12-17T13:51:00.595-08:00My encounter and evolving relationship with the Tarot (Part 3 of 3)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The World from the <b>Tarot of Marseilles</b></td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Historically, the Tarot has been used as a
card game and later on for divination purposes. It can be divided into two parts:
The 22 Trumps or Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana. There are 4 suits within the
Minor Arcana (Swords, Batons, Cups and Coins) each containing 10 Pip Cards from
the Ace to number 10 plus 4 additional court cards (Knave, Knight, Queen and
King). The earliest most complete surviving Tarot deck dates back to 1450 is
the <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visconti-Sforza_tarot_deck">Visconti-Sforza deck</a></i> from Northern Italy. The language of Neo Platonic allegories,
Biblical narratives and depictions of Queens, Kings and Popes present in the
Tarot takes us back to the time and culture of the Renaissance and right at the
time of Christopher Columbus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Star from the <b>Visconti Sforza Tarot</b></td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Subsequently, in 1909 the artist Pamela Coleman
Smith created the illustrations for what is now known as the <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rider-Waite_tarot_deck">Rider-Waite Tarot</a></i>
or Waite-Smith Tarot the best known Tarot deck from which the majority of decks
derive from. What made the Rider-Waite deck so appealing to new audiences was
the fact that Smith had illustrated the minor suits with human figures and
narratives that made it much easier to interpret and read. Before that, Tarot
decks such as the <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarot_of_Marseilles">Tarot of Marseilles</a></i> (1748), only had abstract depictions of swords,
cups, batons and coins. It is noteworthy to mention that Smith used Medieval
and Renaissance figures to illustrate the scenes in all her cards.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two of Staffs from the <b>Rider Waite Tarot.</b></td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">As an artist with a Roman Catholic background and
growing up during the 1980's and 90's in the island of Puerto Rico, the oldest
colony in the Western Hemisphere, I've had a deep interest in reconnecting with
the past. Besides being drawn initially to the art of the Renaissance from the
very beginning of my art studies, from the elementary school text books to my
travels through Latin America, the figure of Columbus and the images of the
conquest and colonization of the New World have captivated my imagination as an
artist.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vespucci awakens "America" in a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stradanus" style="background: none rgb(248, 249, 250); color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.3704px; text-align: left; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Stradanus">Stradanus</a><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.3704px; text-align: left;"> engraving (circa 1638)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">20 years ago I started incorporating these narratives into my
paintings. At the beginning I was influenced by Eduardo Galeano's <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Veins_of_Latin_America">Open veins of Latin America</a></i> and
<i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberation_theology">Liberation Theology</a></i>. With time I got more interested in re-telling the story of
climate change by tracing its origins to the time of Columbus. In drawings,
paintings and altarpieces, my work responded to the global capitalist/consumerist
society with its indifference to the rising threat of climate change and social
injustice The hidden connections between American consumer culture propaganda
and Spanish Colonial Art and Latin American history are <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>revealed in this deck I've created.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Sun</b> from the <b>Tarot Novi Mundi</b> by <i><a href="https://www.patrickmcgrath-art.com/">Patrick McGrath Muñiz.</a></i> </td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">The Tarot Novi Mundi (Tarot of the New World) inspired
by Catholic Iconography, derives mainly from the history of the Americas but
also from personal experiences, reinterpreting the iconography found in the 78
Arcanas of the Tarot while addressing social and environmental issues in our
present day world. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through the use of satirical
narratives and anachronisms I aim at questioning the ruling Corpocracy with its
Colonial roots, Neo-colonial ramifications and it's inept response to
environmental crisis and its impact on the community, especially the poor. These
have been my main concerns when making art and this deck is essentially a compendium
of the recurring archetypes, narratives and themes in already present in my work. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>THE SEED</b> (2014) Oil on canvas 48 x 48 inches by <i><a href="https://www.patrickmcgrath-art.com/">Patrick McGrath Muñiz</a></i>. Private Collection.</td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Every card presents a story, much like an Old
Master painting. It made perfect sense to me to re-tell the story of the Americas
using the Tarot as it is a product of the same time in which the New and Old
World collided bringing about a turning point in human history and dawn of
globalization with all its ills and benefits. The Tarot commonly used for
fortune telling has a special appeal to us in a time of political
uncertainty and environmental fragility. We are now living in a time of
increased nuclear threat, climate change and technological disruption. The 21st
century global culture driven by consumerism and free market policies is part
of a larger complex anthropocentric process that like the Tarot, started in the
fifteenth century with the encounter and collision of two worlds. The Tarot
with its esoteric and exoteric symbolism, both enigmatic and strangely familiar
provided me with the perfect story telling format to describe the way I see and
understand the world around me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Star</b>, <b>Three of Staffs</b> and <b>The World </b>cards from <b>Tarot Novi Mundi</b> by <i><a href="https://www.patrickmcgrath-art.com/">Patrick McGrath Muñiz</a></i>. </td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">The use of Latin in the titles of each card relate directly to the history of Empire and the Church. English, French and Spanish, all languagues of past empires are also used in smaller letters. After being shown at <b><a href="https://junghouston.org/">The Jung Center</a></b> in Houston
this year, it is now in the process of being edited before being publishing by
<b><a href="https://www.usgamesinc.com/">US Games</a></b>. The deck will include a booklet explaining the meaning behind each
card and how to interpret them in a reading. If you're interested in updates
and purchasing this deck once it is published, you can visit <b><a href="https://www.patrickmcgrath-art.com/">my artist website</a></b>
and subscribe to my newsletter to keep up with the latest news on it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Ten of Coins</b> from he <b>Tarot Novi Mundi </b>by <i><a href="https://www.patrickmcgrath-art.com/">Patrick McGrath Muñiz</a></i></td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Hope you enjoyed reading and I wish you all a
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07867543787640762294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579840158857821913.post-91175260815559858732018-11-26T04:56:00.002-08:002018-11-26T04:57:27.739-08:00My encounter and evolving relation with the Tarot (Part 2 of 3)<br />
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EL EMIGRANTE & EL ARTISTA (2011) Oil and gold leaf on panel 11.5 x 23.5</div>
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from the Mcolonial Citizens series.</div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In 2011 I worked on a series of oil
paintings and gold leaf on panel titled The Mcolonial Citizens. This
represented my first direct exploration into some of the archetypes found in
the Tarot. Since I was interested in issues related to social injustice and
inequality in the Americas from colonial times to the present, the Series
E/S Conditions of Man from the Mantegna Tarocchi made perfect sense as a point
of departure and inspiration for this collection. On these 12 pieces also
found inspiration in the Spanish Colonial "Casta" paintings and the
portraits of 18th century Puerto Rican painter Jose Campeche. From the Beggar
to the CEO, these "Neo-Colonial" portraits respond to the present socio-economic
living conditions in a capitalist/consumer driven society. The Mcolonial
Citizens were shown at Petrus Gallery in San Juan, Puerto Rico in 2012.</span></span></span></h2>
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EL MENDIGO & LA AMA DE CASA (2011) Oil and gold leaf on panel 11.5 x 23.5</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Cqj9A0qt0No/W_vpud-Lh_I/AAAAAAAACxA/72fYbBWbmvkBK_J84j_eH1ng2ZBkSD3sACLcBGAs/s1600/4.%2BLA%2BEMPERATRIZ%2B%25282013%2529%2BOil%2Band%2Bmetal%2Bleaf%2Bon%2Bpanel%2B24%2Bx%2B47%2B%2528300%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="844" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Cqj9A0qt0No/W_vpud-Lh_I/AAAAAAAACxA/72fYbBWbmvkBK_J84j_eH1ng2ZBkSD3sACLcBGAs/s400/4.%2BLA%2BEMPERATRIZ%2B%25282013%2529%2BOil%2Band%2Bmetal%2Bleaf%2Bon%2Bpanel%2B24%2Bx%2B47%2B%2528300%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" width="210" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5B19v8OzuyI/W_vpuFBlQ4I/AAAAAAAACw8/Aqc0zglN3IEEXET0S46ruuOduV8BGY7vgCLcBGAs/s1600/5.%2BEL%2BEMPERADOR%2B%2B%25282013%2529%2BOil%2Band%2Bmetal%2Bleaf%2Bon%2Bpanel%2B24%2Bx%2B47%2B%2528300%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="856" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5B19v8OzuyI/W_vpuFBlQ4I/AAAAAAAACw8/Aqc0zglN3IEEXET0S46ruuOduV8BGY7vgCLcBGAs/s400/5.%2BEL%2BEMPERADOR%2B%2B%25282013%2529%2BOil%2Band%2Bmetal%2Bleaf%2Bon%2Bpanel%2B24%2Bx%2B47%2B%2528300%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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EMPERATRIZ<span style="text-align: center;"> & EMPERADOR (2013) Oil and gold leaf on panel from the Devocionales series.</span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In 2012 and 2013 a second wave of work inspired
after the Tarot was created, titled Devocionales: Neo Colonial Retablos from an
Archetypal Perspective. These "Neo-Colonial" retablos were derived
directly from the Major Arcana from the Tarot of Marseille, one of the
oldest surviving Tarot decks. As with the Mcolonial I aimed at the issues of
social inequality and consumer culture taking inspiration in Spanish Colonial
Art and Latin American history. The difference this time was in scale,
complexity and the use of several Tarot decks as source of inspiration, but
mainly the Tarot of Marseille. In large gilded altar like poliptychs I
incorporated multiple historical narratives, tying them all together with a
common archetypal theme. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This body of
work along with some of the Mcolonial Citizens were exhibited at the Mesa Contemporary
Arts Museum, in Mesa, Arizona in 2013.</span></span><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></span></h2>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fmrbsP7Ao4M/W_vpO_30AQI/AAAAAAAACww/QcKvnD7E3EkVfXblsrDgalu9E1QX9kRpgCLcBGAs/s1600/2.%2BEL%2BMAGO%2B%25282013%2529%2BOil%2Band%2Bmetal%2Bleaf%2Bon%2Bpanel%2B24%2Bx%2B45%2B%2B%2528300%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="891" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fmrbsP7Ao4M/W_vpO_30AQI/AAAAAAAACww/QcKvnD7E3EkVfXblsrDgalu9E1QX9kRpgCLcBGAs/s400/2.%2BEL%2BMAGO%2B%25282013%2529%2BOil%2Band%2Bmetal%2Bleaf%2Bon%2Bpanel%2B24%2Bx%2B45%2B%2B%2528300%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" width="220" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6vAjkAXcTgI/W_vpNofWegI/AAAAAAAACws/ZzLmIqZOYO4_IVxSPtWaGN67dYOEjZ1BQCLcBGAs/s1600/3.%2BLA%2BPAPISA%2B%25282013%2529%2BOil%2Band%2Bmetal%2Bleaf%2Bon%2Bpanel%2B24%2Bx%2B47%2B%2528300%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="823" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6vAjkAXcTgI/W_vpNofWegI/AAAAAAAACws/ZzLmIqZOYO4_IVxSPtWaGN67dYOEjZ1BQCLcBGAs/s400/3.%2BLA%2BPAPISA%2B%25282013%2529%2BOil%2Band%2Bmetal%2Bleaf%2Bon%2Bpanel%2B24%2Bx%2B47%2B%2528300%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" width="205" /></a></div>
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EL MAGO & LA PAPISA (2013) Oil and gold leaf on panel from the Devocionales series.</div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In the following years, from 2014 to 2016 the
work kept evolving while I incorporated and developed the archetypal
language of the Tarot in it as well as visual elements derived from Alchemy
Astrology and Mythology.</span></span></span></h2>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TEMPUS FUGIT (2014) Oil and gold leaf on panel 36 x 31 inches.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">By the end of 2016 after my re-encounter my old cards,
I decided it was the right time to create my very first deck of cards, the
Tarot Novi Mundi. After much research and creative exploration I wanted to
create a deck that reflected my personal experiences from my childhood years growing
up in Puerto Rico to my travels through Latin America. I also wanted to integrate
some of the narratives from a book that was highly influential in my art since
1999. I'm talking about Memorias del Fuego by Eduardo Galeano, a compendium of
short stories from the history of the Americas. I read this trilogy while
traveling through Peru in 1998 and it had a huge impact in the way I understood
the history of Latin America. Galeano as an incredible storyteller portrayed
the story of the Americas as an ongoing history of conquest, colonization and exploitation
of people's and resources in the name of the Crown, Church and Capital. At that
time I felt a strong urge to re-tell these stories
through Art. Even though I no longer fully agree with all the
Marxist views and post colonial theories expressed by Galeano, Cesaire and
others, I do see the need to respond to the issues of colonization, immigration,
social injustice and the ruling corpocracy in the Americas from a historical
perspective and through Art.</span></span></span></h2>
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6 BASTA (6 of Wands) PONTIFEX MAXIMUS (The Pope) & 2 BASTA (2 of Wands) </div>
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Three cards from the Tarot Novi Mundi</div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Tarot provided me with the perfect platform
for such endeavor. Originating during the Renaissance, in the age of
Columbus and the dawn of globalization, the Tarot has been used for playing cards
games and fortune telling. Within this context in mind It wasn't too hard to
see how the story of the Americas could be retold, yet it would be impossible
to include all the important stories in 78 cards. With more than 500 years of
social struggles, individual stories and historical turning points, I had to get
creative, but <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>also very selective with
the stories I wanted to tell. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since it
is my first Tarot deck, I decided to make it more personal and stick with the historical
narratives that somehow struck a chord in me as an artist. I also took some creative
liberty to incorporate some of my own stories into the cards, recognizing and
embracing my own bias and personal experiences informing my understanding of
history. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With this in mind I worked for a
whole year in 2017 on <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the deck. On the next
and last part of this blog article I'll discuss in more detail the soon to be
published Tarot Novi Mundi.</span></span></span></h2>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07867543787640762294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579840158857821913.post-6717422055235284382018-10-10T14:16:00.001-07:002018-10-10T14:37:50.362-07:00My encounter and evolving relation with the Tarot (Part 1 of 3)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FE4BlcBMLpo/W73ao0p4yrI/AAAAAAAABbM/7j-v-vx4EEA9KdM7ij84DVRaWCher9kUACLcBGAs/s1600/_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="525" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FE4BlcBMLpo/W73ao0p4yrI/AAAAAAAABbM/7j-v-vx4EEA9KdM7ij84DVRaWCher9kUACLcBGAs/s640/_5.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PONTIFEX MAXIMUS (The Pope Card) From my first Tarot Deck Tarot Novi Mundi</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> It was in December 2016, that I
finally started to work on my first formal Tarot deck, The Tarot Novi Mundi (New World Tarot). I've had the project in
mind for years, being intrigued by the mysterious deck of cards and
incorporating the imagery in many of my paintings starting in 2005.
In the following blog article, divided in three parts, I'll share my
first encounter with the Tarot, how I've used it in my work to how I eventually
created my first deck of cards.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xaIwmgNQTO0/UfEzPD5hGqI/AAAAAAAABRg/qugBWHywhpIyiwE5ubNlQ8pTCmyXPtd_ACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="561" data-original-width="802" height="446" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xaIwmgNQTO0/UfEzPD5hGqI/AAAAAAAABRg/qugBWHywhpIyiwE5ubNlQ8pTCmyXPtd_ACPcBGAYYCw/s640/12.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">VIRGEN DE LAS REVELACIONES (2013) (Detail) Oil and gold leaf on panel 31 x 47 inches. Private Collection.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">As I mentioned this project has been
haunting me for some time with people constantly asking me when I was going to
do it. But it wasn't until September, 2016 when I re-discovered my very
first deck of cards, the 1JJ Swiss Tarot, that the epiphany and great moment of
revelation came to me. The original 1JJ Swiss Tarot, inspired after the earlier
Tarot of Marseille was made around 1860 by Johannes Müller in Diessenhofen, Switzerland and reprinted by US Games Stuart
R. Kaplan in 1970. In 2016 I travelled to Puerto Rico to visit my mother. I incidentally
found the deck hidden behind some books in my mom's house in Aguadilla, while
looking for childhood memories and toys I grew up with. The cards were
in it's original box wrapped in a small plastic bag to keep them from
humidity and bugs. I felt as if for some mysterious reason these cards had a
special purpose and meaning in my life so I brought the cards with me to Houston,
Texas, where I currently live. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Exactly one year later (2017)
Hurricane Maria hit the island, killing people, sweeping much of the already
debilitated infrastructure and destroying many homes including my mother's
house. Luckily my mom was safe and sound in Florida at the time. Not much
survived in the house after the hurricane and the looting in the aftermath. I
can't help but think of all the things I could have saved from the house, If I
just knew beforehand. From old books, to photos, memories and so much artwork,
most of it now gone forever. But somehow and for some reason I managed to bring
back this compact deck of cards with me. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T1Qv5wXQ0s0/W75pXCFS6CI/AAAAAAAACvw/ZYbyenUYuKwNLEQc1azcAOKdJjH1GI7AQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG-20170927-WA0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T1Qv5wXQ0s0/W75pXCFS6CI/AAAAAAAACvw/ZYbyenUYuKwNLEQc1azcAOKdJjH1GI7AQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG-20170927-WA0003.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My mother's house and childhood home in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in 2017</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I remember well the day and
circumstances which led me to acquire this deck in the first place, back in
Puerto Rico in 1993. Right before going to the movie theater to see Sam Raimi's
Army of Darkness, my brother, our friend Cesar and I stopped by a bookshop.
Cesar bought a Tarot deck wanting to know his future. After shuffling the cards
and asking a question about his future, The Devil, The Tower and the nine of
swords came out. We joked about his ongoing bad luck and after watching the
movie, we were on our way home when all of the sudden Cesar's car's engine
broke down in the middle of the road in Aguadilla. We had to walk to the mall
and call mom to pick us up. Convinced the cards were responsible for his bad
luck, Cesar decided to sell the cards to me for a just five bucks. At the
time I did not think much of it other than having fun using the cards with
friends. I did not really believe in the power of fortune telling, was not
specially superstitious and to this day remain a skeptic. But the cards had a
grip on my imagination and I always thought there was something more to them. I
was intrigued by the both familiar and obscure archetypes found in the 22 Major
Arcana. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fsjVr1o8hOg/VHSnata7Z3I/AAAAAAAABog/wH8Y7klKPgoC1nmebvyhxztNMoO4623XQCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/1.%2B%2BEl%2BLoco%2B%2528Disneyrican%2BDreamer%2529%2B24%2Bx%2B30%2BOil%2Bon%2Bcanvas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="752" data-original-width="612" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fsjVr1o8hOg/VHSnata7Z3I/AAAAAAAABog/wH8Y7klKPgoC1nmebvyhxztNMoO4623XQCPcBGAYYCw/s640/1.%2B%2BEl%2BLoco%2B%2528Disneyrican%2BDreamer%2529%2B24%2Bx%2B30%2BOil%2Bon%2Bcanvas.jpg" width="520" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">THE DISNEYRICAN DREAMER (2013) Oil on Canvas 24 x 30 inches<br />
Our friend Cesar known in the barrio as "Cesar, el loco" served as a model for this piece.</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: start;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That year I graduated from high school and went on to study painting at The School of Fine Arts in San Juan. At the time I was drawn to the mystical as well as the work of the Old Masters, but the Tarot wasn't present in my visual repertoire. It wasn't until 2005, when I was pursuing my M.F.A. at the Savannah College of Art & Design in Savannah, Georgia, that a renewed interest in the Tarot took over me. At the time I was reading books on Alchemy, History and Colonialism. Although my thesis </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">IConsumer</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> revolved around the issues of Spanish Colonial Art Iconography and American Consumerism, I kept the Tarot as part of my visual toolbox of symbols and archetypes.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fcN-AnWZhr4/W737Ytikr2I/AAAAAAAACuI/6aj5HxKT2uAHsrXjifrUuUSZgSfu-j1XgCLcBGAs/s1600/2.%2BINSULA%2BIGNOMINIAE%2BIN%2BLIMBUS%2BEST%2B%25282005%2529%2BOil%2Band%2Bmetal%2Bleaf%2Bon%2Bcanvas%2B58%2Bx%2B46%2B%2528300%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1085" data-original-width="1600" height="432" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fcN-AnWZhr4/W737Ytikr2I/AAAAAAAACuI/6aj5HxKT2uAHsrXjifrUuUSZgSfu-j1XgCLcBGAs/s640/2.%2BINSULA%2BIGNOMINIAE%2BIN%2BLIMBUS%2BEST%2B%25282005%2529%2BOil%2Band%2Bmetal%2Bleaf%2Bon%2Bcanvas%2B58%2Bx%2B46%2B%2528300%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">INSULA IGNOMINIAE IN LIMBUS EST (2005) Oil and metal leaf on canvas 58 x 46 inches</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">INSULA IGNOMINIAE IN LIMBUS EST (2005) detail with Cemi , Consumer Products and Tarot cards.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4AZ9o4EdhBU/W75n281BYmI/AAAAAAAACvc/ZVGPEi33wpcURod0ujDjvjOqxUGVR3gwQCLcBGAs/s1600/7a.%2BIMMACULATE%2BIMPLANTS%2B%25282008%2529%2BOil%2Bon%2Btriptych%2Bcanvas%2B72%2Bx%2B36%2Binches%2B%2528300%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="815" data-original-width="1600" height="326" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4AZ9o4EdhBU/W75n281BYmI/AAAAAAAACvc/ZVGPEi33wpcURod0ujDjvjOqxUGVR3gwQCLcBGAs/s640/7a.%2BIMMACULATE%2BIMPLANTS%2B%25282008%2529%2BOil%2Bon%2Btriptych%2Bcanvas%2B72%2Bx%2B36%2Binches%2B%2528300%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">IMMACULATE IMPLANTS (2008) Oil on triptych canvas 72 x 36 inches Artist's Collection.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FqNnOvqSxDQ/W75oNnYWwnI/AAAAAAAACvk/F3H7uaA_CO4bENWk24dEmCA4e9dTvzp1ACEwYBhgL/s1600/7c.%2BIMMACULATE%2BIMPLANTS%2B%25282008%2529%2BOil%2Bon%2Btriptych%2Bcanvas%2B72%2Bx%2B36%2Binches%2B%2528detail%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="698" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FqNnOvqSxDQ/W75oNnYWwnI/AAAAAAAACvk/F3H7uaA_CO4bENWk24dEmCA4e9dTvzp1ACEwYBhgL/s640/7c.%2BIMMACULATE%2BIMPLANTS%2B%25282008%2529%2BOil%2Bon%2Btriptych%2Bcanvas%2B72%2Bx%2B36%2Binches%2B%2528detail%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">IMMACULATE IMPLANTS (2008) Detail showing Tequila bottle, white rose, candle, human skull and Hermit Tarot Card.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">With time my personal exploration and interest in Tarot intensified.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Once I graduated in 2007, I started looking at the Pagan roots of Christian Iconography. This led me into the exploration of mythological narratives that </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">later in 2008-2010 I combined with Christian Icons and my appropriated consumer culture brands, logos and fast food characters. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">By 2011 I was already studying archetypal astrology and infusing my work with deeper meaning. This was also the time I started to seriously consider creating a Tarot deck of cards. On the second part of this article, I'll further discuss how I saw all these connections and how the archetypes from all these traditions came together in my paintings. Stay tuned for more as this is just the beginning. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-63tjuWDpkWE/W75rKPAhJjI/AAAAAAAACv8/47kNp2t_nWIxXD6gSapYBn6nPnbUQAutwCLcBGAs/s1600/three%2Bcards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="1559" height="430" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-63tjuWDpkWE/W75rKPAhJjI/AAAAAAAACv8/47kNp2t_nWIxXD6gSapYBn6nPnbUQAutwCLcBGAs/s640/three%2Bcards.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HOMO STULTUS (The Fool) - AS BASTORUM (Ace of Batons) - 7 DENARII (7 of Coins) <br />
Three cards from the Tarot Novi Mundi</td></tr>
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<br />Patrick McGrathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17496162716486950423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579840158857821913.post-83863971166059699032018-01-06T17:04:00.001-08:002018-01-06T17:04:48.777-08:00New Year Resolutions? Why not start with just one: Self-Control.<div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><b> THE AGE OF MAN</b> (2017) Oil and Goldleaf on triptych panel 16 x 11 inches </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"> by </span><a href="http://www.patrickmcgrath-art.com/" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><b>Patrick McGrath Muñiz</b></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">It is a new year and
like all years, we often think and plan our resolutions. Year after year we may
start to notice most of these fail. Bad habits are hard to break and as soon as
we start adding more to a list of things to change, we inevitably make it harder
to focus on our goal. After trying out different work schedules and thinking
about all the problems in the world I started to see a connection between the
one thing that I could improve within myself and if we all set our minds and
will to it, change the world for the better. As an artist I'm often thinking
about relations and correspondences between the macro and micro and finding
ways to address a whole spectrum of issues with one simple step. The step I'm
talking about is Self-Control.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sFSHPH9owOE/WlEzTjWNzlI/AAAAAAAACrk/nLC9nJPkS8UPPhgQCluA6SijxAwPWyC1QCLcBGAs/s1600/16.%2BHEBE%2B%25282014%2529%2BOil%2Band%2Bgold%2Bleaf%2Bon%2Bpanel%2B18%2Bx%2B24%2B%2528300%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1293" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sFSHPH9owOE/WlEzTjWNzlI/AAAAAAAACrk/nLC9nJPkS8UPPhgQCluA6SijxAwPWyC1QCLcBGAs/s640/16.%2BHEBE%2B%25282014%2529%2BOil%2Band%2Bgold%2Bleaf%2Bon%2Bpanel%2B18%2Bx%2B24%2B%2528300%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" width="515" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><b>HEBE</b> (2014) Oil and gold leaf on panel 18 x 24 inches </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">by <a href="http://www.patrickmcgrath-art.com/"><b>Patrick McGrath Muñiz</b></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunedin_Multidisciplinary_Health_and_Development_Study"><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The Dunedin Multidisciplinary
Health and Development Study</span></a>, conducted in New Zealand, followed the
lives of 1037 children since the day they were born to their thirties. The
study revealed that one of the most important factors for successful and
healthy life was the ability to manage and control behaviors and emotions in
order to reach a long term goal. According to the study, <a href="https://www.heysigmund.com/how-to-increase-self-control-in-children/"><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Self-Control</span></a> played
an even greater role than intelligence or social status in determining success
in the lives of many of these children. The study is important because it
not only it can be a predictor of mental emotional and physical health but it
also sheds light on how to change bad habits and lead healthier lives. If you
wish to read more about this study, check out the marshmallow test. The results
and insights are mind blowing. There is a very good documentary series that
covers it : <span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5541030/">Predict My Future: The Science of
Us</a>.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VvjAcLfddvY/WlEz8PbVQfI/AAAAAAAACro/7_CldhKvLKkELps8LeWWrTScz-UcfXLJwCLcBGAs/s1600/8.%2BTEMPUS%2BFUGIT%2B%25282014%2529%2BOil%2Band%2Bmetal%2Bleaf%2Bon%2Bpanel%2B36%2Bx%2B31%2B%2528300%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1416" data-original-width="1600" height="566" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VvjAcLfddvY/WlEz8PbVQfI/AAAAAAAACro/7_CldhKvLKkELps8LeWWrTScz-UcfXLJwCLcBGAs/s640/8.%2BTEMPUS%2BFUGIT%2B%25282014%2529%2BOil%2Band%2Bmetal%2Bleaf%2Bon%2Bpanel%2B36%2Bx%2B31%2B%2528300%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><b>TEMPUS FUGIT</b> (2014) Oil and metal leaf on panel 36 x 31 inches </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"> by </span><a href="http://www.patrickmcgrath-art.com/" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><b>Patrick McGrath Muñiz</b></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Imagine a world where
corporate greed, consumerism, crime, addictions and all other vices in society
can be managed and controlled. Just think of a president that cannot control
his impulse to tweet a taunt that could have devastating nuclear consequences
for the world and you'll soon realize how important self-control really is. In
the middle ages people were familiar with the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_deadly_sins"><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Seven Deadly Sins</span></a>: Gluttony, Rage, Sloth,
Avarice, Envy, Lust and Pride. With Temperance (self-control) all of
these excesses could be dissipated. In 2008-09 I worked on a series of paintings
exploring these themes. Almost ten years later I now see <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temperance_(virtue)">Temperance</a> as the most
important virtue to attain. Think of the other three virtues: Strength,
Prudence and Justice. In order to be strong, prudent and just, one must first
temper (moderate) one's owns weaknesses, impulsiveness and prejudices. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><b>OUR DAILY BREAD</b> (2016) Oil on canvas 36 x 60 inches </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"> by </span><a href="http://www.patrickmcgrath-art.com/" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><b>Patrick McGrath Muñiz</b></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">To have self-control is
to be self-disciplined. To be self-disciplined is to know oneself and tame the
beast within. This is key to anything from losing weight, to changing bad
habits and becoming a master at your craft. So instead of having a long list of
resolutions for this year, consider focusing on one thing, just one thing:
Self-Control. Once achieved and with a mindful set of balanced activities in
daily life, everything else will fall into place. As <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gautama_Buddha">Buddha</a> would once say:
" The true master lives in truth, in goodness and restraint, Non-violence,
moderation and purity". <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p> <b> CREDO</b></o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;">(2017) Oil on canvas 18 x 24 inches </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">by <b><a href="http://www.patrickmcgrath-art.com/">Patrick McGrath Muñiz</a></b></span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07867543787640762294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579840158857821913.post-80306231203707626652017-09-30T10:15:00.001-07:002017-09-30T10:15:57.859-07:00An artist's responsibility in an Age of Climate Change.<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6c7QjMa0i04/Wc_MrIkK31I/AAAAAAAACL4/JWzMnNPPLfU5GWud4cV9zpzGY4BzXsSpACLcBGAs/s1600/9.%2BDILUVIUM%2B%25282017%2529%2BOil%2Band%2Bmetal%2Bleaf%2Bon%2Bpanel%2B30%2Bx%2B45%2Binches%2B%2528detail%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1254" data-original-width="1600" height="496" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6c7QjMa0i04/Wc_MrIkK31I/AAAAAAAACL4/JWzMnNPPLfU5GWud4cV9zpzGY4BzXsSpACLcBGAs/s640/9.%2BDILUVIUM%2B%25282017%2529%2BOil%2Band%2Bmetal%2Bleaf%2Bon%2Bpanel%2B30%2Bx%2B45%2Binches%2B%2528detail%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18px;">DILUVIUM (2017) (detail)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18px;">Oil and metal leaf on panel 30 x 45 inches </span><span style="font-size: 18px;">by </span><i style="font-size: 18px;"><a href="http://www.patrickmcgrath-art.com/">Patrick McGrath Muñiz</a></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">At the time of writing this, it's been little more than a month
after Hurricane Harvey hit us</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> in Texas. The level of destruction and flooding
here in Houston had no description, you just had to see it for yourself. At
this moment, we are still seeing not just the aftermath of Harvey, but of two
others, Irma and Maria. This year has seen some major destructive
hurricanes within just a month and hurricane season just started! My closest
family in Florida were affected by Irma. Maria has caused tremendous devastation
in the island of Puerto Rico. My hometown of Aguadilla was not spared from it
and my childhood home and studio destroyed. A considerable amount of artwork
from my early stages till recently are now gone forever. Over 30 years of work erased in the blink of an eye. These storms have affected so many of us in so many different levels. And even though my
family is ok... for now, I still haven't heard from many of my friends and fear
for their lives. Maria has now become a major humanitarian crisis with a
shamefully slow response from the U.S. government. Let's be reminded, this is
an American colony and the people from Puerto Rico are American citizens. It is the responsibility of the U.S. to take care of it's territories and peoples, otherwise let them be free. </span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aUDKinRMaRM/Wc_NxIuMzdI/AAAAAAAACME/X2AhFGb8Ms0ug3ctczyiuaJANEvSBZo-ACLcBGAs/s1600/2.%2BSANTA%2BJUSTICIA%2B%25282017%2529%2BOil%2Band%2Bgold%2Bleaf%2Bon%2Bpanel%2B11.5%2Bx%2B23.5%2Binches%2B%2528300%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="906" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aUDKinRMaRM/Wc_NxIuMzdI/AAAAAAAACME/X2AhFGb8Ms0ug3ctczyiuaJANEvSBZo-ACLcBGAs/s640/2.%2BSANTA%2BJUSTICIA%2B%25282017%2529%2BOil%2Band%2Bgold%2Bleaf%2Bon%2Bpanel%2B11.5%2Bx%2B23.5%2Binches%2B%2528300%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" width="362" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18px;">SANTA JUSTICIA (2017) </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18px;">Oil and gold leaf on panel 11.5 x 23.5 inches by <i><a href="http://www.patrickmcgrath-art.com/">Patrick McGrath Muñiz</a></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">These three catastrophic events
have hit me in a deeply personal level but Im also painfully aware of the
"natural" disasters occurring in Mexico, Sierra Leone and Bangladesh.
This all has had a powerful impact on me as well. Climate change is real and it
is affecting us all. And yes, I know we've always had hurricanes but the fact
that these are intensifying and becoming more and more common because of warmer
water and air conditions is a direct consequence of climate change. As
unregulated transnational corporations keep polluting and our dependence on
fossil fuel and rampant consumerist habits grow, we can only expect things to
get worse, a lot worse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nIxgQmc_wKg/Wc_OE-jCx3I/AAAAAAAACMI/o5reohy7aBwWLADcnVqSeOQkVg3zTqlHACLcBGAs/s1600/10.%2BBRENDAN%2B%25282017%2529%2BOil%2Band%2Bgold%2Bleaf%2Bon%2Bpanel%2B11.5%2Bx%2B23.5%2Binches%2B%2528300%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="858" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nIxgQmc_wKg/Wc_OE-jCx3I/AAAAAAAACMI/o5reohy7aBwWLADcnVqSeOQkVg3zTqlHACLcBGAs/s640/10.%2BBRENDAN%2B%25282017%2529%2BOil%2Band%2Bgold%2Bleaf%2Bon%2Bpanel%2B11.5%2Bx%2B23.5%2Binches%2B%2528300%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" width="342" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18px;">BRENDAN (2017) </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18px;">Oil and gold leaf on panel 11.5 x 23.5 inches by <i><a href="http://www.patrickmcgrath-art.com/">Patrick McGrath Muñiz</a></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">As citizens of this world we
can no longer be immune or indifferent to the effects and most importantly the causes
of climate change. As an artist, a talented person with an extra
sensibility it would be totally unforgivable . Artists are story tellers, myth
makers and hope bringers. Our impact and influence on how the rest of us think
and feel should never be underestimated. We are potential agents of change. But art can also transform our understanding and
perception of history, nature, culture and even ourselves ultimately deciding
the Zeitgeist or collective spirit of the times and the course we take.
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d4pwd0mlxj8/Wc_NBvUASVI/AAAAAAAACL8/6vFLtSuDry0dek5qXNYKIBEZVjG_n64qgCLcBGAs/s1600/13.%2BPLEGARIA%2B%25282017%2529%2B%2BOil%2Bon%2Bcanvas%2B24%2Bx%2B24%2Binches%2B%2528300%2Bdpi%2529%2B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1589" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d4pwd0mlxj8/Wc_NBvUASVI/AAAAAAAACL8/6vFLtSuDry0dek5qXNYKIBEZVjG_n64qgCLcBGAs/s640/13.%2BPLEGARIA%2B%25282017%2529%2B%2BOil%2Bon%2Bcanvas%2B24%2Bx%2B24%2Binches%2B%2528300%2Bdpi%2529%2B.jpg" width="634" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18px;"> PLEGARIA (2017) </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18px;">Oil on canvas 24 x 24 inches </span><span style="font-size: 18px; text-align: center;">by</span><span style="font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"> </span><i style="font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.patrickmcgrath-art.com/">Patrick McGrath Muñiz</a></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">We could either despair and
loose hope in the future or we could get up and do something about our current
environmental crisis. Nothing good has ever come out of doing nothing so it's
worth giving action a chance, resist and fight back for a better world with
social and climate justice for all. Everyone can make a difference depending
on their abilities and gifts. Some celebrities have lots of money so they
donate their money to help others. Others work in politics and can put pressure
and challenge the establishment elite. The media could be doing a much better
job at investigating and communicating the root causes of climate change.
We, artists have our talents and art at our disposal in order to bring
awareness of the most important issue of our time: Climate Change. Do your research, learn from others, tell your personal stories and create art that educates and opens minds. </span><span style="font-size: 18px;">Enough with modernity's obsession with individuality, progress, commodities and consumerism. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Make art that's ecocentric, not egocentric. No more time for excuses, time to get to work !</span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07867543787640762294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579840158857821913.post-61505536101602298342017-08-09T12:38:00.003-07:002017-08-09T12:50:13.815-07:00El Desembarco (The Disembarkment) A Documented Painting Process<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QvFoVEnP3TU/WYtb8AjS1cI/AAAAAAAACKo/b-zurNGPT901PGX00VzW_EqwYCG1B4SSgCEwYBhgL/s1600/11.%2BEL%2BDESEMBARCO%2B%25282017%2529%2BOil%2Bon%2Bcanvas%2B60%2Bx%2B38%2Binches%2B%2528300%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1041" data-original-width="1600" height="416" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QvFoVEnP3TU/WYtb8AjS1cI/AAAAAAAACKo/b-zurNGPT901PGX00VzW_EqwYCG1B4SSgCEwYBhgL/s640/11.%2BEL%2BDESEMBARCO%2B%25282017%2529%2BOil%2Bon%2Bcanvas%2B60%2Bx%2B38%2Binches%2B%2528300%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>El Desembarco</b> <b>(The Disembarkment)</b> (2017) Oil on canvas 60" x 38" </div>
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by <a href="http://www.patrickmcgrath-art.com/"><b>Patrick McGrath Muñiz</b></a></div>
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Today Im going to do something different for this blog entry. Instead of discussing my concepts, sources and research, I'll rely more on visuals and share with you my documented painting process for a recent painting I just completed, titled <b>El Desembarco</b> (The Disembarkment). This piece is inspired after historical depictions of the Spanish Conquest and American Manifest Destiny. Im also incorporating within the composition some personal narratives, pop culture references and other contemporary elements. These are some of the preliminary sketches I worked on before starting to paint. The short video shows how the painting started, changed. and gradually evolved tilll conmpletion. The idea for this painting has been haunting me since 2016. The painting itself took me about a month to execute but the ideas, research and drawings took me about a year and went through many changes.</div>
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I always make as many preliminary sketches as possible before I start to paint. These are just a few...</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h1GlOSoKpmM/WYtcOlRAtHI/AAAAAAAACKg/e0T5Zs3GdTgw5sck7ljNpcHar1UzN0HywCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC06435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h1GlOSoKpmM/WYtcOlRAtHI/AAAAAAAACKg/e0T5Zs3GdTgw5sck7ljNpcHar1UzN0HywCLcBGAs/s640/DSC06435.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9UaVhhtcFG8/WYtcN1EfGMI/AAAAAAAACKc/XHB0xMJHk1QXZJ-ybVmjjCLfFdVi-RqAQCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC06432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9UaVhhtcFG8/WYtcN1EfGMI/AAAAAAAACKc/XHB0xMJHk1QXZJ-ybVmjjCLfFdVi-RqAQCLcBGAs/s640/DSC06432.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o4tmIihpjns/WYtcNugPrOI/AAAAAAAACKY/R4dTXb8MdXg5WynAshef3vXzSIuuCj13QCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC06433.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o4tmIihpjns/WYtcNugPrOI/AAAAAAAACKY/R4dTXb8MdXg5WynAshef3vXzSIuuCj13QCLcBGAs/s640/DSC06433.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4Bc4kE9b_vY/WYtcMR8lFuI/AAAAAAAACKU/UPfxZRWUL8UBIC0iAg1-6y4eaKhlpYwcwCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC06434.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1333" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4Bc4kE9b_vY/WYtcMR8lFuI/AAAAAAAACKU/UPfxZRWUL8UBIC0iAg1-6y4eaKhlpYwcwCLcBGAs/s640/DSC06434.JPG" width="531" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--iMqfEy8vOQ/WYtdCNFeEYI/AAAAAAAACKs/0fVfbnKrgAEWX0iwuxS86uuXNv-X6GhiACLcBGAs/s1600/DSC06441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--iMqfEy8vOQ/WYtdCNFeEYI/AAAAAAAACKs/0fVfbnKrgAEWX0iwuxS86uuXNv-X6GhiACLcBGAs/s640/DSC06441.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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These last two pages of my journal were drawn recently while whorking on the painting. Sometimes I tend to go back and review my sources and do some more studies. </div>
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And here's a very short video summarising a month's work on this painting. Enjoy and please share!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/P4BJLKSQrxM/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/P4BJLKSQrxM?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Hope you enjoyed this article. If you wish to see more of my artwork, please visit my new artist website at: </span><a href="http://www.patrickmcgrath-art.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #ff9900; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>www.patrickmcgrath-art.com</b></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">. Stay tuned for more related articles that I'll be posting once a month on this blog. Also check out <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_4z0j4JHo5fe_MF7XQ0hOQ"><b>M</b></a><b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_4z0j4JHo5fe_MF7XQ0hOQ">y Youtube channe</a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_4z0j4JHo5fe_MF7XQ0hOQ">l</a> </b>which I just started. I'll post more videos soon! Take care and as always, thank you very much for your support!</span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07867543787640762294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579840158857821913.post-85364701578164600382017-06-27T08:59:00.001-07:002017-06-27T10:11:14.985-07:0010 Great Ways to Know Thyself<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Know Thyself and you shall know all the mysteries of
the gods and the Universe" </span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Inscription in a Greek temple at Delphi.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
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The Seed (Detail) Oil on canvas 48" x 48" <span style="text-align: center;">by </span><i style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.patrickmcgrath-art.com/" target="_blank">Patrick McGrath Muñiz</a></i></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Art is a path towards Self-Knowledge. 21
years ago I started a drawing journal. In it I intended to draw every day. "Nulla
Dies Sine Linea" (Not a day without a line).The purpose of it, besides
getting better at drawing was to understand myself and how my creative mind worked. Some years were very productive and inspiring,
others were very conflictive and even silent. What I've learned so far by doing this, is the more I look into myself, the more questions I had about who
I was and why I did Art. Without knowing it, I was taking the "humanist
approach" to knowing myself. I recently posted the following thought
on my Facebook account: "To be original is to be yourself, to be yourself
is to know thyself. To know thyself, you can start off with a DNA test and digging
into your own past". This is the "dataist approach" to
knowing thyself, not to be confused with dadaist. A dataists seeks answers to important questions in Big Data. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J9dmK5aL_HE/WVJY--C345I/AAAAAAAACHk/HmQrVF2gBJIlHNOIq7lkGGf4sqZZr42rgCLcBGAs/s1600/10.%2BSURVIVING%2BDOOMSDAY%2B2012%2B%2528detail%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1445" data-original-width="1224" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J9dmK5aL_HE/WVJY--C345I/AAAAAAAACHk/HmQrVF2gBJIlHNOIq7lkGGf4sqZZr42rgCLcBGAs/s640/10.%2BSURVIVING%2BDOOMSDAY%2B2012%2B%2528detail%2529.jpg" width="542" /></a></div>
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<b>Surviving Doomsday </b>2012 (Detail) Oil and metal leaf on panel by <i><a href="http://www.patrickmcgrath-art.com/" target="_blank">Patrick McGrath Muñiz</a></i></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Humanist approach to knowing thyself:</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Since the European Renaissance and scientific revolution, humanity has
gradually shifted its world view from an all encompassing monotheist world view
to a scientific, anthropocentric and individualist world view. If you've ever
been adviced to "Follow your bliss" "Listen to your heart"
"Customer knows best" "Find your own inner voice", these all derive from the humanist doctrine that we've grown so accustomed to in "Free"
Western Societies. Modern humanism tells us that the most important things
happen inside each one of us, namely, "feelings" and that in order to
know these "feelings", one must keep a private diary, have heart to
heart conversations with a friend, go to a park and be by yourself, go to a
museum, be inspired, read a book you like, buy what makes you happy. No one can
know you better than yourself and these are some of the things that can help you.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2VrTBZmH9YY/WVJatVg1PgI/AAAAAAAACHw/7mANwwGobhEQgaYNuDNtYrxgZxNIWqnjwCLcBGAs/s1600/19.%2BPrometheus%2Bthe%2Bawakener%2Breturns.%2B2012.%2B%2BOil%2Bon%2Bcanvas%2B%2B36%2Bx%2B57%2Binches.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1005" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2VrTBZmH9YY/WVJatVg1PgI/AAAAAAAACHw/7mANwwGobhEQgaYNuDNtYrxgZxNIWqnjwCLcBGAs/s640/19.%2BPrometheus%2Bthe%2Bawakener%2Breturns.%2B2012.%2B%2BOil%2Bon%2Bcanvas%2B%2B36%2Bx%2B57%2Binches.jpg" width="401" /></a></div>
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<b>Prometheus, the Awakener returns.</b> Oil on canvas 36" x 57" by <i><a href="http://www.patrickmcgrath-art.com/" target="_blank">Patrick McGrath Muñiz</a></i></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Dataist approach to knowing thyself</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;">:</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As we enter a new age, with the rise of genetics and computer technology,
our understanding of who we are and where we come from has been revolutionized.
With highly sophisticated ever evolving algorithms, advanced computer processing,
biotechnology and AI improving at an exponential rate, it has become much easier
to predict and define who we are as human beings, from a <i>Data</i> point of view at least. All our vital records
can be understood as algorithms and big data. If we have a Facebook account,
shop at Amazon,, read online news, google images, chances are we've already
been deeply analyzed and studied. The more time I spend on the internet, the
more I'm surprised by how much information they have on me. The advertisement
has become so incredibly more spot on with my interests, it is even scary for a moment. They are getting very
good at this in a very short period of time. While the humanist declared
"Listen to your feelings!", the dataist declares "Listen to the algorithms,
data knows your feelings".</span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hf2ZKtItbZM/WVJbppmMSWI/AAAAAAAACH4/32FNU8SArek0t5aaYmpNavmwfzpJq7d1QCLcBGAs/s1600/29.%2BPASITHEA%2B%25282014%2529%2BOil%2Bon%2Bcanvas%2B20%2Bx%2B24%2B%2528300%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1336" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hf2ZKtItbZM/WVJbppmMSWI/AAAAAAAACH4/32FNU8SArek0t5aaYmpNavmwfzpJq7d1QCLcBGAs/s640/29.%2BPASITHEA%2B%25282014%2529%2BOil%2Bon%2Bcanvas%2B20%2Bx%2B24%2B%2528300%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" width="532" /></a></div>
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<b>Pasithea. </b>Oil on canvas 20" x 24" by <i><a href="http://www.patrickmcgrath-art.com/" target="_blank">Patrick McGrath Muñiz</a></i></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Based on these models, I propose combining both and taking a
Humanist/Dataist approach to knowing thyself and here are a few things you can
do to get started:</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Get yourself a DNA test done.</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If possible, also get your parents to get this test done. You'll be surprised about how
much hidden information there is about yourself and your family. I just
used <a href="https://www.23andme.com/" target="_blank"><b>23&me</b></a> but <b><a href="http://ancestry.com/">Ancestry.com</a></b> and <b><a href="https://shop.nationalgeographic.com/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=2003825&gsk" target="_blank">Nat Geno 2.0</a> </b>work fine. The results from my DNA test
not only gave me exact percentages of my regional ancestry, it also went into
inherited health conditions and traits. Further medical exams could facilitate
even more information. Gather as much biometric information about yourself as
you can afford. Your health and wellbeing is worth every penny and<span class="apple-converted-space"> being able to identify everything you can
about your body is just priceless. Also, be prepared to have </span>Identity perception is forever
changed. Finding out I had Native American ancestry led me to find who my 6th great grandmother was and it simply blew my mind. </span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IX5JV6oTwXY/WVJ1h2_QgaI/AAAAAAAACIw/d0hznZsoJao07A4--fG7Qv8xcfOexRAeQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Ancestry%2Bfrom%2B23%2526me.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="904" data-original-width="1423" height="406" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IX5JV6oTwXY/WVJ1h2_QgaI/AAAAAAAACIw/d0hznZsoJao07A4--fG7Qv8xcfOexRAeQCEwYBhgL/s640/Ancestry%2Bfrom%2B23%2526me.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Partial view of my 23&me ancestry report. If you upload the Raw Data onto Gedmatch.com, you'll find even more surprising facts about your ancestry.</div>
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2.</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><b><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Start
a Genealogical tree.</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Once you have a DNA
test done, you can start digging deeper into the past and discovering who your
ancestors were. It doesn't matter how far back you can trace your past. Every
little bit of information is of great value and can enlighten your understanding
of your origins. There are plenty of good websites that can help you with that.<b>
<a href="http://ancestry.com/">Ancestry.com</a></b> is one of the best but you have to pay. I'm using <b><a href="http://familysearch.org/">familysearch.org</a>.</b> It's fee and I was able to trace one of my family lines back to
Normandy 986 AD. Now that I know a good deal about who my immediate ancestors
are, not to mention a few that go way back, my perception and appreciation of
world history and of this country is forever changed. Owning a part of world history
makes it even more personal.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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A view of my family tree on <a href="http://familysearch.org/">FamilySearch.org</a>. It takes time but many records can be found and if you have family background from the U.S. you would be surprised as to how much info is out there.</div>
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3.</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <b>Read your history.</b> I grew up in Puerto Rico so learning about the the island's history, politics, culture and society helps me understand my current beliefs, political views and world view. Wether we are aware of it or not,
we are all influenced by our culture, the people around us and the country we
live in. We either react against it or embrace it. It is better to know the history of all these things in order to
better understand ourselves and the way we respond to the outside world. Take
some time to look at the bigger picture. In a time of mass information,
there is simply no excuse to be historically numb minded and ignorant of our
past.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
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I find history books fascinating. Remember to take everything with a grain of salt and verify your sources.</div>
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;">4</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;">.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><b>Get
yourself a detailed astrological chart.</b><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Even
if you don't believe in astrology, I urge you to give this one a try. Most
astrology skeptics base their judgments on Sunday paper Sun sign astrology.
This kind of popular culture astrology is oversimplified for the masses extremely flawed. No wonder why astrology gets so discredited. The
kind of astrology I use is based on the exact location and exact date of birth including hour
and minute. By having all this information, your chart will
provide you with the precise point of where were the planets, Moon and Sun in the sky at
the time you were born, giving you not just your Sun sign, but also Ascendant
and Moon sign. Along with all the other planetary degrees, this is a much detailed picture of who you are. I've done mine and can tell you, it
is very accurate! <b><a href="http://astro.com/">Astro.com</a></b> is a good website to start with and it's free. If you
find it useful and insightful, you can dig deeper into this stuff with <b><a href="http://www.astrosoftware.com/kepler.htm" target="_blank">Kepler</a></b>,
a computer sofware that does all the astrological calculations for you.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
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Once I have my own chart Im able to view my current and future transits and there is plenty of information online that can help you interpret these. <a href="http://astro.cafeastrology.com/">cafeastrology.com</a> is good source.</div>
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;">5.</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><b><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Do
the Briggs-Myers personality type test</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. This is
a test developed in by Katharine Cook Briggs and her daughter Isabel Briggs
Myers based on the typological theories of Carl Jung. There are basically 16 personality types and you can find out what's yours by filling out an online questionnaire. This is not your Fun Facebook personality test. Those that tell you what Greek god are you, or what country is more like you, are a waste of time. There is more that one website to do this psychometric test so choose carefully and compare results. I have used <b><a href="http://16personalities.com/">16personalities.com</a> </b>&<b> <a href="http://humanmetrics.com/">humanmetrics.com</a>. </b> <b><a href="http://mbtionline.com/">Mbtionline.com</a></b> is a paid version. These tests are fairly popular among the business community as they help
them define and target potential customers. This sort of information helps me understand my social interactions and external responses. It also
confirmed and amazingly validated my astrological chart.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
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There are a few good free personality tests that online. <a href="http://16personalities.com/">16personalities.com</a> is one of my favorites</div>
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;">6.</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><b><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Get
a Tarot deck</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and do your own
readings. Don't feel intimidated by the 78 cards in a Tarot deck. If you
prefer, get a Lenormand or an oracle deck. These may be even easier to interpret. Even
though I know the common meaning for each card, I will often go more intuitive
with the reading and try to stay away from future divination readings and focus
on present day context questions.A good website to start learning from <b><a href="http://biddytarot.com/">biddytarot.com</a>. </b>They also have insightful podcasts and utube videos. I do readings every morning in silence and in contemplative
introspection, Along with prayer and meditation, this simple exercise helps me find inner peace. Projecting and
interpreting meaning on to images is like placing a mirror to your own soul . If you like, you can document each reading.</span><br />
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The Golden Tarot by Kat Black</div>
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;">7. Start an audio blog.</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Whenever
you have a chance alone in the day, take a few minutes to start an audio blog.
Talk to yourself and record on your phone. For me this usually takes 20 minutes once or
twice a week. This is like talking to yourself but with the advantage that you can replay and listen to your own voice and pay close attention to what you're saying. Often we forget to listen to what we are actually saying and when we do, that's when the OMG moment happens. You realize as you listen to your monologue, that there many things you seldom express to others that didn't even suspect about yourself. It's like going outside of yourself for a moment and being the other person listening. Do you like what you hear? What are your impressions? Is this really you speaking your mind? </span><o:p></o:p><br />
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;">8. A personal journal</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. Yes, this could not be left out of the list of course. But
I would take it a step forward and document the whole process by video or
photos. Consider scanning and digitizing your journal. Look at your handwriting,
your drawings, your thoughts, your dreams. Which ones are the most intriguing? Which ones ring truer
than the rest? What can be improved? If you've been doing this for some time
like I have : What has been consistent throughout all these years? There is
much to be learned about ourselves and it is one of the best ways
to open your creative channels.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>One of my drawing journals</i></span></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;">9. Make a movie/music/book list</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. If you would have to watch 10 movies again, which ones
would you definitely choose? Do that! Watch your top 10 favorite movies of all
time, one each day for 10 days. Than ask yourself: What all these films have in common? Is there a
recurring theme? Do they share similar values? How do all of these stories end? Believe it or not, this
speaks volumes about you. What are your 10 favorite songs of all time? Make a
playlist and listen to them one after another. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you're like me then it's a playlist of 101. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What kind of music is
predominant in this list? Are they sad or happy? Are they hopeful or gloomy? If
you were stranded in a desert island, what books would you bring with you?
Why? You can write down these lists in your personal journal. It is amazing how
much the things you love describe you and your vision of the world.</span><br />
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Most of the music I listen to often triggers back childhood or more recent memories. </div>
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;">10</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. <b>Get in touch with Nature</b>. In the
information age when most people are glued to their mobile devices it's very
easy to lose sight of where we all really come from and how much we are subject
to our animal instincts of fear and domination. Most people ignore their
natural surroundings and devote all of their attention to an artificial
world, one which holds on to an inter subjective reality and collective
fictions. We forget our days in the African Savannah as early hunter gatherers.
Our talent for prehistoric amnesia is quite unforgiving specially when you look
at what we are doing to the planet's environment and every living being in it. We
live in the Age of the Antropocene and it did not start with the Industrial
age. It started more than 10,000 years ago when we started burning the forests
and wiping out most of the planet's mega fauna into extinction. Take some time
to go out and be more appreciative of the natural world. Without it , you
wouldn't be here. Take some time to reflect on your own evolution and where we
are headed as a species. Go beyond the personal. What can we do in our own lives to wake up and make a better world?</span><o:p></o:p><br />
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Me with my sister back in Puerto Rico, where we grew up during the 1980's.</div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We live in an age of rapid change and
information overload so it is quite easy to feel overwhelmed. While many may
opt to "go off the grid" and become "Invisible", this is
not practical for many reasons. Global society and economy for better or worse
has become irremediably intertwined with Information Technology and the Web. So, why not be open to all advice and see what works best for
yourself? Of course, I'm aware of how all this shared personal information can
and will be shared among corporations and government, with an nightmarish
"1984" scenario in mind. That is why I prefer to keep some of my
information as private as I can. Still I believe at this point the real
benefits of sharing some of your information outweigh the risks. Since we are
at a turning point in history where within a generation you can be sure,
nothing will ever be the same, with no turning back, it seems like an
appropriate time to embrace the future with data while holding on to some of the humanist values
we cherish while we can. I say this even as I fear the obvious dystopian future
scenario, We might as well make the best of it while it lasts. As the Roman Emperor
Marcus Aurerius once said: <i>"You have power over your mind, not outside
events. Realize this and you will find strength"</i>. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<b>Mirabile Futurum.</b> Oil on canvas 16" x 20" by <i><a href="http://www.patrickmcgrath-art.com/" target="_blank">Patrick McGrath Muñiz</a></i></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: justify;">Hope you enjoyed this article. If you wish to see more of my artwork, please visit my new artist website at:</span><a href="http://www.patrickmcgrath-art.com/" style="color: #ff9900; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: justify;">www.patrickmcgrath-art.com</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: justify;">. Stay tuned for more related articles that I'll be posting once a month on this blog. Take care and as always, thank you very much for your support!</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07867543787640762294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579840158857821913.post-27062706518080775882017-05-06T05:50:00.002-07:002017-05-06T05:50:37.957-07:00Library & Garden and why everyone should have them.<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Si Hortum et Bibliotheca habes, deerit nihil"</span></div>
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-Cicero</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">To Varro, in </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Ad Familiares</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">IX, 4</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">This quote from Roman philosopher and consul Cicero, has often been translated as: <i>If you have a library and a garden, you have everything. </i>But the literal translation would actually be: <i>If you have a garden and a library, you'll lack nothing. </i>In this fast age of I-phones and consumerism, think about it for a moment. What do we really need? As an artist I could easily add in an art studio as well. But why is a library and a garden so important to have these days, no matter how small they are?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Enjoying a beautiful garden in Apaneca, El Salvador.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">Growing up in a farm in Puerto Rico left a deep impression in my soul. Now that I look back, spending the days surrounded by trees, animals and such a fertile land you could throw about any seed and it would grow unattended, this was key to a fertile imagination. Not only was I blessed by my natural surroundings but also by the family book collection we had. Perhaps it wasn't the best and it was lacking some important books, it was more than enough to inspire me to read and make a habit of it from an early age. We didn't have computers or smartphones growing up in the 80's. There were other toys to play with and the huge mango tree by the house was the best playground of all. At night I always went to bed reading a children's book. Sometimes my brother or sister would read these to me. I will never forget the nights there were blackouts and all we had were candles and lamps, a perfect time to play with shadows and tell stories. At night you could see so many stars and even a UFO flying by if you were lucky. We had chicken, geese, cows, dogs and many cats but I also remember insects that have either gone extinct or rarely seen these days. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Part of the remaining land where I grew up. Not a farm anymore, but still a place full of memories. The signs on the trees are quotes my mom wrote with her calligraphy.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">Sadly that farm is now gone and replaced by an empty strip mall. They destroyed almost every beautiful thing there was in that land. But our house remains with a small lot of land I planted with many new trees nearly 14 years ago. And now I live in a big city in Texas, in a relatively small apartment with a decent balcony. I enjoy all the amenities of living in a big city but I keep my personal library. The improvised garden is still a work in progress but it'll get there. Once you move from the countryside to the city, you begin to fully appreciate the value of certain things in life. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The city has much to offer, don't get me wrong, but I can see how much of a positive impact my early upbringing surrounded by nature and books had on my creativity. And yes, I know, we can all go to a park and play, or to the public library, but its not the same. I keep a small collection of books and plants to remind me of who I am and where I come from. These things define my sensibility, my mind, my humanity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Emblema XLII from the alchemical text Atalanta Fugiens by Michael Myers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Alchemist follows Nature, with his lamp (knowledge by reading) and cane (experience).</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">By having a small library and garden, we nurture our mind and soul. Having a digital library in the cloud or a screen saver image of a forest is no substitute for the real thing. In an age of traffic rush hour, overwhelming information technology and mindless consumerism, we need more than ever to slow down a bit. We need time to enjoy the simple things in life. Not only a garden provides a nice opportunity to be responsible and take care of beautiful living beings, it can also provide food for our bodies and souls. A garden attracts insects and other animals bringing a little piece of nature into our enclosed artificial vessels we call homes. A library on the other hand opens up a world of human ideas. Depending on our books, of course, it can define our character and the way we think of the world around us. For instance, my library is primarily composed of art books, philosophy, history, mythology and mysticism. This is one of the things I enjoy most after painting. Life is short, the Romans knew this, and Cicero was right, the best sources of inspiration in life come to us from nature and knowledge. As an artist I of course add in the art studio. The studio, home for the heart, the garden, home for the body and soul and the library, home for the mind. In our times, these are urgently needed. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Hope you enjoyed this article. If you wish to see my artwork, please visit my new artist website at: <a href="http://www.patrickmcgrath-art.com/">www.patrickmcgrath-art.com</a>. Stay tuned for more related articles that I'll be posting once a month on this blog. Take care and as always, thank you very much for your support!</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07867543787640762294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579840158857821913.post-57339225390636465892017-04-01T07:56:00.000-07:002017-04-01T07:56:05.775-07:00Painting Process & Tarot, A Creative Journey. Part 3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hKGtENVqO7w/WN-2io7l70I/AAAAAAAACFE/FOTTMggOtCYpoWqrI5J624wz93gdjfBMACLcB/s1600/P1300700%2Bcropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hKGtENVqO7w/WN-2io7l70I/AAAAAAAACFE/FOTTMggOtCYpoWqrI5J624wz93gdjfBMACLcB/s320/P1300700%2Bcropped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18px;">My first self-portrait in 1989</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">28 years ago I drew my first self-portrait and from there started
to dedicate hours to drawing and painting. In just a few years I already knew
this was what I wanted to do for a living. I was in high school at the time and
remember not just my art studio filled with drawings but also my interest in
the occult. I was still young though and when introduced to the Tarot for the
first time, I did not understand the full meaning of it and kept that Tarot
deck in a safe place. I already wanted to create my own deck but any attempt
would have been utterly foolish and didn't give it much thought at the time. 25
years later (Last year) I went back to Puerto Rico and found that Tarot deck I
had kept and forgotten for all these years. I instantly knew what had to be
done. Like a divine spark lighting up in my soul, there was no question in my
mind about it. Previously I've been doing research into the Tarot and
incorporating it into my work. At the present moment I'm also working on my
first Tarot deck. I've found it to be an invaluable source of inspiration
with endless narrative possibilities. But I also see in the cards a way of
thinking creatively, of approaching the art of painting. As we wrap things up
and finish this three part series about the creative process and Tarot, let's
review our journey so far. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-42y_a9DX3fE/WHeQplRYtBI/AAAAAAAACBE/CwWPYEZXTYE19fv-cdJmg9Lj72PDW1a_ACPcB/s1600/IMG_20160908_162106.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-42y_a9DX3fE/WHeQplRYtBI/AAAAAAAACBE/CwWPYEZXTYE19fv-cdJmg9Lj72PDW1a_ACPcB/s320/IMG_20160908_162106.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">My first Tarot deck from 1992</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">We the artists
started off our adventure as <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fool_(Tarot_card)" target="_blank">The Fool</a></b>,
not really sure of what we are doing and where to begin. Every blank canvas is
a "<i>cero</i>" full of hidden
numbers and aesthetic potentiality. As we embark in our journey we are
first encountered by <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Magician_(Tarot_card)" target="_blank">The Magician</a></b>.
He teaches us the importance of craftsmanship, technique and getting hands-on
with our work. <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_High_Priestess" target="_blank">The High Priestess</a></b> is
our mystical guide who encourages us to rely on our intuition and imagination.
Next we are greeted by <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Empress_(Tarot_card)" target="_blank">The Empress</a></b>.
She inspires us with beauty and urges us to materialize it in our art. Along
comes <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Emperor_(Tarot_card)" target="_blank">The Emperor</a> </b>who bestows in us
a sense of responsibility and structure. For every "<i>Great</i>" work there should be a plan. <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hierophant" target="_blank">The Pope</a></b> instills in us reverence for the sacred ritual of
creating. We must also have faith in our artistic vision. Then we are
liberated by the ecstatic joy of <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hierophant" target="_blank">TheLovers</a></b>. Art should be an act of Love free from all limitations. As we move
forward to the final stage of our process, we should be reminded, this is just
one of many paths we may take in our creative endeavor. There are 78 cards in
the Tarot, I've just concentrated in the first 9 trumps, the period of
gestation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vgq_2zZdZII/WN-3kJ0TQnI/AAAAAAAACFM/lVBFRZOgANgYP6HL0k3aMBVOkXd0SNl0QCLcB/s1600/10.%2BPa%2BFlorizona.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="342" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vgq_2zZdZII/WN-3kJ0TQnI/AAAAAAAACFM/lVBFRZOgANgYP6HL0k3aMBVOkXd0SNl0QCLcB/s400/10.%2BPa%2BFlorizona.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Pa' Florizona</b> (2011)</div>
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Oil on canvas, metal leaf and toy cars on wood frame </div>
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11" x 17". Private Collection.</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d-xNCzqpkIo/WN-4ANhonOI/AAAAAAAACFQ/IAhyj1V8hpUqw1T_5QarG7tY7g1IrVisgCLcB/s1600/8.%2BEL%2BCARRO%2B%25282013%2529%2BOil%2Band%2Bmetal%2Bleaf%2Bon%2Bpanel%2B24%2Bx%2B44%2B%252872%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d-xNCzqpkIo/WN-4ANhonOI/AAAAAAAACFQ/IAhyj1V8hpUqw1T_5QarG7tY7g1IrVisgCLcB/s640/8.%2BEL%2BCARRO%2B%25282013%2529%2BOil%2Band%2Bmetal%2Bleaf%2Bon%2Bpanel%2B24%2Bx%2B44%2B%252872%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" width="364" /></a></div>
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<b>El Carro </b>(2013) Oil and metal leaf on panel 24" x 44". Private Collection.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">7. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chariot_(Tarot_card)" target="_blank">The Chariot</a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">This is the hero's
march towards victory. Sometimes painting can become sluggish and seem to be
going nowhere. Somehow it does not advance and we feel stagnated. Along comes <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chariot_(Tarot_card)" target="_blank">The Chariot</a></b> with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_(mythology)" target="_blank">Mars/Ares</a>, the warrior
on board. He shouts at us to stay focused and drive forward. His transportation
is pulled by either two horses or sphinxes. They usually represent the
opposites within us but they are now under control and given a common purpose. <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chariot_(Tarot_card)" target="_blank">The Chariot</a></b> can only go in one
direction: Forward. So we choose our priorities and aim at the most
important elements in our work. In order to get things done, we should focus on
the things that stand out and become focal points. Just like the warrior's
spear, we take aim at something and give it our best shot. We cannot be all
over the place unless we wish to fail. Define the prime directives of your own
chariot, keep your horses together and conduct them mindfully towards your main
goal. We are almost at the finish line.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A4Lt8L6IC3I/WN-4Zq3zL_I/AAAAAAAACFU/l2mhfXM6kn8C3boUmPFaXrZ7fHj2lcOSQCLcB/s1600/5.%2BAllegory%2Bto%2BJustice%2BLow%2BRes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="391" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A4Lt8L6IC3I/WN-4Zq3zL_I/AAAAAAAACFU/l2mhfXM6kn8C3boUmPFaXrZ7fHj2lcOSQCLcB/s400/5.%2BAllegory%2Bto%2BJustice%2BLow%2BRes.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Allegory to Justice</b> (2009) Oil and metal leaf on canvas 24" x 24"</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3PIgqvLFezc/T7BtByVjvLI/AAAAAAAAAsw/5tJBViC5LXI3OIYxluLW1dfSz5JT2W2zACPcB/s1600/Spraying%2BGlobal%2BOccupation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3PIgqvLFezc/T7BtByVjvLI/AAAAAAAAAsw/5tJBViC5LXI3OIYxluLW1dfSz5JT2W2zACPcB/s640/Spraying%2BGlobal%2BOccupation.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<b>Spraying Global Occupation</b> (2011) </div>
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Oil and metal leaf on wood tryptich 18" x 24". </div>
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Private Collection.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">8. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justice_(Tarot_card)" target="_blank">Justice</a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">With <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justice_(Tarot_card)" target="_blank">Justice</a></b> we enter a period of discernment,
where abstract thinking becomes imperative. <b>Justice </b>is the first full figure we encounter that is more symbolic
than real. There is no such thing as justice but we humans imagine it and wish
to believe in it. A sense of order and truth is needed to keep things in human
perspective. <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justice_(Tarot_card)" target="_blank">Justice</a></b> carries a
sword, representing truth and valor residing in the mind. She also holds
scales. Notice <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justice_(Tarot_card)" target="_blank">Justice</a></b> is attributed
feminine aspect. She is the judge who decides what deserves to stay and what
has to go. In other words, she is the editor in chief of our work. Listen to
her advice and trust your own inner judgment. Discern and decide what elements
in this painting are really necessary and which can be omitted or delegated to
a minor plane. Often we are too harsh and become our worse critic. Other times
we become too laid back and complacent. <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justice_(Tarot_card)" target="_blank">Justice</a></b>
holds on to her scales to bring balance into the equation. Be just and
objective with yourself. Don't compare yourself with others but rather measure
your work to your own standards. Is this painting better than other paintings
I've done? How does it compete with similar pieces I've already done?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dt3rcF8Cmx8/WN-5JlEPbmI/AAAAAAAACFc/Wa-yPOdhwrchWO67cbwpojG3khbCoosDwCLcB/s1600/15.%2BMcolonial%2BCitizens%2BEl%2BMendigo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dt3rcF8Cmx8/WN-5JlEPbmI/AAAAAAAACFc/Wa-yPOdhwrchWO67cbwpojG3khbCoosDwCLcB/s640/15.%2BMcolonial%2BCitizens%2BEl%2BMendigo.jpg" width="346" /></a></div>
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<b>Mcolonial Mendigo</b> (2011) Oil and metal leaf on panel 11" x 24". Private Collection</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I9tHGu4E54c/WN-51dYotVI/AAAAAAAACFk/kwAs-yGGQU0-x2ioOvWTZN2qVLL5gOKygCLcB/s1600/27.%2BSATURN%2B%25282008%2529%2BOil%2Band%2Bmetal%2Bleaf%2Bon%2Bwood%2B11%2Bx%2B24%2Binches%2B%252872%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I9tHGu4E54c/WN-51dYotVI/AAAAAAAACFk/kwAs-yGGQU0-x2ioOvWTZN2qVLL5gOKygCLcB/s640/27.%2BSATURN%2B%25282008%2529%2BOil%2Band%2Bmetal%2Bleaf%2Bon%2Bwood%2B11%2Bx%2B24%2Binches%2B%252872%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" width="374" /></a></div>
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<b>Saturn </b>(2008) Oil and metal leaf on panel 11" x 24". Private Collection</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">9. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hermit_(Tarot_card)" target="_blank">The Hermit</a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Finally <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hermit_(Tarot_card)" target="_blank">The Hermit</a></b> pays us a studio visit. This
comes in the form of solitude and silence. There is a moment when we need to be
alone and in silence in front of our nearly finished painting. This is a time
for contemplation and silent dialogue with the accomplished work. <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hermit_(Tarot_card)" target="_blank">The Hermit</a></b> teaches us to stay away from
all the distractive noise coming from the world outside us and just listen to
what this new artwork has to say. This is a time to rest and put all your
brushes down. <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hermit_(Tarot_card)" target="_blank">The Hermit </a></b>is shown as
an elderly man holding a staff and lamp, as if searching for truth and hidden
meaning in life. As we sit back and study the piece , he will then tell us if
it's finished or not. If it isn't, we'll know and go back to work. If it is,
this is then a good time to reflect on the process and study what we've
accomplished so far and what it means for us in the greater scope of things. The
Hermit is now a wiser Fool, having wandered through life. and art, the Hermit
doesn't stop there and proceeds to his or her next creative journey. This is
just the beginning...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-faHr_dC3hJg/WN-6yhElNiI/AAAAAAAACFs/-vjaKaV8krsmB5WvAUe1Fphr9dfYEBjgQCLcB/s1600/Patrick%2BMcGrath%2BMuniz%2Bartist%2Bstudio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="410" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-faHr_dC3hJg/WN-6yhElNiI/AAAAAAAACFs/-vjaKaV8krsmB5WvAUe1Fphr9dfYEBjgQCLcB/s640/Patrick%2BMcGrath%2BMuniz%2Bartist%2Bstudio.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Photo of me in my studio taken in 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">We hope you enjoyed this archetypal exploration through the Tarot and the creative process of painting. If you wish to see more of my original artwork visit my new artist website at: </span><span style="font-size: 18px;"><a href="http://www.patrickmcgrath-art.com./">www.patrickmcgrath-art.com.</a> </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Stay tuned for more related articles that will be posted on this blog on a monthly basis and as always, thank you for your support!</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07867543787640762294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579840158857821913.post-19083171073411041272017-03-04T07:03:00.003-08:002017-03-04T08:12:31.263-08:00Painting Process & Tarot, A Creative Journey. Part 2<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j2ryI4EXR04/WLrQrnHR_LI/AAAAAAAACD0/Fu2RNFpjnN4vbcvyu5p1F6UEGZWOgBpdwCLcB/s1600/13.%2BHERCULES%2BAND%2BTHE%2BVIRTUES%2B%25282013%2529%2BOil%2Bad%2Bmetal%2Bleaf%2Bon%2Bpanel%2B36%2Bx%2B28%2B%252872%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j2ryI4EXR04/WLrQrnHR_LI/AAAAAAAACD0/Fu2RNFpjnN4vbcvyu5p1F6UEGZWOgBpdwCLcB/s640/13.%2BHERCULES%2BAND%2BTHE%2BVIRTUES%2B%25282013%2529%2BOil%2Bad%2Bmetal%2Bleaf%2Bon%2Bpanel%2B36%2Bx%2B28%2B%252872%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Hercules and the Virtues (2013) Oil ad metal leaf on panel 36" x 28" <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arimo";">by </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arimo;"><a href="http://www.patrickmcgrath-art.com/" target="_blank">Patrick McGrath Muñiz</a></i></div>
<br />
We now continue this creative
journey using the Tarot in our artistic process, but let's have a quick recap
before we take off . Last time we explored <b>The Magician</b>, <b>The High Priestess</b> and
<b>The Empress</b> and of course we started off with <b>The Fool </b>(The artist himself).
With each one of these archetypes, there was a lesson to be learned and applied
in our creative process. Each one of them sees the world from a different
perspective enriching the ways in which we think about creativity and Art. <b>The
Magician</b> taught us to use our hands and master our craft. <b>The High Priestess</b>
showed us the power of intuition and
imagination. <b>The Empress</b> inspired us with beauty and love for what we create.
As a painter I shall be referring to things that relate directly to painting
but these lessons apply to any other art form as well. Now let's continue our journey.</div>
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<br /><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gZ9XyCk6L0Y/WLrTFVd_yKI/AAAAAAAACEE/FwJAyfffPqoL-SZPFWeanZKD_esqKQhIgCLcB/s1600/5.%2BEL%2BEMPERADOR%2B%2B%25282013%2529%2BOil%2Band%2Bmetal%2Bleaf%2Bon%2Bpanel%2B24%2Bx%2B47%2B%252872%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gZ9XyCk6L0Y/WLrTFVd_yKI/AAAAAAAACEE/FwJAyfffPqoL-SZPFWeanZKD_esqKQhIgCLcB/s640/5.%2BEL%2BEMPERADOR%2B%2B%25282013%2529%2BOil%2Band%2Bmetal%2Bleaf%2Bon%2Bpanel%2B24%2Bx%2B47%2B%252872%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" width="342" /></a></div>
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<b>El Emperador </b> (2013) Oil and metal leaf on panel 24" x 47" Private Collection. </div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arimo";">by </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arimo;"><a href="http://www.patrickmcgrath-art.com/" target="_blank">Patrick McGrath Muñiz</a></i></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JpFVVpm7J10/WLrWDE450rI/AAAAAAAACEc/B3wSqXP4R4QsKAlkM8ZA7nfEja4K0Zv4gCLcB/s1600/14.%2BMCOLONIAL%2BPOLITICIAN%2B%25282011%2529%2BOil%2Band%2Bmetal%2Bleaf%2Bon%2Bpanel%2B11%2Bx%2B24%2Binches%2B%252872%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JpFVVpm7J10/WLrWDE450rI/AAAAAAAACEc/B3wSqXP4R4QsKAlkM8ZA7nfEja4K0Zv4gCLcB/s640/14.%2BMCOLONIAL%2BPOLITICIAN%2B%25282011%2529%2BOil%2Band%2Bmetal%2Bleaf%2Bon%2Bpanel%2B11%2Bx%2B24%2Binches%2B%252872%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" width="352" /></a></div>
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<b>Mcolonial Politician</b> (2011) Oil and metal leaf on panel 11" x 24" <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arimo";">by </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arimo;"><a href="http://www.patrickmcgrath-art.com/" target="_blank">Patrick McGrath Muñiz</a></i> </div>
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<b><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/">4. The Emperor</a></b><br />
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As we encounter this powerful
father figure archetype, we are reminded of our capacity to be in full control
of our work and to think of our studio as our personal kingdom. A painting can
be a territory we are about to conquer, build and govern. <b>The Emperor</b> is both
pragmatic but ambitious and he teaches us to have a clear purpose and reach our
goals with discipline, clarity and determination. In order to succeed we will
need a plan, a winning strategy to expand our empire. This is the type of
language we might hear from someone like him and there is much to be learned
from it as an artist. For example: Our palette can be seen a the camp where we
train and prepare our soldiers (paints). Who are we fighting against? Idleness,
chaos and fear. Some of you may now be
thinking: "But I love chaos!". We may argue there is a difference
between "ordered chaos" and chaos without purpose and meaning. <b>The
Emperor</b> does not take part in either one as he is the capital representative of
civilization as opposed to the barbaric and undisciplined . Order is the principal
command and lesson here. Once in a while
we must clean our Empire (studio & also mind) and have Laws (a set of rules
and daily schedule) in order to be an effective ruler/creator. This will bring structure,
clarity and guide us further in our creative journey.</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gJz9KRIxfsI/WLrSVPYXjII/AAAAAAAACEA/QitHBXVYfLwurP3zAVsXV9WldKXtcAAEACLcB/s1600/18.%2BST.%2BNICHOLAS%2BBEOFRE%2BTHE%2BCONSUMERIST%2BFESTIVITIES%2B%25282008%2529%2BOil%2Bon%2Bcanvas%2B11%2Bx%2B14%2Binches%2B%252872%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gJz9KRIxfsI/WLrSVPYXjII/AAAAAAAACEA/QitHBXVYfLwurP3zAVsXV9WldKXtcAAEACLcB/s640/18.%2BST.%2BNICHOLAS%2BBEOFRE%2BTHE%2BCONSUMERIST%2BFESTIVITIES%2B%25282008%2529%2BOil%2Bon%2Bcanvas%2B11%2Bx%2B14%2Binches%2B%252872%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" width="508" /></a></div>
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<b> St. Nick before the consumerist festivities</b> (2008) Oil on canvas 11: x 14".</div>
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Private Collection. <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arimo"; text-align: center;">by </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arimo; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.patrickmcgrath-art.com/" target="_blank">Patrick McGrath Muñiz</a></i> </div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GPqjRVs7DrA/WLrVpyxYzEI/AAAAAAAACEY/41s-pH90404Dvv53i_AFi6L8tjMfj9D4gCLcB/s1600/21.%2BThe%2BTele-Evangelist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GPqjRVs7DrA/WLrVpyxYzEI/AAAAAAAACEY/41s-pH90404Dvv53i_AFi6L8tjMfj9D4gCLcB/s640/21.%2BThe%2BTele-Evangelist.jpg" width="348" /></a></div>
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<b>Mcolonial Tele-Evangelist</b> (2011) Oil and metal leaf on panel 12" x 24" <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arimo";">by </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arimo;"><a href="http://www.patrickmcgrath-art.com/" target="_blank">Patrick McGrath Muñiz</a></i> </div>
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<b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hierophant" target="_blank">5. The Pope/Hierophant</a></b><br />
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While <b>The Emperor</b> is the supreme ruler and guiding principle of
practical matters in the material world, <b>The Pope</b> (Also known as the Hierophant)
is the supreme ruler and guiding principle of the spiritual world. He may be
dogmatic and even severe but he teaches us the importance of reverence and
ritual when making art. <b>The Pope</b> tells us that we should not obsess over the
material aspects of creation. There is much more to it than that. Art is
bursting with divine meaning and we should seriously consider the hidden gospel
in every work of art. It really doesn't
matter what you believe in or what religion you profess. The important thing to
remember here is to be clear about what you believe in, stand by it and express
it in art. He encourages us as artists to become missionaries and spread the
message with our art. But in order to know what your true message is, we must
first prepare our soul and purify our thoughts and actions. Having a moment of
prayer, meditation or silence before starting to work is advised. We can adopt
a personal ritual and make of our studio a holy space for it is where the "Great
Work" will be forged. We are to become a medium or bridge in which this higher
truth will be channeled through in order
to create that sacred piece of art. Above all, <b>The Pope</b> wishes us to devote
ourselves to our art with principles and faith. </div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M64q-ifOCn4/WLrRi52YjPI/AAAAAAAACD4/db4nMwsidLYQk23AX4NF2u2_su3G986GgCLcB/s1600/7.%2BPLANET%2BOF%2BTHE%2BAPPS%2B%25282013%2529%2BOil%2Bon%2Bcanvas%2B36%2Bx%2B36%2B%252872%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M64q-ifOCn4/WLrRi52YjPI/AAAAAAAACD4/db4nMwsidLYQk23AX4NF2u2_su3G986GgCLcB/s640/7.%2BPLANET%2BOF%2BTHE%2BAPPS%2B%25282013%2529%2BOil%2Bon%2Bcanvas%2B36%2Bx%2B36%2B%252872%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" width="619" /></a></div>
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<b>Planet of the Apps </b>(2013) Oil on canvas 36" x 36". Private Collection. <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arimo"; text-align: center;">by </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arimo; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.patrickmcgrath-art.com/" target="_blank">Patrick McGrath Muñiz</a></i></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w4apXIiepj4/WLrUykpG9hI/AAAAAAAACEQ/aO5W09UIWbI1DVts_GIt-6n9NAiChbBVACEw/s1600/23.%2BNeo-Genesis%2B%25282015%2529%2BInk%2Bon%2Bpaper%2B12%2Bx%2B12%2B%252872%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w4apXIiepj4/WLrUykpG9hI/AAAAAAAACEQ/aO5W09UIWbI1DVts_GIt-6n9NAiChbBVACEw/s400/23.%2BNeo-Genesis%2B%25282015%2529%2BInk%2Bon%2Bpaper%2B12%2Bx%2B12%2B%252872%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Neo-Genesis </b>(2015) Ink on paper 12" x 12" <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arimo";">by </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arimo;"><a href="http://www.patrickmcgrath-art.com/" target="_blank">Patrick McGrath Muñiz</a></i></div>
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<b style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lovers" style="text-align: justify;" target="_blank">6. The Lovers</a></b></div>
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And now we fall endlessly in love
with what we do. Along came <b>The Lovers </b>and as we now sneak behind a tree and
watch them kiss passionately and become one, we reflect on how arousing and
intoxicating Love and Art can be. The sweet scent of Ambrosia and beautiful sound
of wind chimes soothes our soul while we feel butterflies in our stomach and
our heart is aroused. This is the kind of exciting feeling and addictive sensation
<b>The Lovers</b> wish us to have when we make art. When we feel this way about art,
everything else disappears and it is just the artist and his work. Artistic
creation then becomes a true labor of love. They<b> </b>teach us to paint with pleasure,
passion and highly concentrated in becoming one with our art. Pour your whole
heart into it without any fears or inhibitions. When we are fully committed to
creation totally focused with zero distractions, the muses start whispering in
our ears the true meaning of Art. After learning to be in full command of the
material aspects of our work with <b>The Emperor</b> and in spiritual bliss and
contemplation with <b>The Pope</b>, <b>The Lovers</b> free us from all societal restrictions
and allow us to be children once again, playing and discovering the world for
the first time. To be in Love is to be connected to the Universe and in harmony
with creation. Be free and allow Love to become your creative compass.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8UEMOoZEjGo/WLrTrZuUVVI/AAAAAAAACEI/n6Tj1-ZltS0W8lmhLpmh1CmCwh0Od-4ggCLcB/s1600/9.%2BMARIAMUNDI%2B%25282016%2529%2BOil%2Band%2Bmetal%2Bleaf%2Bon%2Bcanvas%2B50%2Bx%2B35%2Binches%2B%252872%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8UEMOoZEjGo/WLrTrZuUVVI/AAAAAAAACEI/n6Tj1-ZltS0W8lmhLpmh1CmCwh0Od-4ggCLcB/s640/9.%2BMARIAMUNDI%2B%25282016%2529%2BOil%2Band%2Bmetal%2Bleaf%2Bon%2Bcanvas%2B50%2Bx%2B35%2Binches%2B%252872%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" width="456" /></a></div>
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<b>Mariamundi </b>(2016) Oil and metal leaf on canvas 50" x 35" </div>
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Available at <a href="https://www.evokecontemporary.com/Artists/PatrickMcGrathMuniz.html" target="_blank">Evoke Contemporary</a>. <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arimo"; text-align: center;">by </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arimo; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.patrickmcgrath-art.com/" target="_blank">Patrick McGrath Muñiz</a></i></div>
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Stay tuned for the last segment of this three part article: Painting Process and Tarot, A Creative Journey, Part 3, where we will end with <b>The Car</b>, <b>Justice</b> and <b>The Hermit</b>.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07867543787640762294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579840158857821913.post-60522824123132350562017-02-07T04:58:00.001-08:002017-02-07T04:58:11.692-08:00Painting Process & Tarot, A Creative Journey. Part 1<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For nearly
12 years already I've been using the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarot" target="_blank">Tarot</a> as inspiration for my paintings but
also as a creative tool for my narratives. It helps bring out ideas and its
ever changing flexible and seemingly random character makes it a superb tool
for surrealist work and exploring the subconscious mind. From <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albrecht_D%C3%BCrer" target="_blank">Albrecht Durer</a> to
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvador_Dal%C3%AD" target="_blank">Salvador Dali</a>, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarot" target="_blank">Tarot</a> has been both an influence and inspiration for many
artists. Here, I'll be sharing with you my own approach to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarot" target="_blank">Tarot </a>as it
becomes a creative journey within the painting process itself.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4sB928Ne-lI/WJcmpR5Yl7I/AAAAAAAACCI/F0HRLxR9KGcYbtPNU3slMdyK66lZumhYwCLcB/s1600/7a.%2BIMMACULATE%2BIMPLANTS%2B%25282008%2529%2BOil%2Bon%2Btriptych%2Bcanvas%2B72%2Bx%2B36%2Binches%2B%252872%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="321" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4sB928Ne-lI/WJcmpR5Yl7I/AAAAAAAACCI/F0HRLxR9KGcYbtPNU3slMdyK66lZumhYwCLcB/s640/7a.%2BIMMACULATE%2BIMPLANTS%2B%25282008%2529%2BOil%2Bon%2Btriptych%2Bcanvas%2B72%2Bx%2B36%2Binches%2B%252872%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>Immaculate Implants </b>(2008) Oil on canvas triptych 72" x 36" </div>
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by <i><a href="http://www.patrickmcgrath-art.com/blank-q17v5" target="_blank">Patrick McGrath Muñiz</a></i></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Tarot
is composed of 22 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_Arcana" target="_blank"><b>Major Arcana</b></a> and 56 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minor_Arcana" target="_blank"><b>Minor Arcana</b></a>. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_Arcana" target="_blank"><b>The Major Arcana</b></a> are the
most well known and emblematic for they represent universal archetypes present
in all of human history. I'll guide you briefly through the first nine. Why
nine? Besides having nine muses that inspire artists since ancient Greece, this
number also represents the end of the cycle in the decimal system . Within the
Tarot's <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_Arcana" target="_blank"><b>Major Arcana</b></a>, ninth card: <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hermit_(Tarot_card)" target="_blank">The Hermit</a></b> seems to be a good way to end "The Work" as the artist
retires and lets the painting dry. With the next card: the tenth Major Arcana: <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheel_of_Fortune_(Tarot_card)" target="_blank">Wheel Of Fortune</a></b>, the work is done,
exhibited and up to outer circumstances in the world to decide what happens
next. From <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Magician_(Tarot_card)" target="_blank">The Magician</a></b> to <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hermit_(Tarot_card)" target="_blank">The Hermit</a></b> we see nine central figures
(except for The Lovers) that act as
counselors in each and every stage of the creative process. I often like to
imagine each and one of these Major Arcana as guides or artist's themselves
that have useful advice for us and can assist us in every step of our process. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oYdOc2P8F08/WJcnYQwFeTI/AAAAAAAACCQ/n9DNWd2kUQ0NCURwbjIboueZlxN6fHCeQCLcB/s1600/17.%2BSan%2BRoque%2BIlegal%2BAlien%2Bsmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oYdOc2P8F08/WJcnYQwFeTI/AAAAAAAACCQ/n9DNWd2kUQ0NCURwbjIboueZlxN6fHCeQCLcB/s640/17.%2BSan%2BRoque%2BIlegal%2BAlien%2Bsmall.jpg" width="476" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><b>San Roque </b>(2012) Ink on paper 8.5" x 11" </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">by <i><a href="http://www.patrickmcgrath-art.com/blank-q17v5" target="_blank">Patrick McGrath Muñiz</a></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fool_(Tarot_card)" target="_blank">The Fool</a></span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;">
or the unnumbered Major Arcana which is also a cero "0", we may identify with ourselves, the artist, who journeys
into the unknown and will meet and learn from each of the following characters. At the same time, <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fool_(Tarot_card)" target="_blank">The Fool</a></b> will
become each of these characters he encounters as he/she completes "The
Work". I know I'm not alone in the feeling like a fool when I paint,
searching for answers, making mistakes along the way, not knowing what to
expect. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fsjVr1o8hOg/VHSnata7Z3I/AAAAAAAABog/wH8Y7klKPgo3pfBNGtY_sa9uimXNad5oQCPcB/s1600/1.%2B%2BEl%2BLoco%2B%2528Disneyrican%2BDreamer%2529%2B24%2Bx%2B30%2BOil%2Bon%2Bcanvas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fsjVr1o8hOg/VHSnata7Z3I/AAAAAAAABog/wH8Y7klKPgo3pfBNGtY_sa9uimXNad5oQCPcB/s640/1.%2B%2BEl%2BLoco%2B%2528Disneyrican%2BDreamer%2529%2B24%2Bx%2B30%2BOil%2Bon%2Bcanvas.jpg" width="520" /></a></div>
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<b><a href="https://www.evokecontemporary.com/Artists/PatrickMcGrathMuniz.html" target="_blank">The Disneyrican Dreamer</a></b> (2013) Oil on canvas 24" x 30" </div>
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<a href="https://www.evokecontemporary.com/Artists/PatrickMcGrathMuniz.html" target="_blank">Available at Evoke Contemporary</a></div>
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by <i><a href="http://www.patrickmcgrath-art.com/blank-q17v5" target="_blank">Patrick McGrath Muñiz</a></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">1.
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Magician_(Tarot_card)" target="_blank">The Magician</a> </span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;">and the work begin with
preparation and skill. There is much to be learned from this fellow. The
Magician teaches us that anything can be accomplished with our abilities,
dexterity and mastery over the materials. Most Tarot decks present this figure
in front of a table holding different objects associated with his
"art". He is about to perform a magic trick or even sell us some
stuff. In any case, what he's about to do requires focused skill. By setting up
our work space neatly and orienting all energy to our craft, the work begins.
This is a card of initiation and it all starts with the tactile experience of
getting your hands on the materials. <b>The
Magician</b> tells us not to be afraid to experiment and to feel free to dive
in and make mistakes. This is how we learn. Talent alone is not enough. Practice
makes perfect. He encourages us to deal with matter, how to master our tools, to
mix colors as an alchemist and apply them as a magician. As soon as he sees <b>The Fool</b> stumbling around, he can be
heard saying:"Look, this is how it's done! Get in your studio and get to work!".<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b> Magi</b> (detail) (2012) Ink on paper 7" x 11" </div>
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<b>El Mago</b> (2012) Ink on Paper 5.5" x 3" </div>
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<b>El Mago</b> (2013) Oil and metal leaf on panel 24" x 45" </div>
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Private Collection</div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2. <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_High_Priestess" target="_blank">The High Priestess</a> </b>welcomes <b>The Fool </b>that has recently learned the
secret techniques of<b> The Magician, </b>with
a subtle smile and mysterious gaze. She knows something <b>The Fool/Magician</b> doesn't. In most decks she is shown sitting
passively holding a scroll or book. She is also known as "The Popess",
for she is a virginal purveyor of hidden and sacred wisdom. She remains silent
and in introspection and inspires us to dream and listen to our inner voice.
Painting techniques are nothing without intuition and imagination. There is a
subconscious Lunar energy that needs to be expressed in our art. <b>The High Priestess</b> teaches us to be
patient, silent and allow our inner child to dream, play and be creative. She becomes
the protector of this child and guides us into the next step in our art. By keeping
a private drawing journal and writing down our thoughts and dreams, our inner
child is free and our work is taken to the next level .She whispers into our
ears deep enigmatic words that can only be expressed through Art.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="text-align: center;"> <b> La Papisa</b> (2012) Ink on card 5.5" x 3" </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="text-align: center;"> by </span><i style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.patrickmcgrath-art.com/blank-q17v5" target="_blank">Patrick McGrath Muñiz</a></i></span></div>
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<b>La Papisa</b> (2013) Oil and metal leaf on panel 24" x 47" </div>
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Pprivate Collection</div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="text-align: center;"><b> Sirenis Potionis Arabicae </b>(2013) Oil and metal leaf on triptych panel 23" x 24" </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="text-align: center;"> by </span><i style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.patrickmcgrath-art.com/blank-q17v5" target="_blank">Patrick McGrath Muñiz</a></i></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">3. <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Empress_(Tarot_card)" target="_blank">The Empress</a></b> is the next person we
encounter. While the <b>High Priestess</b>
embodied the Spiritual Virgin archetype, The Empress represents the Earthly
Mother archetype. I like to think of her as "The Muse" or even Venus
(Aphrodite) the Goddess herself. Being the third card within the Major Arcana,
she represents grace, as in the Three Graces or even the Nine Muses (3+3+3=9)
She will speak loud and clear if she finds the artist at work, committed and with
the inner child in charge after meeting with <b>The High Priestess</b>. Three is creation itself. It takes a man and a woman
to make a child (1+2=3) <b>The Empress</b>
encourages us to take our technique and imagination and materialize it into
Art. She is represented in most cards
crowned and sitting on a throne or bench surrounded by nature and holding a
scepter and shield. "Be inspired by beauty, feel the energy. Materialize
it!", she commands. Her voice is fully confident, authoritative and
decisive. She empowers us with the gifts of vitality, inspiration and creation
as we embark into the adventure of making Art. When there is will, there is
movement. Movement bring in momentum and the soil we plant our seeds is
incredibly fertile. It is time to paint!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="text-align: center;"> <b>Virgen Protectora del Comercio</b> (2013) Oil on canvas 48" x 48"</span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="text-align: center;"> Private Collection</span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="text-align: center;"> by </span><i style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.patrickmcgrath-art.com/blank-q17v5" target="_blank">Patrick McGrath Muñiz</a></i></span><br />
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<b>La Emperatriz</b> (2013) Oil and metal leaf on panel 24" x 47" </div>
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Mesa Contemporary Museum Collection, Mesa, AZ</div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"> by </span><i style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.patrickmcgrath-art.com/blank-q17v5" target="_blank">Patrick McGrath Muñiz</a></i></div>
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<b>A Tribute to Venus, Peace & Love</b> (2010) Oil and metal leaf on wood triptych 24" x 26" </div>
<span style="text-align: center;"> Private Collection</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"> by </span><i style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.patrickmcgrath-art.com/blank-q17v5" target="_blank">Patrick McGrath Muñiz</a></i><br />
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hope you
enjoyed this so far but there's still more to come and I wanted to keep each
post as brief as possible. Stay tuned for the next segment of this three part
article: Painting Process and Tarot, A Creative Journey, Part 2, where we'll be
exploring <b>The Emperor</b>, <b>Pope</b> and <b>The Lovers</b>.</span><span style="font-family: "avenir lt std 35 light" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07867543787640762294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579840158857821913.post-10729969241791798862017-01-12T08:51:00.000-08:002017-01-12T08:51:36.261-08:00The Tarot as a Creative Guide for the Artist<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Everything has a purpose. In every experience there is a hidden lesson. Last August I received an emergency call from Puerto Rico. My Mom had a severe car accident and was taken to intensive care. My siblings and I immediately flew down to San Juan and to the hospital. The whole experience was scary and surreal. Thank God she is alive and doing much better today. We are all in awe with her quick recovery. This has been a true miracle and this is no exaggeration given the extreme circumstances which I will not go into detail here. For this I'm very grateful to all who had her in their thoughts and prayers. </div>
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Morning at Punta Las Marias, Puerto Rico</div>
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While in Puerto Rico, I had the chance to go back to the house where I grew up in Aguadilla and look for my childhood toys and first drawings. At the bottom of a box inside a plastic bag I found my very first Tarot deck. Many of my things did not survive due to tropical weather, humidity or bugs. It was a big nice surprise to find this treasure nearly intact. It's been very meaningful to me and to this day I still see it as a personal revelation. It triggered many memories, from how I got this first Tarot deck to what I see in it and how it inspires me with my work. As I mentioned in a previous blog post, I see the Tarot as a mystical encyclopedia of archetypes. Finding this deck changed my whole relation to the Tarot. All of the sudden the memories came back to me and it became more personal. This personal discovery was like a guiding light of hope in middle of the darkness. It told me that miracles are possible.</div>
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The 1JJ Swiss Tarot Cards (My very first Tarot deck from 1992)</div>
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Finding this old deck among my belongings from 25 years ago not only renewed my interest in the Tarot, it became a creative guide for my art. It did not have much to do with fortune telling or divination but rather a mirror in which I could see my own life reflected. And even though I've discovered it can give some insight into the future (So can a history book) it seems far more useful in order to understand the present. As an artist I find great value in it's semantic elasticity and multiple narrative variations. In the hands of a Surrealist painter it becomes a powerful key which can open many hidden doors. It combines abstract design with figurative elements and has the possibility of telling every possible story of the human experience depending on card arrangement and context. They are like miniature paintings that can be interpreted in so many ways, it stimulates the imagination and lights up the creative mind. Right after I found this deck, I painted these:</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y-Ar3fKpMI4/WHeqXwAtgMI/AAAAAAAACBI/T1WpjylgW-Yam4tg6-GxseHaeOqmRKuoQCLcB/s1600/14.%2BMEMENTO%2BMORI%2BII%2B%25282016%2529%2BOil%2Band%2Bmetal%2Bleaf%2Bon%2Bcanvas%2B30%2Bx%2B40%2B%252872%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y-Ar3fKpMI4/WHeqXwAtgMI/AAAAAAAACBI/T1WpjylgW-Yam4tg6-GxseHaeOqmRKuoQCLcB/s640/14.%2BMEMENTO%2BMORI%2BII%2B%25282016%2529%2BOil%2Band%2Bmetal%2Bleaf%2Bon%2Bcanvas%2B30%2Bx%2B40%2B%252872%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" width="475" /> </a></div>
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MEMENTO MORI II (2016) Oil and metal leaf on canvas 30 x 40 inches </div>
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by Patrick McGrath Muñiz</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-amwZy-DcxSI/WHequgUzOOI/AAAAAAAACBM/WO0TYjPwJOk558x3c9clsDhX5XFts03rgCLcB/s1600/15.%2BMEMENTO%2BMORI%2BI%2B%25282016%2529%2BOil%2Band%2Bmetal%2Bleaf%2Bon%2Bcanvas%2B30%2Bx%2B40%2B%252872%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-amwZy-DcxSI/WHequgUzOOI/AAAAAAAACBM/WO0TYjPwJOk558x3c9clsDhX5XFts03rgCLcB/s640/15.%2BMEMENTO%2BMORI%2BI%2B%25282016%2529%2BOil%2Band%2Bmetal%2Bleaf%2Bon%2Bcanvas%2B30%2Bx%2B40%2B%252872%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" width="472" /></a></div>
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MEMENTO MORI I (2016) Oil and metal leaf on canvas 30 x 40 inches </div>
by Patrick McGrath Muñiz<br />
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The cards I used for these paintings as points of departure and inspiration were the Four of Cups and Ace of Swords. The narratives in these paintings are related in part to the interpretation of these cards. The whole experience in Puerto Rico last year made me reflect on life and death and how easily things can change from one moment to the next. Life in a way is so unpredictable and changing as shuffling a deck of cards. The seemingly random results are what we get in a card reading just as in life. But nature has a mysteriously wise way of balancing things and placing the right cards in front of us. This is why I believe the Tarot can be an incredibly powerful guide and tool in the hands of the artist. When art is too controlled, rational and predictable, it becomes boring and unimaginative. When we allow intuition and the free flow of creative thought to become active players in the creative act, art becomes new, exciting and insightful. This is precisely what I've discovered can happen with the Tarot. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07867543787640762294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579840158857821913.post-39792196882958900382016-12-21T08:53:00.001-08:002016-12-21T12:13:04.939-08:00Surrealism & 2016<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-52SIR0Ru2go/WFqbJ7Xb96I/AAAAAAAAB_I/lL0VG_NME7wE70bDTXdnnqmZWt5zL1HUwCLcB/s1600/the-lovers-1928%25281%2529.jpg%2521Large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-52SIR0Ru2go/WFqbJ7Xb96I/AAAAAAAAB_I/lL0VG_NME7wE70bDTXdnnqmZWt5zL1HUwCLcB/s400/the-lovers-1928%25281%2529.jpg%2521Large.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><b>Les Amants (The Lovers)</b></i> (1928) :: Oil on canvas 28" x 21" by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ren%C3%A9_Magritte" target="_blank">Rene Magritte</a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Back in art school I remember there used
to be a stigma placed unto anyone who wanted to explore surrealism. As art students we were encouraged to experiment and break away from tradition. We were told that Surrealism was an art movement that already had
its time and place in Europe in the 1920's and that like Impressionism, there
was no point of following the steps of these artists. It was dated therefore "passé" and not considered a valid form of contemporary art.
While it is not easily found in mainstream contemporary art, there
are still many incredible artists today that make great art inspired by the surrealist tradition. </span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WckBoV73d5M/WFqtPG5lZVI/AAAAAAAAB_s/sdVq_OVR-Kkb00K4BAEaQgssuBcLvkjcgCLcB/s1600/The_Promise_II_sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WckBoV73d5M/WFqtPG5lZVI/AAAAAAAAB_s/sdVq_OVR-Kkb00K4BAEaQgssuBcLvkjcgCLcB/s400/The_Promise_II_sm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The Promise II (2012) :: Oil and egg tempera on panel 16" x 20" by <a href="http://www.madelinevonfoerster.com/index.html" target="_blank">Madeline Von Foerster</a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I've always
wondered why is there a preference for certain kinds of art within the mainstream
contemporary art scene while others are excluded. Take for instance conceptual
art. An offspring movement of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dada" target="_blank">Dada</a> and formally theorized in the late sixties,
conceptual art is perhaps as dated and "passé" as<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Surrealism, yet the former is by far
more acceptable in the eyes of mainstream art circles. Yet the surrealist movement is very strong today, particularly among the international art group <a href="http://www.dreamsanddivinities.com/" target="_blank">Dreams and Divinities</a>. There is indeed a resurgence of surrealist art and it is stronger than ever. There is no reason to believe it already had it's time and that it's over. Au contraire!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ai1S5FaUb78/WFnAqef6LlI/AAAAAAAAB-o/lw6Y3ywTr1Aqi-clcb_aOjIpWJmA8y0gwCLcB/s1600/41301078369-Media-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ai1S5FaUb78/WFnAqef6LlI/AAAAAAAAB-o/lw6Y3ywTr1Aqi-clcb_aOjIpWJmA8y0gwCLcB/s640/41301078369-Media-04.jpg" width="420" /></a></div>
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<i><b>Halcyon </b>(2012) :: Oil on panel 12" x 18" by <a href="http://carrieannbaade.com/" target="_blank">Carrie Ann Baade</a></i><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mqGey5AT0Qw/WFqsGWPV4jI/AAAAAAAAB_o/mtqntE7-69woJHQwnxtthnrGhdewPNhfQCLcB/s1600/3ad3fdd996ea0e2fa1f70cde00ccc302.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mqGey5AT0Qw/WFqsGWPV4jI/AAAAAAAAB_o/mtqntE7-69woJHQwnxtthnrGhdewPNhfQCLcB/s400/3ad3fdd996ea0e2fa1f70cde00ccc302.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Transcending the Duality</i></b> (2014) ::<br />
Oil on canvas 39" x 39" by <a href="http://www.artwork-liba.com/" target="_blank">Liba Stambollion</a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surrealism" target="_blank">Modern Surrealism</a>
also derived from Dada had it's own <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surrealist_Manifesto" target="_blank">Surrealist Manifesto </a>written by French poet A<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andr%C3%A9_Breton" target="_blank">ndre Bretton</a>. It began as a literary movement influenced by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigmund_Freud" target="_blank">Sigmund Freud</a>'s free association and dream analysis. Soon after
the poets, painters started to experiment by painting without conscious
control, a creative process called automatism. This in turn, revealed unconscious imagery in the work. Surrealism has basically two schools; One more abstract, distancing itself from conscious control as much as possible (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_Mir%C3%B3" target="_blank">Miró</a> & <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Ernst" target="_blank">Ernst</a>) and one with a more </span><span style="font-size: 18px;">detailed and </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">figurative approach (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvador_Dal%C3%AD" target="_blank">Dalí</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ren%C3%A9_Magritte" target="_blank">Magitte</a>). Surreal implies something "unreal", a dream-like realm beyond rational
reality. </span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0c0ZF0YPNJk/WFm-_VVCLhI/AAAAAAAAB-g/bnXyqfv7eiMkDjYNII8J8BDv5-eaNJYxQCLcB/s1600/mammon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0c0ZF0YPNJk/WFm-_VVCLhI/AAAAAAAAB-g/bnXyqfv7eiMkDjYNII8J8BDv5-eaNJYxQCLcB/s640/mammon.jpg" width="441" /></a></div>
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<i><b>Mammon</b> (2010) :: Oil on canvas 78" x 54" by <a href="http://www.alexgross.com/paintings/five/mammon.html" target="_blank">Alex Gross</a></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Interestingly
"Surreal" was chosen as <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/merriam-webster-surreal-is-the-word-of-the-year-for-2016-195744626.html" target="_blank">Merriam-Webster's word of the year </a>and used
to describe the events of 2016. With recent events such as the terrorist
attacks in Europe and the US as well as the war in Syria, the US elections of
Donald Trump and the Brexit vote in the UK, it is not hard to explain why the
word "Surreal" has seen a spike in lookups on the online dictionary.
It is not the first time though. In 2001 the word had its most enduring spike
soon after 9/11. It often seems like the word comes up in moments most people
feel a sense of shock and tragedy and try to make sense of it all. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nCTIXyyQue0/WFquav6U05I/AAAAAAAAB_4/jRtkI5j-c3wdQv73f5UfdtJ1H0liflpmwCLcB/s1600/830%2BMiguel%2BTio.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nCTIXyyQue0/WFquav6U05I/AAAAAAAAB_4/jRtkI5j-c3wdQv73f5UfdtJ1H0liflpmwCLcB/s400/830%2BMiguel%2BTio.JPG" width="330" /></a></div>
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<b><i>8:30 A.M.</i></b> <i>(2002) :: Oil on canvas 50" x 60" By <a href="http://www.migueltio.com/English/Home%20page%20English/Home%20page%20English.htm" target="_blank">Miguel Tio</a></i></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yrpT_uK3SnQ/WFqv2ivqLvI/AAAAAAAACAE/ClVKDmkUCWU6o9Ho7G76L28YPZ88xLMwACLcB/s1600/Johnny%2BPalacios%2BHidalgo-www.kaifineart.com-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yrpT_uK3SnQ/WFqv2ivqLvI/AAAAAAAACAE/ClVKDmkUCWU6o9Ho7G76L28YPZ88xLMwACLcB/s400/Johnny%2BPalacios%2BHidalgo-www.kaifineart.com-7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Canción bajo el árbol</b> (Song under the Tree):: Oil on canvas 30" x 40" by <a href="http://elhurgador.blogspot.com/2012/05/johnny-palacios-hidalgo-pintura.html" target="_blank">Johnny Palacios Hidalgo</a></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Whenever we feel
there is a disconnect with reality, for better or for worse, we tend to think
of surrealism. I remember visiting the School of Fine Arts in Lima, Peru in 1998. By the time I was amazed at so much young talent in
this school, I even wanted to study there. But something really caught my
attention. Many of the art students were devoted to surrealism in their art.
With so much political unrest, social injustice and inequality, that was so
shockingly evident to me, I asked myself, why were they so interested in
the fantastic? Wasn't this plain escapism? Why not make art that is mindful of your surroundings and denounce what's wrong with the system? Was it because it was too depressing, they didn't see it, or they simply weren't interested?</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oT9_WOne4I0/WFqwvXlh0xI/AAAAAAAACAM/tXT-FpdrnP4NaQjDrL1jrhAPDU26ES23ACLcB/s1600/28.%2BTHE%2BSEED%2B%25282014%2529%2BOil%2Bon%2Bcanvas%2B48%2Bx%2B48%2B%252872dpi%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oT9_WOne4I0/WFqwvXlh0xI/AAAAAAAACAM/tXT-FpdrnP4NaQjDrL1jrhAPDU26ES23ACLcB/s400/28.%2BTHE%2BSEED%2B%25282014%2529%2BOil%2Bon%2Bcanvas%2B48%2Bx%2B48%2B%252872dpi%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><b>The Seed </b>(2014):: Oil on canvas 48" x 48" by <a href="http://www.patrickmcgrath-art.com/blank-q17v5" target="_blank">Patrick McGrath Muñiz</a></i></div>
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<a href="http://www.evokecontemporary.com/Artists/PatrickMcGrathMuniz.html" target="_blank">Available at Evoke Contemporary</a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Then I realized,
my art was no different from theirs. I too looked for solace, peace and inspiration elsewhere, in art history and... in an alternate reality. Not that there is anything wrong with this, but I think there is much more to it than that. The truth is that after all
these years I now see how unexpectedly socially aware surrealist art can
really be. While many might see surrealist art as a form of escapism, it can also be a
cure for our current social ills. Surrealism allows us to explore our own inner worlds and see things from
a different perspective. Surrealism opens up the gates to a realm of the
insanely impossible. In middle of all the craziness of our own world,
surrealist art can enlighten us by revealing the key to understanding ourselves and how we perceive the world around us at an unconscious level. That may well be our antidote and best way to cope with the crazy sick world we live in today. Yes, 2016 may easily push many to think of it in "surreal" terms. Doesn't this already make a very good case to consider surrealism as a valid form of contemporary art if not the most relevant of all specially in these times we are living in?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yOoK7RlL-7g/WFqyeFrqRFI/AAAAAAAACAY/8SN60oOIJwwqEYoUx5QVBP-iSzmt2wz0gCLcB/s1600/13232936_10154203487773234_4131219933743927060_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yOoK7RlL-7g/WFqyeFrqRFI/AAAAAAAACAY/8SN60oOIJwwqEYoUx5QVBP-iSzmt2wz0gCLcB/s640/13232936_10154203487773234_4131219933743927060_n.jpg" width="412" /></a></div>
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<i><b>Nueve (Nine)</b> (2016) :: Oil on canvas 39" x 25.5" by <a href="http://www.gabrielagarzapadilla.com/" target="_blank">Gabriela Garza Padilla</a></i></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07867543787640762294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579840158857821913.post-80945362032258947852016-11-22T12:29:00.000-08:002016-11-23T09:51:32.227-08:00Consumerism in an Age of Fear<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mZPni6zfstI/WDSbmPQ2wLI/AAAAAAAAB9U/V5DEJMrMgJkogpfXKktGu1ESDmkKtwMYACLcB/s1600/IN%2BPLUTOCRACY%2BWE%2BTRUST%2B%2526%2BTRUMP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="328" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mZPni6zfstI/WDSbmPQ2wLI/AAAAAAAAB9U/V5DEJMrMgJkogpfXKktGu1ESDmkKtwMYACLcB/s640/IN%2BPLUTOCRACY%2BWE%2BTRUST%2B%2526%2BTRUMP.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 18px;"><b>In Plutocracy & Trump we trust</b> (2015) </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 18px;">Mixed media on Cardstock Coasters 4"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 18px;">by <i><a href="http://www.patrickmcgrath-art.com/blank-q17v5" target="_blank">Patrick McGrath Muñiz</a></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">2016 will without any
doubt be remembered by many of us as a year of great losses (Bowie, Prince
& many others) unpredictable politics (Brexit, Trump) as well as global
turmoil and ongoing conflicts. At a personal level It's been a rough year not
just for me but for many around me. From car accidents to economic hardships
and odd situations I can only think of happening in a movie where things go so badly
for the protagonist it almost seems like comedy. But the year hasn't ended yet
and there are so many lessons to draw from it so far. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fB6mtgOsjlQ/WDSdI5BcF0I/AAAAAAAAB9Y/bgV1xLj0Bo8_DV6chYKR37lIEjBndHu-gCLcB/s1600/7.%2BOUR%2BDAILY%2BBREAD%2B%25282016%2529%2BOil%2Bon%2Bcanvas%2B36%2Bx%2B60%2B%252872%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="375" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fB6mtgOsjlQ/WDSdI5BcF0I/AAAAAAAAB9Y/bgV1xLj0Bo8_DV6chYKR37lIEjBndHu-gCLcB/s640/7.%2BOUR%2BDAILY%2BBREAD%2B%25282016%2529%2BOil%2Bon%2Bcanvas%2B36%2Bx%2B60%2B%252872%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 18px;"><b>Our Daily Bread</b> (2016) Oil on canvas 36" x 60" by <i><a href="http://www.patrickmcgrath-art.com/blank-q17v5" target="_blank">Patrick McGrath Muñiz</a></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">With the mass media obsession
with Donald Trump and fear of his victory (which I should say helped him win the
elections) and Trump's scapegoat obsession with terrorism and criminality
perpetrated by minorities and non white immigrants (Mexicans & Muslims),
the narrative of fear has taken democracy hostage. Fear is an irrational force
that does not necessarily reflect the real threats to our lives. Facts
(something most people these days seem to voluntarily ignore) reveal a
far more lethal enemy most people aren't even aware of. Curiously this hidden
enemy is easily spotted right in front of us.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Yafr4MZ6NE4/WDSehTznrYI/AAAAAAAAB9c/oF4DVAFrVqMbqcpwNsb0m4mxO0JSS9IwgCLcB/s1600/25.%2BCONSUMERIST%2BGLUTTONY%2B%25282009%2529%2BOil%2Bon%2Bcanvas%2B20%2Bx%2B20%2Binches%2B%252872%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="628" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Yafr4MZ6NE4/WDSehTznrYI/AAAAAAAAB9c/oF4DVAFrVqMbqcpwNsb0m4mxO0JSS9IwgCLcB/s640/25.%2BCONSUMERIST%2BGLUTTONY%2B%25282009%2529%2BOil%2Bon%2Bcanvas%2B20%2Bx%2B20%2Binches%2B%252872%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 18px;"><b>Consumerist Gluttony </b>(2009) Oil on canvas 20" x 20" by <i><a href="http://www.patrickmcgrath-art.com/blank-q17v5" target="_blank">Patrick McGrath Muñiz</a></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">In an age of fear it's
hard to think straight and see what the real dangers are. Under the influence
of fear, the masses willingly obey and easily become passive consumers.
Consumerism offers an illusory escape which is far more dangerous than what we
may be escaping in the first place. It is a wolf dressed up as sheep. In fact,
this wolf in disguise makes terrorism, criminality and even war look like a
pack of angry Chihuahuas. Think I'm exaggerating? Consider the following:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">According to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homo_Deus:_A_Brief_History_of_Tomorrow" target="_blank">Yuval Noah Harari's Homo Deus</a>:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> " <i>In 2012
about 56 million people died throughout the world; 620,000 of them died due to
human violence (war killed 120,000 people, and crime killed another 500,00). In
contrast, 800,000 committed suicide, and 1.5 million died of diabetes. Sugar is
now more dangerous than gunpowder. Whereas in 2010 obesity and related
illnesses killed about 3 million people, terrorists killed a total of 7,697
people across the globe, most of them in developing countries. For the average
American or European, Coca Cola poses a far deadlier threat than al-Qaeda</i>".<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZFR9_AT7ues/WDSh-QVNlhI/AAAAAAAAB9o/4uC8nHNJV9wHHLkS5zWgBJ6QoNKym3vtgCLcB/s1600/4.%2BHOLY%2BCOMBO%2BIV%2B%25282016%2529%2BOil%2Bon%2Bpanel%2B24%2Bx%2B30%2Binches%2B%2B%252872%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="513" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZFR9_AT7ues/WDSh-QVNlhI/AAAAAAAAB9o/4uC8nHNJV9wHHLkS5zWgBJ6QoNKym3vtgCLcB/s640/4.%2BHOLY%2BCOMBO%2BIV%2B%25282016%2529%2BOil%2Bon%2Bpanel%2B24%2Bx%2B30%2Binches%2B%2B%252872%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; text-align: center;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; text-align: center;"> </span></span><b style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;">Holy Combo IV</b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;">(2016) Oil & goldleaf on panel 24" x 30" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt; text-align: center;"> by </span><i style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.patrickmcgrath-art.com/blank-q17v5" target="_blank">Patrick McGrath Muñiz</a></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Furthermore the author
demonstrates with statistics that consumerism is even bigger and nastier than
previously thought being responsible for more deaths than world hunger. Harari
states that: <i>"In 2010 famine and malnutrition combined killed about 1
million people, whereas obesity killed 3 million.. In the early
twenty-first century the average human is far more likely to die from bingering
at McDonald's than from drought, Ebola or an Al-Qaeda Attack".</i><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yK4xTdlpKAM/UKfbd-JOzWI/AAAAAAAABA8/-LYe9cUO5n8pVnQCnDro3XT3CPmJDSbnwCPcB/s1600/La%2BReconquista.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yK4xTdlpKAM/UKfbd-JOzWI/AAAAAAAABA8/-LYe9cUO5n8pVnQCnDro3XT3CPmJDSbnwCPcB/s640/La%2BReconquista.jpg" width="507" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><b>La Re-Conquista</b> (2012) Oil on wood triptych 18" x 24" by <i><a href="http://www.patrickmcgrath-art.com/blank-q17v5" target="_blank">Patrick McGrath Muñiz</a></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Not only is consumerism
killing us more than anything else, it's also putting the whole ecosystem at
risk. At the current pace of global mass consumption, we can expect many more
animal species going extinct , sea levels rise and an increased pattern of
extreme weather events that will severely impact the lives of every creature in multiple ways.
The Earth's future is on the line and future generations will surely not
forgive us for our stupidity. Truth is global warming is real whether you want
to believe it or not. 2015 is the hottest year in record with 2016 expected to
be even hotter. And you don't even have to be a scientist to realize this. Just
turn off the AC, go outside and pay close attention to your surroundings. But
we want more jobs because the economy is the 1# issue. That's right, because we
need more fearful obedient consumers. Without a habitable planet let's see what
will be on the menu...<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zitqc9KxI34/WDSt2ql-msI/AAAAAAAAB94/sr1xRZK6HQUUVMBCm6O82KgLyaigM2nlACLcB/s1600/9.%2BMARIAMUNDI%2B%25282016%2529%2BOil%2Band%2Bmetal%2Bleaf%2Bon%2Bcanvas%2B50%2Bx%2B35%2Binches%2B%252872%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zitqc9KxI34/WDSt2ql-msI/AAAAAAAAB94/sr1xRZK6HQUUVMBCm6O82KgLyaigM2nlACLcB/s640/9.%2BMARIAMUNDI%2B%25282016%2529%2BOil%2Band%2Bmetal%2Bleaf%2Bon%2Bcanvas%2B50%2Bx%2B35%2Binches%2B%252872%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" width="456" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 18px;">Maria Mundi</b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 18px;"> (2016) Oil on canvas 50" x 35" by </span><i style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 18px;"><a href="http://www.patrickmcgrath-art.com/blank-q17v5" target="_blank">Patrick McGrath Muñiz</a></i></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07867543787640762294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579840158857821913.post-53625973157187571702016-08-11T08:25:00.001-07:002016-08-11T08:25:38.373-07:00Some Prayers to Capital, Mass Media and Consumerism<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aS5M3Jpqm-k/V6yWYGHuFaI/AAAAAAAAB7w/1r_TqE6rJxou2C4jYymTIuu664rEpuAuQCLcB/s1600/8.%2BUNITED%2BCITIZEN%2BSHIP%2B%25282016%2529%2BOil%2Bon%2Bcanvas%2B48%2Bx%2B48%2B%252872%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aS5M3Jpqm-k/V6yWYGHuFaI/AAAAAAAAB7w/1r_TqE6rJxou2C4jYymTIuu664rEpuAuQCLcB/s320/8.%2BUNITED%2BCITIZEN%2BSHIP%2B%25282016%2529%2BOil%2Bon%2Bcanvas%2B48%2Bx%2B48%2B%252872%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px;">United Citizen Ship (2016) Oil on canvas 48" x 48" </span><a href="http://www.evokecontemporary.com/Artists/PatrickMcGrathMuniz.html" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px;" target="_blank">Evoke Contemporary, Santa Fe, NM</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; line-height: 18.4px;">Lets face it: We live in a society that worships money and consumerism over all other things. We rarely question the imposed fictions of the financial institutions that rule our world and entire lives. We live as submissive sheep oblivious and following the Neo-liberal agenda while rapidly depleting the finite natural resources of this planet. Money stands as the supreme global religion that all can agree with and come together at the table. Very few dare to be blasphemous against the sacred rules of the Free Market so it's time we start our day with a few prayers: </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; line-height: 18.4px;">To Our Holy Capital:</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; line-height: 18.4px;">Our Capital, Who art in tax haven</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; line-height: 18.4px;">Hallowed by Thy Name;</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; line-height: 18.4px;">Thy corporations come,</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; line-height: 18.4px;">Thy will be done,</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; line-height: 18.4px;">on Main Street as it is in Wall Street.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; line-height: 18.4px;">Give us this day our consumer goods,</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; line-height: 18.4px;">and forgive us our student loans,</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; line-height: 18.4px;">as we forgive those who trespass our borders;</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; line-height: 18.4px;">and lead us not into anarchy and revolution,</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; line-height: 18.4px;">but deliver us from government regulations. Amen. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SU2rHxSIcm0/VFEhNl_6orI/AAAAAAAABnA/Bp_AljEIJxIWMhwGQHjryVbuiWlheNArgCPcB/s1600/2.%2BAdoracion%2BCapital.%2BOil%2Bon%2Bcanvas%2B30x30%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SU2rHxSIcm0/VFEhNl_6orI/AAAAAAAABnA/Bp_AljEIJxIWMhwGQHjryVbuiWlheNArgCPcB/s320/2.%2BAdoracion%2BCapital.%2BOil%2Bon%2Bcanvas%2B30x30%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">Adoracion Capital (2014) Oil on cavas 36" x 36" </span><a href="http://www.henaocenter.com/exhibiting-works/" target="_blank">Henao Contemporary, Orlando, FL</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; line-height: 18.4px;">To Mass Media:</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; line-height: 18.4px;">Hail Mass Media, full of grace.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; line-height: 18.4px;">Our money is with thee</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; line-height: 18.4px;">Blessed art thou among channels,</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; line-height: 18.4px;">and blessed is the fruit of thy womb,</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; line-height: 18.4px;">Advertisement.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; line-height: 18.4px;">Holy Mass Media, Mother of Profit,</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; line-height: 18.4px;">Pray for us consumers,</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; line-height: 18.4px;">now and at the hour of our debt.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; line-height: 18.4px;">Amen.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W3jBEuzHads/UnP85Vb6tzI/AAAAAAAABac/HUBYi81LbXgrYZR4LWRkgEMNJH1PR3fywCPcB/s1600/Virgen%2Bprotectora%2Bdel%2Blibre%2Bcomercio%2B72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W3jBEuzHads/UnP85Vb6tzI/AAAAAAAABac/HUBYi81LbXgrYZR4LWRkgEMNJH1PR3fywCPcB/s320/Virgen%2Bprotectora%2Bdel%2Blibre%2Bcomercio%2B72.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">Virgen Protectora del Comercio (2013) Oil on canvas 48" x 48" Private Collection</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;">Glory
be to the Free Market and to the Corporation and to the Holy Capital. As it was
in the beginning is now, and ever shall be, world without end. </span><span lang="ES-PR" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;">Amen.</span><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Two Prayers to Consumerism:</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_9S5sS4LVto/V6yTTt38n6I/AAAAAAAAB7o/rZLJEXzyfJQ2tDzki6FOnbs2Z9E6GCgIACEw/s1600/35.%2BEL%2BSANTO%2BREY%2B%25282013%2529%2BOil%2Bon%2Bwood%2Btondo%2B8x8%2B%252872%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_9S5sS4LVto/V6yTTt38n6I/AAAAAAAAB7o/rZLJEXzyfJQ2tDzki6FOnbs2Z9E6GCgIACEw/s320/35.%2BEL%2BSANTO%2BREY%2B%25282013%2529%2BOil%2Bon%2Bwood%2Btondo%2B8x8%2B%252872%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">El Santo Rey (2013) Oil and metal leaf on carved wood 8' tondo. Private Collection</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">“O Sacred Heart of Our Marvelous Magical
King, pour out your value meals upon our franchise, upon its managers, and upon
all its workers. Sustain the consumer demand, convert the non believers,
assist the customers, deliver the burgers in front of the house, and have it
your way always. Amen”.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--INb04WlmD8/V6yTTvxTKbI/AAAAAAAAB7k/MUikx32OqUMlacSBqnUjN8lGcZtWvrPQQCLcB/s1600/36.%2BLA%2BINOCENTE%2B%25282013%2529%2BOil%2Bon%2Bwood%2Btondo%2B8x8%2B%252872dpi%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--INb04WlmD8/V6yTTvxTKbI/AAAAAAAAB7k/MUikx32OqUMlacSBqnUjN8lGcZtWvrPQQCLcB/s320/36.%2BLA%2BINOCENTE%2B%25282013%2529%2BOil%2Bon%2Bwood%2Btondo%2B8x8%2B%252872dpi%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">La Inocente (2013) Oil and metal leaf on carved wood 8' tondo. Private Collection</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“O Sacred Heart of Our Innocent Wendy, we entrust our
family, neighbor and homeland mealtime to you. Look down upon us and serve us your
Old Fashioned hamburgers from your blessed renewed Heart. Become our refuge in
life and our gateway to Food Paradise. Forgive our lack of appetite and awaken
our hunger that we may become your faithful consumers in this life and the
next, Amen”. </span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07867543787640762294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579840158857821913.post-37749557545980171392016-07-14T13:55:00.001-07:002016-07-14T13:58:20.303-07:00Artist to Artist: Don't compete with others, only with yourself.<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Whether one is in art school or
participating in an art contest, it is quite easy to fall into the trap of
thinking this is all about competition. After all they train us from an early
age to compete and beat your opponent, be it in sports or any other discipline.
This may well be ingrained in our ancestral genes as we strived for survival
and in pursuit of scarce resources. But let's not forget our hunter/gatherer
ancestors also learned to cooperate with each other in order to survive. In a
modern capitalist society it seems most natural to compete against each other.
But allow me to question this competitive attitude for a moment and briefly
explain why I believe it is unhealthy when it comes to art practices.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6BYpAd6ZGpA/V4f4sEJVAdI/AAAAAAAAB6g/keKDCvZNH3Yqm9P_tNmrwHN0sEyJPEtbACLcB/s1600/cartoon.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6BYpAd6ZGpA/V4f4sEJVAdI/AAAAAAAAB6g/keKDCvZNH3Yqm9P_tNmrwHN0sEyJPEtbACLcB/s320/cartoon.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Art unlike science, math or even sports is
a subjective field. Proper measurements on what is good or not can be debated
for hours and it's nearly impossible to agree on a set of rules of what makes
good art. Cultural background, age, nationality, race, politics, religion and
education play a decisive part in a person's judgment on what makes good art.
On top of that, aesthetic definitions change all the time. What most mainstream
contemporary art connoisseurs consider good art will most likely change within
a generation and keep changing afterward. Truth is we are filled with so
many adopted preconceptions and ideas about what art is, that when it comes to
comparing our own art with others, we are either extremely unfair with
ourselves or overtly complacent.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mviCAzvGV7o/V4f7ESkgIfI/AAAAAAAAB6w/YlsON95g5GYMidn7BwM0GbfmsyZ--IEawCLcB/s1600/q5ZfU7r.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mviCAzvGV7o/V4f7ESkgIfI/AAAAAAAAB6w/YlsON95g5GYMidn7BwM0GbfmsyZ--IEawCLcB/s400/q5ZfU7r.png" width="330" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">The problem with the competing "me
v.s. them" mentality is twofold. We either compare ourselves to other
artists that we consider inexperienced or way more advanced than us. The
problem when we compare ourselves with artists we believe to be unprepared or
lacking artistic skills is that we then become lazy and conformist with what we
already master, assuming we are on top. When we compare ourselves to artists
that are ahead of us in level of mastery, we end up being too harsh with our
outcomes and end up frustrated. Often we ignore that these artists could have started
practicing when they were much younger than us. Sometimes they are simply
"gifted". Some of us have to work harder to achieve a successful work
of art, but that should not be a discouragement. Many "gifted"
artists take for granted their talents and go to waste. Sometimes it's better
to sweat it and work harder so one can really appreciate what one has reaped.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ObHl5O0q91s/S8IdgHfAcyI/AAAAAAAAAYE/QCbzWmi4mb8vtpJRBzOaQBQ483LREJnIQCKgB/s1600/DSCF3329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ObHl5O0q91s/S8IdgHfAcyI/AAAAAAAAAYE/QCbzWmi4mb8vtpJRBzOaQBQ483LREJnIQCKgB/s320/DSCF3329.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><i>My Studio in Savannah, GA in 2006</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Even if we compete against artist we
consider to be at the same level as us, we forget that <b>everyone's path is different</b> and <b>there is no "one" right way to do art</b>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Instead, why not compete with yourself. If
last year you produced 10 high quality paintings, try to make 15 this year
without sacrificing quality. Do not try to speed up your process just
because other artists are producing 30 or even 40 paintings a year. This is not
a race to see who makes more, but rather make art that pleases you and you feel
proud of. Most of the time this requires time and perseverance. One can learn
from other's mistakes but even better: <b>Learn
from your own mistakes.</b><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tkIraV8DK9I/V4fyYg7epwI/AAAAAAAAB6M/D-d-exUzr4sNAXZK2QBGevLcdFOIM6EeACLcB/s1600/Pats%2BArtwork.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tkIraV8DK9I/V4fyYg7epwI/AAAAAAAAB6M/D-d-exUzr4sNAXZK2QBGevLcdFOIM6EeACLcB/s400/Pats%2BArtwork.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>My studio in Houston, Texas in 2016</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Most professional painters I know are
individualistic and prefer create their work while they are alone n their
private studios. That fact alone should already reveal a hidden truth in all of
this. In this competitive society we live in, <b>the only real competition out there should be with yourself</b>. Strive
for excellence but never forget there is no finish line as long as you're alive
and enjoy art. <b>Never mind what "comparison
obsessed" critics have to say. </b>No matter what you hear or see out
there, allow yourself to be inspired by others but focus on your own art and
create your own path.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Patrick McGrathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17496162716486950423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579840158857821913.post-10013110742658168982016-06-03T09:46:00.001-07:002016-06-03T09:46:40.235-07:00Tweets, Tips and Thoughts for Artists<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In the past days I've been tweeting some thoughts
about art and being an artist. Some may
take theses as advice and they may well be but they are reflective of simply personal artist philosophy based on my own experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.4px;"><i>Preparing my color palette for the week</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I very rarely go into tweeter and haven't updated my blog in months, and some
of these ideas deserve a little more than 140 characters. So I'll take this opportunity
to share and expand some of these thoughts a little further.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XLTA2ReKl8c/V1Gxz8VWGyI/AAAAAAAAAxg/SvbQQyOjJHkttqYeJrZmiJOrzKg6EQGLQCLcB/s1600/May%2B28.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XLTA2ReKl8c/V1Gxz8VWGyI/AAAAAAAAAxg/SvbQQyOjJHkttqYeJrZmiJOrzKg6EQGLQCLcB/s320/May%2B28.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">1. Somehow when I was a child, time went by
slowly. Today time seems to move so fast. I paint so I can go back and slow
down time for a while.</span> </b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"> In a way I like to see painting
as some kind of time machine but for the soul. Whenever I paint, there is this
connection with childhood memories and play. Some can see painting as a
personal therapist. When I think of painting,
The first images that come to mind are the smiling face of Bob Ross, the smell of my first crayons, my first pets and my first art encyclopedia.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FEAiCh8SkQY/V1GxzxmZ3yI/AAAAAAAAAxc/xA1SjM9Pr6kMVZSLuM9qcz08fGSp4A4JwCKgB/s1600/May%2B29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FEAiCh8SkQY/V1GxzxmZ3yI/AAAAAAAAAxc/xA1SjM9Pr6kMVZSLuM9qcz08fGSp4A4JwCKgB/s320/May%2B29.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<b style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1d2129; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">2. Perhaps the hardest part of being a full
time artist is keeping a healthy balance between being true to your art and
making a living of art</span>. </b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1d2129; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">I think there is this notion that
if you paint to sell, you're a sellout and if not then you're an egocentric. I
believe there should be a middle way for any artist. Let's be honest, even if we don't agree with our current capitalist system, an artist has to live. There is nothing wrong
with making some compromise, but as soon as this starts to feel like a lie, then
something is definitely wrong. Stay true to yourself and what you believe in.
Some may argue this is pure ego, but the heart has to follow its own bliss, that's
the way art is made. </span><b style="background-color: white;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cojdQdQAGUw/V1Gx0OkYBJI/AAAAAAAAAxo/S8vcSNeARjka153Izj9jqus4u-67HHwgACKgB/s1600/May%2B31.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cojdQdQAGUw/V1Gx0OkYBJI/AAAAAAAAAxo/S8vcSNeARjka153Izj9jqus4u-67HHwgACKgB/s320/May%2B31.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">3.In the beginning it's good to learn the rules
& follow the book. In time you should break free, bend the rules and write
your own story</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">...</span> If
you asked me what was the most important thing in art 20 years ago I may have
answered differently. At the time I felt I needed a set of rules, structure and
a solid foundation. This was mostly denied to me in art school so I had to make
it on my own and become my own teacher by teaching others. Time has passed and
I still believe it is vital to learn from nature and the masters but I also
understand not everyone has to follow the same path and in the end you choose
your program and end writing your own book.</span><b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">4. Being talented, creative and having great
ideas are all good but without hard work, dedication and discipline your work
won't get very far..</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> As a full time self-employed artist, I
can tell you self-discipline is everything. without it I can't imagine how I
would have survived this far without it. Of course that it helps if you have a
special talent but with hard work and disciplined habits you can become very
good at what you do and also good at time management which is crucial to
marketing your art. A creative way of
thinking tends to be organic, unpredictable and even inconsistent. One must have a strong charioteer to rein in the horses of
creativity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-051Lvj1dU9k/V1Gx0LYJGXI/AAAAAAAAAxs/xSRG8jpc7bQckXMQuhwGHiiVATu4P9qtACKgB/s1600/Tweet%2BJun%2B3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-051Lvj1dU9k/V1Gx0LYJGXI/AAAAAAAAAxs/xSRG8jpc7bQckXMQuhwGHiiVATu4P9qtACKgB/s320/Tweet%2BJun%2B3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="background: #F5F8FA; color: #292f33; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">5. Do not rest til you've mastered your art.
If it's too easy, move on. Staying too long in safety zones eventually kills
the creative spirit.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> I should also add that creativity tends to thrive in challenging
situations. By pushing your limits you will be much closer to discovering long
hidden potential within yourself.
Something may seem difficult at first but if you don't give it a try,
you'll never know. And what may seem
difficult at first, you would be surprised at how easy they really are once
you've kept at it. Having determination and coming up with a good strategy plan
once you've failed the first few tries is the key for success. The problem with
sticking for too long on what you already know is that it becomes stagnant,
boring and predictable, qualities you definitely don't want your art to be. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vch3RR_O2wg/V1GzwjuT2wI/AAAAAAAAAyA/J5GLmxAidJY8cyf3xWPrYsUna4BIk72xgCLcB/s1600/Patrick%2BMcGrath%2BMuniz%2Bartist%2Bstudio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="409" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vch3RR_O2wg/V1GzwjuT2wI/AAAAAAAAAyA/J5GLmxAidJY8cyf3xWPrYsUna4BIk72xgCLcB/s640/Patrick%2BMcGrath%2BMuniz%2Bartist%2Bstudio.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>Me in my studio in Houston, Texas</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">These are just some thoughts I wanted to share but there
is one I haven't shared yet and the reason why came up with this blog post to
begin with. Weeks before writing this,
I've been drafting a few blog entries on more complex issues regarding art
history, philosophy and aesthetics. They
will eventually be posted. But then I woke up this morning asking myself: Why
do I obsess over such complicated matters? Art should be simple and its discussion shouldn't kill it/ Meanwhile a whole world of possibilities
lies within me, from which I could benefit
and share with the world, just by remembering who I am and learning from my own
experiences. <b>So keep it simple, personal and close to home.</b> Because sometimes you
don't have to go too far to discover truth in art as in life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Patrick McGrathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17496162716486950423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579840158857821913.post-32538146650426319292016-01-31T17:08:00.002-08:002016-01-31T17:08:29.218-08:00Finding inspiration in the Book of Revelations<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B5QjFJ37WxI/VqzsfXH3wuI/AAAAAAAAB2A/DC44sV4glEk/s1600/11.%2BGEO%2BIUDICIUM%2B%2B%25282015%2529%2BOil%2Bon%2Bpanel%2B24%2Bx%2B36%2B%252872%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B5QjFJ37WxI/VqzsfXH3wuI/AAAAAAAAB2A/DC44sV4glEk/s400/11.%2BGEO%2BIUDICIUM%2B%2B%25282015%2529%2BOil%2Bon%2Bpanel%2B24%2Bx%2B36%2B%252872%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" width="273" /></a></div>
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<b>Geo Iudicium (Geo Judgment) </b>24" 36" Oil on panel by
Patrick McGrath Muñiz (2015)<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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The last judgment as well as
other apocalyptic narratives found in the book of Revelations were popular
themes in European Renaissance and Baroque painting. There is also a well known
depiction of the last judgment on the Tarot, the Major Arcana 20. On this new
interpretation titled Geo Iudidium (Geo Judgement) the four seasons are depicted as four allegorical female
figures responding to climate change as the story unfolds in a vertical
sequence with a heavenly group above and an earthly group below.<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zFbGFFlx5cw/Vq6v5m8w_zI/AAAAAAAAB2Q/3p4yjg1QvCw/s1600/Legend%2Bto%2BGeo%2BIudicium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zFbGFFlx5cw/Vq6v5m8w_zI/AAAAAAAAB2Q/3p4yjg1QvCw/s400/Legend%2Bto%2BGeo%2BIudicium.jpg" width="308" /></a></div>
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1. Above them stepping on a cloud, a representation of St. Michael the archangel
raises an insecticide on his right hand (replacing of the traditional sword)
and the scales on his lowered left hand carry a blue globe representing Earth
and humanity . As a halo, Venus is the planet of love and beauty and Earth's
twin sister turned into hell by extreme global warming. Around St. Michael,
seven putti (angels) with trumpets hover across the sky.</div>
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2. A black devil falls to the
Earth below.</div>
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3. A Fiery Phoenix rising from
the ashes of destruction symbolizes rebirth and a renewed cycle.</div>
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4. In Alchemy the salamander
although a water creature was held to be a solar creature able to consume
flames and cool down any fire. It is a symbol of spiritual determination,
survival and renewal. </div>
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5. From Greek Mythology, Icarus
falls from the sky. In this given context, it links humanity's hubris with the
devil's pride and eventual fall from glory.</div>
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6. A mother-like deity emerges from
the last tree on Earth, a life sustaining symbol of hope and nurture revered by
survivors below. Twelve stones enveloping the group symbolize the twelve months
of the year and therefore time. Oil
refineries in a barren landscape pollute the air. </div>
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7. A reference to art history
from Goya's <i>Saturn devouring his children
</i>alludes to humanity's voracious appetite and self destructive impulse based
on a misleading notion of self-preservation.</div>
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8. Aestas (Summer) extends her orange towel
while an accompanying infant points a fan towards her.</div>
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9. Ver (Spring) kneels down and releases
or tries to catch the Phoenix while a green jar spills some water. </div>
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10. A masked infant below points
a gun at the Phoenix. The mask is reminiscent to those worn by medieval plague
doctors. The image symbolizes misguided aims and false cures.</div>
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11. Hiems (Winter) wearing a gas
mask, holds a broken umbrella and funeral vase.
At the far right, in the background, a reference to <i>The Lord of the Rings, Eye of Sauron</i> can be seen.</div>
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12. Autumnus (Autum) covers
herself from the wind next to some tree stumps and a buried toilet seat. A
meteor shower falls from the sky.</div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The 4 serpents (four cardinal directions,
elements, the material plane) in the frame symbolize the Earth's ability for
renewal. The Sun and the Moon are witnesses as the consequences of humanity's
mindless actions and inactions concerning the planet's wellbeing bring out the
final verdict and Geo Judgment. </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07867543787640762294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579840158857821913.post-7331704393661710152015-12-15T17:15:00.002-08:002015-12-16T10:10:59.404-08:00Happy Shopping Days <div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H4lbwHaGUdg/Tsa3YF3Wt3I/AAAAAAAAAm4/Py0gq8M2XB8/s1600/23.%2BIo%2BSaturnalia%2B12%2Bx%2B8%2Btinta%2By%2Blapiz%2Bsobre%2Bpapel%2B2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H4lbwHaGUdg/Tsa3YF3Wt3I/AAAAAAAAAm4/Py0gq8M2XB8/s320/23.%2BIo%2BSaturnalia%2B12%2Bx%2B8%2Btinta%2By%2Blapiz%2Bsobre%2Bpapel%2B2010.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><strong></strong></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><strong>Io Saturnalia (2010)</strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Ink and pencil on paper 9" x 12" </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">by <em>Patrick McGrath Muñíz</em></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As we get
closer to the winter solstice of 2015, many people across the globe get ready
to celebrate the holidays. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the West
and spreading around the globe, Christmas is the supposed birth of Christ widely
celebrated by modern day Christians. But the Christian tradition of celebrating
Christmas on the Winter Solstice in and around December 25th has its roots in
pre-Christian times. From Yule and the ancient <a href="http://www.independentmail.com/features/columnists/yule-or-winter-solstice-is-an-ancient-celebration-of-new-life-and-growth-ep-411793281-348722571.html" target="_blank">Egyptian cult of Horus</a>, to the ancient
Roman festivals of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturnalia" target="_blank">Saturnalia</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithraic_mysteries" target="_blank">Mythra</a>, the winter solstice celebrations have
gone through many transformations from culture to culture and throughout
time. Even though Christianity may be the predominant religion in the
Americas, we live in an age of Consumerism and the obsessive pursuit of Capital. It
requires an unfaltering and blind faith from part of the people to enable the
current capitalist system to exist and work even if it's just in the imagination
of the masses. The fiction of money and the doctrines of consumerism are made
real when people believe in them, just like religion. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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</div>
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<img border="0" height="256" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UqdoOAMc-DU/VnC2TYbQVhI/AAAAAAAAB1A/8Dpq1PEBgbE/s320/13.%2BHERCULES%2BAND%2BTHE%2BVIRTUES%2B%25282013%2529%2BOil%2Bad%2Bmetal%2Bleaf%2Bon%2Bpanel%2B36%2Bx%2B28%2B%252872%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" width="320" /></div>
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<strong></strong> </div>
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<strong>Hercules and the Virtues (2013)</strong></div>
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Oil and metal leaf on panel 36" x 28"</div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">by <em>Patrick McGrath Muñíz</em></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In an age
where any holiday becomes the perfect opportunity to sell and buy stuff in
large quantities, the Christmas tradition inevitably becomes an ideal occasion
to introduce new gods and new rituals to replace the old one. When Christianity
became the official religion of the Roman Empire, the winter festivities in
honor of the pagan gods still had a strong presence and significance in Roman
society. Since it became nearly impossible to ban these pagan festivals, they
were simply replaced by the new Christian celebration. This did not occur
overnight but gradually, therefore many of the rituals of the ancient
pagan religions were adopted and are still alive in the Catholic Mass and
Christmas celebration (such as the merrymaking parties, decorated
trees and the family gift-giving derived from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturnalia" target="_blank">the Saturnalia</a> in honor of the god Saturn). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span> </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sjiYG6456YQ/VnC2xNHcPmI/AAAAAAAAB1I/aR_Cs7Bn3lU/s1600/34.%2BTHE%2BUNINVITED%2B%25282013%2529%2BOil%2Band%2Bmetal%2Bleaf%2Bon%2Bpanel%2B24%2Bx%2B36%2B%252872%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sjiYG6456YQ/VnC2xNHcPmI/AAAAAAAAB1I/aR_Cs7Bn3lU/s320/34.%2BTHE%2BUNINVITED%2B%25282013%2529%2BOil%2Band%2Bmetal%2Bleaf%2Bon%2Bpanel%2B24%2Bx%2B36%2B%252872%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong>The Uninvited (2013)</strong></div>
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Oil and metal leaf on panel 36" x 28"</div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">by <em>Patrick McGrath Muñíz</em></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A similar
phenomena is occurring right in front of our eyes gradually taking over the
Christian tradition and replacing it with the sacred ritual of consumerism that
holds money as the supreme one eyed, all seeing and "all can do" god. Today, the image of <a href="http://www.coca-colacompany.com/stories/coke-lore-santa-claus/" target="_blank">Coca Cola's Santa Claus</a>, candy canes and the
Macy's parade have become just some of the many consumer culture symbols
associated with the Christmas season in the U.S. In Latin America, scenes
of the nativity and the three kings are even more visible but they are slowly
being displaced by the American symbols that act as new colonizers
spreading the gospel of the consumer/capital religion.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span> </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SU2rHxSIcm0/VFEhNl_6orI/AAAAAAAABnA/ntTIxSGqaqk/s1600/2.%2BAdoracion%2BCapital.%2BOil%2Bon%2Bcanvas%2B30x30%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SU2rHxSIcm0/VFEhNl_6orI/AAAAAAAABnA/ntTIxSGqaqk/s320/2.%2BAdoracion%2BCapital.%2BOil%2Bon%2Bcanvas%2B30x30%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong>Adoracion Capital (2014)</strong></div>
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Oil on canvas 30" x 30""</div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">by <em>Patrick McGrath Muñíz</em></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The visitation of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_Magi" target="_blank">the Magi</a> is a very well known image
cherished throughout Puerto Rico, Mexico and the rest of Latin America. So are
many of the icons and consumer culture elements depicted in the painting <strong>Adoración Capital</strong>. An “Old
fashioned” <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quaker_Oats_Company" target="_blank">Quaker Oats</a> man and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aunt_Jemima" target="_blank">Aunt Jemima</a>, well established corporate entities
pose as the holy parents to a new generation of consumers driven by technology
and non material goods existing in cyberspace. The protagonist child wearing a
“<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Che_Guevara" target="_blank">Che Guevara</a>” t shirt seems absorbed by the small screen, while a Burger King
and a group of immigrant workers bring food and other presents. In the
background scientists <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunsen_Honeydew" target="_blank">Dr. Bunsen Honeydew</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaker_(Muppet)" target="_blank">Beaker</a> from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Muppet_Show" target="_blank">the Muppets</a> suggest
that the corn and other products carried by the fast food employees may have
been genetically modified. Behind them a Santa pushes a shopping cart full of
gifts out of a department store that uses a star as part of its logo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></span> </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K6uMnULANl8/VnC5XsOvdJI/AAAAAAAAB1c/y2AxDKUckFI/s1600/2.%2BADORACION%2BCAPITAL%2B%25282014%2529%2BOil%2Bon%2Bcanvas%2B30%2Bx%2B30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="314" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K6uMnULANl8/VnC5XsOvdJI/AAAAAAAAB1c/y2AxDKUckFI/s320/2.%2BADORACION%2BCAPITAL%2B%25282014%2529%2BOil%2Bon%2Bcanvas%2B30%2Bx%2B30.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><strong>Adoracion Capital (detail)</strong></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Oil on canvas 30" x 30""</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">by <em>Patrick McGrath Muñíz</em></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The four emblems around the frame represent
different aspects of consumer culture: technology, food production, energy and
government subsidies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The industrial
wheels on the lower left side of the composition evoke the industrial age from
where our current predicament emerged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>On the lower right side, a red bag that reads “Believe” puts forward a
driving creed behind the whole capitalist construction. Derived from a Catholic
prayer, the text framing the composition evokes the use of text in Spanish
Colonial Iconography and it reads: “Señor Capital: Que a imitacion de los magos
del Norte, Vayamos tambien nosotros a adorarte en tu casa, que es templo. </span><span lang="ES-SV" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: ES-SV; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Y no vayamos
jamas con cuentas pobres o manos vacias, Que te llevemos siempre lo major del
fruto de nuestro sudor.” </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(“Lord Capital: That
as an imitation of the Magi of the North, we shall also adore you in your
house, that is a temple. And let us not go with poor accounts or empty handed
and that we may always bring you the best of the fruit of our labor”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MMr4bExyhO8/VnC4QMes6YI/AAAAAAAAB1U/Y64A3OUYM_A/s1600/2.%2BADORACION%2BCAPITAL%2B%25282014%2529%2BOil%2Bon%2Bcanvas%2B30%2Bx%2B30%2B%2B%2528300%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MMr4bExyhO8/VnC4QMes6YI/AAAAAAAAB1U/Y64A3OUYM_A/s400/2.%2BADORACION%2BCAPITAL%2B%25282014%2529%2BOil%2Bon%2Bcanvas%2B30%2Bx%2B30%2B%2B%2528300%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><strong>Adoracion Capital (detail)</strong></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Oil on canvas 30" x 30""</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">by <em>Patrick McGrath Muñíz</em></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><em></em></span> </span></span></span></div>
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</span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><strong>Adoración Capital</strong> serves as a testament to our times and
where we are headed in history. Symbols in time are inevitably transformed by
subsequent generations and cultures evolve adopting new practices and beliefs
according to the spirit of their time. The original stories told again and
again eventually end up having a whole new meaning. It happened with the old
pagan traditions and it is happening today with Christianity. Future historians
may look back at our times as the crucial moment when the Christian Winter
Solstice called "Christmas" was gradually replaced by the Capital
worship Winter Solstice that may be known in the future as "Happy Shopping
Days". Of course it should also be remembered as a precarious time of Earth-plundering economics when we decided to give free rein to our voracious consumer habits, completely ignoring it's impact on our fragile ecosystem. </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SU2rHxSIcm0/VFEhNl_6orI/AAAAAAAABnA/ntTIxSGqaqk/s1600/2.%2BAdoracion%2BCapital.%2BOil%2Bon%2Bcanvas%2B30x30%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07867543787640762294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579840158857821913.post-29665948658075668312015-11-20T11:37:00.002-08:002015-11-21T07:22:16.519-08:00The Tarot from an artist's perpective<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wZzSMOW11U8/Vk9vMrM6FnI/AAAAAAAAB0Y/lyTcYfsnuLc/s1600/17.%2BTHE%2BVESSEL%2B%25282015%2529%2BOil%2Bon%2Bcanvas%2B48%2Bx%2B72%2B%252872%2Bdpi%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wZzSMOW11U8/Vk9vMrM6FnI/AAAAAAAAB0Y/lyTcYfsnuLc/s400/17.%2BTHE%2BVESSEL%2B%25282015%2529%2BOil%2Bon%2Bcanvas%2B48%2Bx%2B72%2B%252872%2Bdpi%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<strong>The Vessel</strong> (2015) </div>
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Oil on canvas 48 x 72 inches by Patrick McGrath Muñiz. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>Available at </em><a href="http://www.evokecontemporary.com/Artists/PatrickMcGrathMuniz.html" target="_blank"><em>Evoke Contemporary</em></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As a painter with a
passion for history I always find new material and sources of inspiration to
inform my art. Nearly 10 years ago I introduced Christian Iconography into my
work derived from Spanish Colonial Art. At the same time I was interested in
finding parallels between narratives and recurring archetypes from the past to
the present. In the last 10 years I've gradually expanded the visual vocabulary
adding more complexity and interpretations to the work. From the study and use
of Spanish colonial narratives and the Catholic pantheon of saints to the
present neo-colonial global narratives and the current capitalist pantheon of
transnational corporations, I soon started noticing a hidden pattern that could
be drawn further back in time. </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CHFGKzJCIy8/Vk9v6aS7szI/AAAAAAAAB0g/8CB0Qs4yenM/s1600/13.%2BASHE%2B%25282015%2529%2Boil%2Band%2B18%2Bkrt%2Bgold%2Bleaf%2Bon%2Bpanel%2B%2B12%2Bx%2B24%2Binches%2B%252872%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CHFGKzJCIy8/Vk9v6aS7szI/AAAAAAAAB0g/8CB0Qs4yenM/s320/13.%2BASHE%2B%25282015%2529%2Boil%2Band%2B18%2Bkrt%2Bgold%2Bleaf%2Bon%2Bpanel%2B%2B12%2Bx%2B24%2Binches%2B%252872%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" width="159" /></a></div>
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<strong></strong> </div>
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<strong>Ashé </strong> (2015) </div>
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Oil and gold leaf on panel 12 x 24 inches by Patrick McGrath Muñiz </div>
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<em>Private collection</em></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The ancient pagan gods
of the Roman Empire seemed to be alive in the guise of Virgins, Saints and
Angels. Now I could start drawing the line between gods, heroes, saints and
corporations. After reading <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmos_and_Psyche" target="_blank">Cosmos and Psyche</a> by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Tarnas" target="_blank">Richard Tarnas</a>, I realized
there was indeed a good reason to suspect a connection and it led me up to the
starry night and the study of archetypal astrology. The old gods became even
more real when I understood the relation between certain planetary alignments
and significant world events that affected the course of history. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The artist soul thrives with curiosity for
many things besides his/her art and never ceases to be fascinated and inspired
by unseen connections that can be detected by his/her own creative mind. This I
believe is the driver of creativity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lFsEczUPrvk/TC4e5AhBQXI/AAAAAAAAAco/z1ToLNn67tU/s1600/Deus%2BCubri%2BMiento.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lFsEczUPrvk/TC4e5AhBQXI/AAAAAAAAAco/z1ToLNn67tU/s320/Deus%2BCubri%2BMiento.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong>Deuscubrimiento </strong>(2010) </div>
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Oil on canvas 50 x 38 inches by Patrick McGrath Muñiz </div>
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<em>Private Collection</em></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So far my research has led me to study
Astrology, Alchemy and Tarot. While they all show many variants, theories and
uses depending on who you read or talk to, astrology stands firmly across the
ages as the oldest of the three with consistent verifiable results. From
alchemy we got chemistry, from astrology, astronomy. Tarot seems to be a
totally different study. They all share some mystical core concepts but
originate in different times and places and lead into different paths. If
astrology was like a Solar system, alchemy would be a planet and Tarot a moon. It
is much easier and accessible to study a moon but this shouldn't keep us from
studying the whole Solar system and beyond. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An artist should always keep an open mind to
the mystical realm and with this attitude his/her inner creative child is
nurtured.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pABArilEv2o/Tx8WSVn9RKI/AAAAAAAAAog/9tVPLMeRvF4/s1600/La%2Brueda%2BArquetipica%2BNeo-Colonial.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pABArilEv2o/Tx8WSVn9RKI/AAAAAAAAAog/9tVPLMeRvF4/s320/La%2Brueda%2BArquetipica%2BNeo-Colonial.jpg" width="317" /></a></div>
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<strong>La Rueda Arquetipica Neo-Colonial</strong> (2011) </div>
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Oil on moving panels 36 x 36 inches by Patrick McGrath Muñiz </div>
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<em>Private collection</em></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Although the date is
still unclear, card games originated in China and made their way into the
Islamic world during the 13th Century. Subsequently the Mamluk cards were introduced
to Europe <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in the 14th century and it became
widely produced during the Renaissance. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
cards which had been based on Middle Eastern models were adopted by the Europeans
who started creating cards that <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>reflected
their local European cultures, carrying much of the symbolism and imagery
prevalent by the time. The Tarot really began around the first half of 15th
century Italy. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visconti-Sforza_tarot_deck" target="_blank">The Visconti</a> Tarot is an Italian deck dating around 1450 in
Milan and it's the earliest most complete surviving deck that we have. The
earliest Tarot decks contain characters from late mediaeval tradition such as knaves,
knights, queens and kings with symbolic objects like coins, staffs, swords and
cups. But what distinguishes the Tarot from any other four suit deck of playing
cards is the Major Arcana which are 22. It has captivated the imagination of
artists and occultists throughout the last 5 centuries. Even though today it is
hard to disassociate Tarot from fortune telling, the Tarot initially did not
start out as a divination device. From playing cards they were also used as mnemonic
and educational tools for upper-class children (such as the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mantegna_Tarocchi" target="_blank">Mantegna Tarocchi</a>).
It wasn't until the middle of the 18th century that we find a documented
evidence for its use as a divination tool. </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TX71TH3LL9c/Vk9t7qVgH5I/AAAAAAAAB0Q/cayTLsZDTvo/s1600/Drawing%2Bjournal%2BTarot%2Bstudy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TX71TH3LL9c/Vk9t7qVgH5I/AAAAAAAAB0Q/cayTLsZDTvo/s320/Drawing%2Bjournal%2BTarot%2Bstudy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong>Study of Major Arcana or Main Archetypes of the Tarot </strong>(2012)</div>
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Drawing Journal by Patrick McGrath Muñiz </div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">My first Tarot deck was
the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rider-Waite_tarot_deck" target="_blank">Rider-Waite</a> (1910), the one most people know of and use today. But at the
time I was not ready to understand the importance and impact this device would
have in my art. It wasn't until I acquired the Tarot of the Saints by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_M._Place" target="_blank">Robert Place</a> and read his books on Tarot several years ago that I got really
interested in learning more about this mystery tradition. I soon found an
interesting relation between the Tarot and all the subjects that had been of my
sources of inspiration for my art. In the cards I could see the astrological
signs, the ancient gods, the Christian saints and even the modern day
corporations and consumer culture icons. I could see a multiplicity of forms
from the highest to the lowest converge into a single encyclopedia of timeless
archetypes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vyca6vlxNv8/Ub9zhZpmFCI/AAAAAAAABMg/b9jCw2u63X8/s1600/CUATRO%2BCARTAS%2BYIN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vyca6vlxNv8/Ub9zhZpmFCI/AAAAAAAABMg/b9jCw2u63X8/s320/CUATRO%2BCARTAS%2BYIN.jpg" width="243" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p>Five Tarot cards (2013) Oil painting on panels by Patrick McGrath Muñiz </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">My appreciation for the
cards and the images in them has grown since and the way I incorporate them in
my art is far from the common use of fortune telling. As an artist, I see these cards
is as an archetypal encyclopedia of 78 icons and symbols that can be re-interpreted
in a similar way we interpret a painting at a museum. My fascination for the
cards derives out of the same pleasure of knowing and not knowing at the same time
what the images are about. It is the same sensation one has when confronted
with a great masterpiece of art. The allure of a an enigmatic image never
ceases to draw interest and attention from the viewer and that is what makes
the Tarot so appealing today. It is a timeless work of art open to
re-interpretation and re-creation.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wi66FPtBkiM/UfCypF9VMJI/AAAAAAAABOA/r13Urbwqxo8/s1600/12.%2BVirgen%2Bde%2Blas%2BRevelaciones%2B2013%2Boil%2Band%2Bmetal%2Bleaf%2Bon%2Bpanel%2B31%2Bx%2B47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wi66FPtBkiM/UfCypF9VMJI/AAAAAAAABOA/r13Urbwqxo8/s320/12.%2BVirgen%2Bde%2Blas%2BRevelaciones%2B2013%2Boil%2Band%2Bmetal%2Bleaf%2Bon%2Bpanel%2B31%2Bx%2B47.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><strong>Virgen de las Revelaciones</strong> (2013) </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p>Oil and metal leaf on panel 31 x 47 inches by Patrick McGrath Muñiz </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><em>Private collection</em></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Some of my paintings
include images of the cards. Some are copies from the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarot_of_Marseilles" target="_blank">Tarot of Marseille</a> (The
earliest deck to achieve widespread fame) but most are my own interpretations
of the cards. They often appear on the edges and frames of my paintings adding
an extra layer of content that modifies the context of the central composition.
I am fully aware of the popular connection between Tarot and divination and
that plays into the narrative as well. But my primary interest in the Tarot
lies within its archetypal significance and how it may affect the interpretation
of a piece. I'm also interested in how the Tarot can be relevant to our current
global issues. Whether one uses it for divination, or just for the pleasure of collecting, the Tarot should be considered as a powerful creative tool for artists and writers who wish to explore and create new narratives in art and literature. The more I use the Tarot
and incorporate it into my work, the more I learn from it and the combinations and possible narratives seem endless. </span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mM8swRzsYLc/Vk9zDq5CpzI/AAAAAAAAB0o/fb7OnYT4enA/s1600/21b.%2BMARE%2BMAGNUM%2B%25282014%2529%2BOil%2Band%2Bgold%2Bleaf%2Bon%2Btriptych%2Bpanel%2B48%2Bx%2B30%2B%252872%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mM8swRzsYLc/Vk9zDq5CpzI/AAAAAAAAB0o/fb7OnYT4enA/s320/21b.%2BMARE%2BMAGNUM%2B%25282014%2529%2BOil%2Band%2Bgold%2Bleaf%2Bon%2Btriptych%2Bpanel%2B48%2Bx%2B30%2B%252872%2Bdpi%2529.jpg" width="270" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><strong>Mare Magnum</strong> (Closed triptych) (2014) </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p>Oil and gold leaf on triptych panel 48 x 30 inches by Patrick McGrath Muñiz. </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><em>Private Collection</em></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07867543787640762294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579840158857821913.post-5184728124970385342015-10-20T04:52:00.000-07:002015-10-20T04:55:22.868-07:00The Painter as alchemist: From colors to archetypes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RYCS0WpYepo/ViYory5ylDI/AAAAAAAABzg/sNjtya31Bts/s1600/Mattheus_van_Hellemont_The_Alchemist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RYCS0WpYepo/ViYory5ylDI/AAAAAAAABzg/sNjtya31Bts/s320/Mattheus_van_Hellemont_The_Alchemist.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The Alchemist 17th century Oil on Canvas by Mattheus van Hellemont</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">After pondering over
the significance of what I do as a painter and the message my work carries with
its narratives, it becomes interestingly notable the similarities between the
alchemist and the painter. The alchemist obsessive pursuit of transforming lead
into gold serves as a perfect metaphor for creative people living today in a consumerist society that have to come up with new ways of transforming all the rubbish into
something beautiful and significant. In an age where we are constantly
bombarded by mind numbing news and consumer culture propaganda, we are in need
of artists that work as alchemists. These lotus like souls float over the muddy waters of our
consumer driven society and their art blooms like a gleam of hope for a better
future. The artist that becomes aware of the world around him/her can filter,
distill and transform the experiences and information the keeps the masses asleep.
Their art is like a golden bell that wakes up the dormant souls in this world.
Art is indeed a very powerful tool. Just consider for a moment that about
10,000 years ago human civilizations on this planet developed agriculture. Long
before this, about 40,000 years ago we started to paint in caves. That is how
ancient and fundamentally important art is in our society.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t9qNbAnQT4A/ViYn_3S6p3I/AAAAAAAABzY/ZF8w0Wc5CwQ/s1600/1280px-Font-de-Gaume.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t9qNbAnQT4A/ViYn_3S6p3I/AAAAAAAABzY/ZF8w0Wc5CwQ/s320/1280px-Font-de-Gaume.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="mw-mmv-title" original-title="">Cro-Magnon artists painting Font-de-Gaume, France by Charles R. Knight</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Imagine an art class
where you would be required to paint with pure primary colors straight out of
the tube without mixing. How would you create a landscape, a portrait or an
abstract painting using only ultramarine blue, cadmium red or yellow? It can be
done of course but once we create these primary color exercises we start to realize,
how much more advantageous it is to be able to mix any of these colors and create
a much more rich, and varied palette. After all, painting without the knowledge
of mixing and expanding the chromatic spectrum is like learning just a few
words in a new language. We expand our vocabulary and learn to pars and
conjugate once we learn how colors interact and behave with each other. For a
narrative painter, concepts, stories and archetypes are equally important as
colors. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-run0DGxN3-8/ViYlvClsmbI/AAAAAAAABzE/F5iwGw-yQgM/s1600/HPIM0101internet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-run0DGxN3-8/ViYlvClsmbI/AAAAAAAABzE/F5iwGw-yQgM/s320/HPIM0101internet.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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A star shapped color palette arrangement by Patrick McGrath Muñiz</div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It seems quite natural therefore
to see the painter as an innate alchemist who creates work by association, destruction and construction.. This is someone who is constantly
experimenting with different amalgamations of pigments and media in order to
find the perfect recipe that will produce a gem, a work of art. Not only is the
formal/material process important in order to achieve success, but the content (not just for a narrative painter) is just as important and becomes another
layer added to the color palette. In the content palette one may find a limited
number of archetypes. We may already be familiar with them but it is always
good to refresh our memories be mindful of their existence. They come in many
shapes and forms throughout time and different cultures. They are primary
forces behind the gods, the saints, the heroes and villains we hear about in
all world mythologies, religions and folklore. The different combinations of
these archetypes produces a wide array of possible stories with specific ends
and messages to be derived by the viewer. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2_60wDtiWGg/Tr7g1Dldk7I/AAAAAAAAAl4/krugYxcGryo/s1600/5.%2BRueda%2Bdivina%2B12%2Bx%2B12%2Btempera%2By%2Btinta%2Bsobre%2Bpapel%2B2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2_60wDtiWGg/Tr7g1Dldk7I/AAAAAAAAAl4/krugYxcGryo/s320/5.%2BRueda%2Bdivina%2B12%2Bx%2B12%2Btempera%2By%2Btinta%2Bsobre%2Bpapel%2B2010.jpg" width="318" /></a></div>
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Study of archetypes derived from Roman Catholic Iconography by Patrick McGrath Muñiz</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Going back to our art
class, I have to ask myself when was the last time I learned how to compose a
story with archetypes in a painting class? If mixing colors was seldom taught
in both my undergrad and graduate painting curricula, I don't ever recall archetypes
being mentioned as counterparts to color when it comes to conceptualization or storytelling.
There can be many reasons for this huge gap in art academia but something
remains crystal clear to me as a keep studying art on my own. The study of
archetypes for an artist (even abstract) is as important as knowing your art
history and as important as knowing how to mix the primary colors. As <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>alchemists, if we strive to create gold (art)
out of the most basic materials, we should also be aware of how to construct
our stories. No matter how abstract they may be, our creations will never
escape or be independent of color, hidden archetypes and our own human history.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XV1nSK8DJnc/ViYmL2ocT2I/AAAAAAAABzM/ap-4T2g2XkU/s1600/HPIM0324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XV1nSK8DJnc/ViYmL2ocT2I/AAAAAAAABzM/ap-4T2g2XkU/s320/HPIM0324.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Studying archetypal themes in my journal.</div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">In the following blog
posts, I'll delve deeper into the understanding and exploration of these building blocks of narrative painting called
archetypes. This will be part of the documentation for the development of my next project:
A Tarot inspired by human history, social inequality and the environment.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07867543787640762294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579840158857821913.post-16101272817232019882015-05-31T07:56:00.002-07:002015-05-31T07:56:52.383-07:00Three new paintings in Antigua <div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">"The Water
Flask", "The Plate" and "The Exchange" (El
Intercambio) are three new paintings I just sent over to La Antigua Galeria de
Arte in Antigua Guatemala. For all three works I used friends that live in Guatemala
as models for the characters. All three contain narratives
that relate directly to the Neocolonial status of not just Guatemala and other
Central American countries but of many more across the globe. The readings of
Yuval Harari and Jared Diamond have been influential in my work. I find more
and more clearly the historical connections and continuous line that bridges
Imperialism from the ancient world to the European conquest of the Americas to
the current global colonization by large transnational corporations. What
drives this unity for conquest and domination is a blind belief in the fiction
of money and power. Today money seems to the universal religion that unites all
in a common capitalist cause. When animals are seen in
merely utilitarian terms, as objects and not as beings with rights, they
become mass produced food and commodities. These in turn become
processed objects valued in monetary terms. The same happens with many other
precious natural resources from water to plants to the land. All
becomes subject to the rules of the market. This belief in the supremacy of
capital is ultimately contributing to the destruction of almost
everything that lives on this planet, therefore leading to the
suicide of our own species. These works reflect on our histories,
inherited myths and current fictions. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HE89QFwGofA/VWMLs7Q5pLI/AAAAAAAABxQ/9bUM32dnb0M/s1600/The%2BPlate%2B72%2Bdpi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HE89QFwGofA/VWMLs7Q5pLI/AAAAAAAABxQ/9bUM32dnb0M/s320/The%2BPlate%2B72%2Bdpi.jpg" width="244" /></a></div>
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<strong></strong> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>The Plate </strong>18" x 24" Oil on canvas by Patrick McGrath Muñiz. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Available at <a href="http://www.laantiguagaleria.com/PatrickMcgrath.html" target="_blank">La Antigua Galeria de Arte.</a></div>
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</span><o:p>A standing woman holds and shows us a plate that resembles an old Mayan plate. On a closer inspection we discover that the Mayan figures painted on the plate allude to a modern day fast food franchise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It suggests socio-economic power hierarchies from the past to the present reflected in food production and consumption. Behind her we appreciate two painted figures from a mural. The Ancient Egyptian and Greek youths are accompanied by oxen and symbolize animal husbandry and agriculture, two important revolutions in the history of humanity that keep evolving to this day with the industrialization and mass production of GMO's across the globe. The haloed corn serpent around the woman's head, is Ouroboros, the serpent that eats its own tail, which also symbolizes the eternal cycles in nature of life and death. The imagery in the painting is meant to evoke food by utilizing symbols associated with it that at the same time control or influence the way we understand and consume them. The plate is old, the plate is broken and it is also empty, just as the whole idea behind the sanctity of food in an age of corporations. </o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KLvLCo0otkQ/VWMPno9U5NI/AAAAAAAABxc/J5OBT9Cyl6U/s1600/El%2BIntercambio%2B72%2Bdpi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KLvLCo0otkQ/VWMPno9U5NI/AAAAAAAABxc/J5OBT9Cyl6U/s320/El%2BIntercambio%2B72%2Bdpi.jpg" width="319" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><strong></strong> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
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<strong>El Intercambio (The Exchange) </strong>24" x 24" Oil on canvas by Patrick McGrath Muñiz. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Available at <a href="http://www.laantiguagaleria.com/PatrickMcgrath.html" target="_blank">La Antigua Galeria de Arte.</a></div>
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In the painting <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">El Intercambio </b>(The Exchange) two men
pose in front of a Central American landscape and meet at a table. The one
on the left represents the indigenous cultures and their beliefs. The one to
the right is inspired after Saint Isidore the laborer, who was aided by an
angel who plowed the soil. This character represents the West and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>holds a pomegranate seed on one hand while
holding a coin on the other. The pomegranate symbolizes Pluto, the Classical
god of the underworld, power and riches. An inscription on the coin reads: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Monsanctus Dominus Global</i>, in
allusion<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to a large transnational seed
corporation's global dominion. The apparent transaction occurs between two different
cultures and belief systems. One places its faith in the god of money while the
other holds Mother Earth and the natural world as sacred. The inscription below
reads: Fatali Pretium Fructuum (The predestined price of produce) We can see
that the gold coins on the table are really chocolate candy gold coins, a
commentary on the created fiction and value of money. From the military drone
to the flying saucer in the sky, the scene is a reflection of past and present
conquest, colonization with its shock doctrine and myths of progress and
development. Who will benefit most in the end from this exchange? </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u3QqKEIZpFo/VWMPs3nmahI/AAAAAAAABxk/nbP9h9ADbBw/s1600/The%2Bwater%2Bflask%2B72%2Bdpi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u3QqKEIZpFo/VWMPs3nmahI/AAAAAAAABxk/nbP9h9ADbBw/s320/The%2Bwater%2Bflask%2B72%2Bdpi.jpg" width="242" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong></strong> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>The Water Flask </strong>18" x 24" Oil on canvas by Patrick McGrath Muñiz. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Available at <a href="http://www.laantiguagaleria.com/PatrickMcgrath.html" target="_blank">La Antigua Galeria de Arte.</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A woman holds a green round flask
on her hands with a yellow halo around her. The flask is inspired after a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Menas flask</i>, a particular kind of small
ancient terracotta flask sold to early Coptic Christians as containers for holy
water. In this case the iconography of St. Menas of Alexandria has been
replaced by the Nestle Logo, one of the largest transnational food and water
corporations that has been responsible for unethical exploitation, water
extraction, pollution and other fraudulent activities in a number of countries
from Ethiopia to Colombia. The illegal appropriation, branding and re-selling
of water as a commodity is just the tip of the iceberg from<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a deceitful corporation that <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>paints itself as a "Pure Life"
nurturing Icon. In a painting as in our own lives ruled by corporations,
appearances can often be deceiving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
brings us to question: Who has the divine right to water? Who has the right to
sell it and who can afford to buy it?</span></span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07867543787640762294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579840158857821913.post-79485658960110954932015-04-29T09:00:00.000-07:002015-05-26T13:53:03.518-07:00The Holy Gospel of Consumption<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dO8mf_8TUTU/VUD7sPbFH0I/AAAAAAAABv8/gp3zm5TVUYA/s1600/Mirabile%2BFuturum%2B72%2Bdpi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dO8mf_8TUTU/VUD7sPbFH0I/AAAAAAAABv8/gp3zm5TVUYA/s1600/Mirabile%2BFuturum%2B72%2Bdpi.jpg" width="259" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><strong></strong></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><strong><a href="http://www.tanseycontemporary.com/artists/patrick-mcgrath-muniz#3" target="_blank">Mirabile Futurum</a></strong> 16" x 20" Oil on Canvas by Patrick McGrath Muñiz</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">With
Climate change already upon us and becoming more real than ever with every
passing year, we ought to ask ourselves how we got to the present state to
begin with? What is the root cause of this already beyond un-debatable man made
impact on climate and the environment? It would be quite easy to conclude that
the rampant nature exploitation activities from our industrial society and over
consumption of natural resources are behind it. We could fill pages exposing
the failure of globalized capitalism which is driven by economic growth and
it's unsustainable extraction practices. It would be after all quite apparent
that oil companies reliant on fossil fuels that cause CO2 emissions, large
trans-national corporations, government lack of regulations and big state
polluters like China are responsible for much of our climate's present state
and future. </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PKStOkbTJbc/VUDziNJiQoI/AAAAAAAABvc/o_5CxOYcMz8/s1600/1101890102_400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PKStOkbTJbc/VUDziNJiQoI/AAAAAAAABvc/o_5CxOYcMz8/s1600/1101890102_400.jpg" width="242" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><strong></strong></o:p></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><strong>Time</strong> magazine cover for Jan 2, 1989</o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The truth
is we could trace the origins of these destructive systems<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a little further back in time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 1989, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://content.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19890102,00.html" target="_blank">Time</a></i>
magazine instead of going for the usual "Man of the Year" cover, used
a photograph<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>by<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>artist <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christo_and_Jeanne-Claude" target="_blank">Christo</a> of a globe covered with
plastic and tied up with twine. The cover read:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>"Planet of the Year: Endangered Earth". As significant as this
may seem at the time, the accompanying essay by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Sancton,_Sr." target="_blank">Thomas Sancton</a> was a powerful
statement in itself worth quoting as it described the roots of the problem:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><em>"In many
pagan societies, the earth was seen as a mother, a fertile giver of life.
Nature-the soil, forest, sea- was endowed with divinity, and mortals were
subordinate to it. The Judeo-Christian tradition introduced a radically
different concept. The earth was the creation of a monotheistic God, who, after
shaping it, ordered its inhabitants in the words of Genesis: "be fruitful
and multiply and replenish the earth and subdue it: and have dominion over the
fish of the sea and over the fowl of the air and over every living thing that
moveth upon the earth". The idea of dominion could be interpreted as an
invitation to use nature as a convenience. Thus the spread of Christianity,
which is generally considered to have paved the way for the development of
technology, may at the same time have carried the seeds of the wanton
exploitation of nature that has often accompanied technological progress".</em></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1kxcuuhlVcg/VUD8HF6ayhI/AAAAAAAABwE/LYIigrEcuo8/s1600/Neo-Genesis%2B72%2Bdpi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1kxcuuhlVcg/VUD8HF6ayhI/AAAAAAAABwE/LYIigrEcuo8/s1600/Neo-Genesis%2B72%2Bdpi.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong> </strong></div>
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<strong>Neo-Genesis</strong> 12" x 12" Ink on paper by Patrick McGrath Muñiz</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">This was
certainly not a new idea at the time as it formed the basis of the growing
counter culture ecological movement. But being included in such a widespread
magazine read by millions was indeed significant and revealing. This anthropocentric
anti-environmental world view and even demonization of nature is definitely not
exclusive to the Judeo-Christian tradition but it undoubtedly influenced
western thought from the theologian<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augustine_of_Hippo" target="_blank">St. Augustine</a> to the philosopher
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Bacon" target="_blank">Francis Bacon</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Western <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitalism" target="_blank">capitalism</a> was in
turn inspired by the belief in a fruitful and multiplying human
civilization with its economic growth, prosperity and technological
progress based on competition, a free market and its dominion,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>manipulation and exploitation over Mother
Nature. With the fall of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Curtain" target="_blank">Iron Curtain</a>, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dissolution_of_the_Soviet_Union" target="_blank">dissolution of the Soviet Union</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and the increasing power of
communications with the rise of the internet in the 1990's, Capitalism became a fast growing world phenomenon and to
this day it defines much of our globalized cultural and social landscapes from New York to
Beijing. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></span> </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fEgzGBwINRQ/VUD43DO2utI/AAAAAAAABvw/uSRwLMyt7Ts/s1600/1280px-Yangzhou_-_industrial_area_west_of_Wenfeng_Temple_-_P1130239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fEgzGBwINRQ/VUD43DO2utI/AAAAAAAABvw/uSRwLMyt7Ts/s1600/1280px-Yangzhou_-_industrial_area_west_of_Wenfeng_Temple_-_P1130239.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="mw-mmv-title" original-title=""></span> </div>
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<span class="mw-mmv-title" original-title="">An industrial area, with a power plant, south of Yangzhou's downtown, China</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuval_Harari" target="_blank">Yuval Harari</a> on his book <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sapiens:_A_Brief_History_of_Humankind" target="_blank">Sapiens: a brief history of humanity</a> argues that<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>modern day capitalism resembles more a
religion rather than an economic theory. The collective fiction<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of the supremacy of money is<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>one big cultural construct that sets us apart
from the rest of the animal kingdom. The utilitarian and extractionist<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>approach to nature from free market
fundamentalism is propagated through the mass media in order to indoctrinate
the people to become passive consumers rather than active world citizens that
may question these created fictions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1lvuHc6jYT8/VUD-FFQnzVI/AAAAAAAABwY/CxcxKTmM7D4/s1600/Hercules%2Band%2Bvirtues%2B72%2Bdpi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1lvuHc6jYT8/VUD-FFQnzVI/AAAAAAAABwY/CxcxKTmM7D4/s1600/Hercules%2Band%2Bvirtues%2B72%2Bdpi.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Hercules and the Virtues</strong> 36" x 28" Oil and metal leaf on wood panel by Patrick McGrath Mu<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">ñiz</span></span></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Despite
the best efforts of well intentioned people within the Church from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonardo_Boff" target="_blank">LeonardoBoff</a> to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Francis" target="_blank">Pope Francis</a> to revise the Christian doctrines in a new ecological
light, these dogmas and inherited beliefs in a human superiority over animals,
plants, other peoples<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and other lands is
hard to overlook.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From the idea of a
"<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Promised_Land" target="_blank">Promised Land"</a> to the "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manifest_destiny" target="_blank">Manifest Destiny</a>", these
conveniently designed myths have served<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>the interests of empires, monarchies, monotheistic<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>proselytizing religions and economic
monopolies around the globe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is
extremely important we know the root of a problem before we prepare to fix it,
especially when we are dealing with our very own existence and future on this
planet. </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-izn_s9nwLcU/VUD8yi0VmiI/AAAAAAAABwM/OxAlQqWgg3A/s1600/1280px-American_progress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-izn_s9nwLcU/VUD8yi0VmiI/AAAAAAAABwM/OxAlQqWgg3A/s1600/1280px-American_progress.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><strong></strong></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><strong>American Progress</strong> Oil painting by John Glast (Circa 1872)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Of course Christianity<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>or any
other monotheist religions are not the primary cause of our current environmental crisis. We created a negative impact on the ecosystem long before any of these modern day
religions showed up, from the hunter gatherer societies to the agricultural revolution and the rise of the first big cities. But by digging deep into the historical relation between
religion, empire, money and the natural world<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>we can gain a much better understanding of our present day ecological
downfall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is time we change not only
our consumption habits but our core beliefs as well. While the unquestioned
"sacrosanctity" of the ruling corpocracy and global financial
institutions is kept in place by our unyielding monotheistic faith in the power
of money over everything else we can only expect one big thing to change,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that is our planet and our very existence on
it. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T5p13b8vCpU/VUD-9yuUn1I/AAAAAAAABwg/9sowgjrD91s/s1600/novus-ordo-seclorum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T5p13b8vCpU/VUD-9yuUn1I/AAAAAAAABwg/9sowgjrD91s/s1600/novus-ordo-seclorum.jpg" width="275" /></a></div>
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<strong></strong> </div>
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<strong>Novus Ordo Seclorum</strong> print by artist <a href="http://www.carlosbarberena.com/" target="_blank">Carlos Barberena</a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07867543787640762294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579840158857821913.post-2340908568086787172015-03-24T09:49:00.002-07:002015-03-25T15:12:26.188-07:00Dreams, Divinities and the Attention to Detail.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_pWCfq6OBto/VRGPdLEfCfI/AAAAAAAABtg/6-Nq8qvCm2s/s1600/IMG_0232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_pWCfq6OBto/VRGPdLEfCfI/AAAAAAAABtg/6-Nq8qvCm2s/s1600/IMG_0232.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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Recently I attended the opening of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Dreams
& Divinities,</b> an international travelling group show now showing at
<strong>LuminArte</strong> Gallery in Dallas, Texas and which I am proud to be participating in
with one of my pieces. The show has travelled from Toledo, Spain to San
Cristobal de las Casas to Monterey, Mexico with its finale in Dallas, Texas. It has been presented during four equinoxes which happens to give the project the conceptual framework from where it springs forth. Curated by<strong> Liba Waring Stambollion</strong> and presented by <strong>Matt Anzak</strong> at <strong>Luminarte</strong>, the
show features visionary, magic realism and surrealist artists from around the
globe. As soon as you enter the gallery you'll be in for a treat for the mind
and soul.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ExsAL4RoDKs/VRGPqYYyNUI/AAAAAAAABto/-3RS7C0Zglo/s1600/IMG_0234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ExsAL4RoDKs/VRGPqYYyNUI/AAAAAAAABto/-3RS7C0Zglo/s1600/IMG_0234.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>Partial view of the exhibition</em></div>
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For the highly skeptical viewer, the works may at first seem to be flighty colorful
renditions of New Age doctrines, an escapist attempt, oblivious to the current
state of affairs of our world and perhaps of the 'art world' as well . On a closer
inspection the works reveal a profound sense of being and understanding of how
the world operates at an subconscious level. Not only subject matter is represented
from an unconventional holistic approach, which makes the work so interesting,
it also unpacks a whole load of visual information that responds to our own
age. In a high speed internet age, these silent images allure us to slow down a bit and take our time to look closer, to comtemplate and experience that which cannot be expressed with words.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nptW0NUV5SY/VRGncLsvO0I/AAAAAAAABuo/Gn9-DJUhqNo/s1600/IMG_0245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nptW0NUV5SY/VRGncLsvO0I/AAAAAAAABuo/Gn9-DJUhqNo/s1600/IMG_0245.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<em>Work by Miguel Tio</em></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6exeJ_q9R1Y/VRGP4yW31LI/AAAAAAAABtw/8epNUXIbC10/s1600/IMG_0253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6exeJ_q9R1Y/VRGP4yW31LI/AAAAAAAABtw/8epNUXIbC10/s1600/IMG_0253.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<em>Work by Android Jones</em></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
What I found fascinating about the show was not only the intricate complexity
and individual language of each piece but also the incredible unity and level
of cohesion of the whole. The mastery and imaginative use of color in the works
of <strong>Cody Seekins, Roku Sasaki, Zeljko Djurovic and Android Jones</strong> are spectacular.
The attention to fine drawing details in the work <strong>Joe MacGown, Carrie Ann
Baade, Miguel Tio and Raul Casillas</strong> is mind blowing. From dots, stars, little
leaves, microcosmic strange looking creatures, to myterious signs, symbols and fiery dragons,
the pieces in this exhibition not only speak eloquently of the unseen, they are
also well grounded in a solid tradition of representational techniques in
painting and sculpture. </div>
<br />
<o:p> </o:p><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jq4x3LOBjVs/VRGQHtvem4I/AAAAAAAABt4/xOa9yDxQCkc/s1600/IMG_0257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jq4x3LOBjVs/VRGQHtvem4I/AAAAAAAABt4/xOa9yDxQCkc/s1600/IMG_0257.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<em>Work by Patrick Mcgrath Muñiz</em></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Perhaps what's most interesting about this exhibition is the fact that it
gathers highly talented artists from a wide range of backgrounds and cultural upbringings. We may
all speak different languages but it all interestingly comes together in our
shared vision and the creative process. From the ethereal portraits of <strong>A.</strong> <strong>Andrew
Gonzalez</strong> to the focused attention to detail of the painted objects in <strong>Erich J.
Mofitt's</strong> work, every piece in this exhibition invites us into the surrealist
realm of dreams and divinities but without losing a keen eye for the small, overlooked
things from our Earthbound world. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4nQEjttkie0/VRGQRf5SWgI/AAAAAAAABuA/j6I00R27Bvs/s1600/IMG_0236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4nQEjttkie0/VRGQRf5SWgI/AAAAAAAABuA/j6I00R27Bvs/s1600/IMG_0236.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<em>Works by Joe MacGown</em></div>
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<em></em> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AqOt4BtjsLc/VRMybiFv_ZI/AAAAAAAABu8/m0AUjMaOocs/s1600/IMG_0263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AqOt4BtjsLc/VRMybiFv_ZI/AAAAAAAABu8/m0AUjMaOocs/s1600/IMG_0263.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>Artists: Patrick McGrath Muñiz, Andrew Gonzalez and Joe McGown</em></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I'm well aware that I haven't mentioned every artist participating in this
exhibition and I only had the chance to meet two of the artists in person, <strong>Joe MacGown</strong> and <strong>Andrew Gonzalez</strong>, both extraordinarily talented. But
there is so much to grasp in this exhibition it would take a whole book to cover it and there would still be more left out to talk about.
As a matter of fact as Liba mentions, this is how the <strong>Dreams and Divinities</strong> project got started in the first place,
with a book. If you are interested in learning more about all the artists participating, and of the <strong>Dreams and
Divinities</strong> current and future projects and publications visit:</div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.dreamsanddivinities.com/2015/03/dallas-dreams-divinities-equinox-show/" target="_blank">Dreams and Divinities</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The exhibition will be up until May 2nd, 2015 and I highly recommend seeing
it in person. Believe me, cameras do not capture as much as the real experience
of being in front of many of these works of art. For more information on<strong>
LuminArte</strong> gallery hours and location visit:</div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.luminarte.com/" target="_blank">LuminArte Fine Art Gallery</a><br />
<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CKIKu0m76VM/VRGWU-NTgzI/AAAAAAAABuY/5i7BciPeE4U/s1600/IMG_0256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CKIKu0m76VM/VRGWU-NTgzI/AAAAAAAABuY/5i7BciPeE4U/s1600/IMG_0256.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<em>Detail of Raul Casillas work</em></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07867543787640762294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579840158857821913.post-30725062539779692332015-02-20T07:05:00.002-08:002015-02-20T07:05:45.040-08:00Nulla Dies Sine Linea & the Importance of Drawing<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="ES-PR" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-PR;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">19
years ago I started a project and new year's resolution in which I drew every
day in a drawing journal. The idea came from a phrase I read from Apelles of
Kos a Greek painter of the 4th century BC. "Nulla Dies Sine Linea"
(Do not spend a day without a line) is a famous quote attributed to the artist.
Drawing is fundamental to all art, from painting to architecture, so why not
strengthen this skill to its maximum, I thought. The way to do this was by
first of all adopting the phrase from Apelles as maxim & principle to guide
my art. </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RprwcPeY35U/VOdJ44R98cI/AAAAAAAABsc/kJ8bG8jB_V0/s1600/drawing%2Bdiary%2Bpage%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RprwcPeY35U/VOdJ44R98cI/AAAAAAAABsc/kJ8bG8jB_V0/s1600/drawing%2Bdiary%2Bpage%2B1.jpg" height="237" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The first drawings made in my diary were by ballpoint pen and very
loose. Many of these were disastrous but some showed to have potential and I
slowly began to realize that what's really important behind drawing was in the
process and not necessarily the result. The vigor and looseness were gradually
being reflected in any other artistic medium I worked with. For many years I
drew religiously every day in my diaries that kept accumulating. These drawings
served as sketches for my paintings but they also served as a learning tool,
escape valve and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>an appropriate channel
for creative energy. This had a tremendously positive impact on paintings I
created in subsequent years. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">After passing through some phases and art periods
high and low, I decided to re-take this daily practice of drawing from this
year onwards and through this blog to share some of the results. After all this
blog is titled "Artist journal", so I better make some justice with
this title. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">When I taught drawing and painting, one of my advices to my
students was to never stop drawing and to create a habit and discipline of
drawing as many often as they could. At first it may be difficult and it is
because we do not have the time or easily feel discouraged by not seeing
immediate results but the key is keeping at it with persistence in the process
and to simply enjoy the humble act of drawing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">One way of looking at it is to
think about the drawings as the basic vitamins in art. In this metaphor, an
artist who does not draw is a malnourished artist. Again I throw this advice to
all who read this blog. No matter the medium or support but always keep this in
mind and practice "Nulla Dies Sine Linea".</span></div>
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</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07867543787640762294noreply@blogger.com0