Tag: Art

Posted in Art Joy

A Fresh and Just Look at Stained Glass … “Saint Kern“

Posted on by Neal Saye

Today Robert and I visited the Walter Museum of Art in Baltimore. Our favorite exhibit was one called “Saint Amelie.”

SAINT AMELIE

Kehinde Wiley (American, born 1977), 2014

Saint Amelie is one of a series of twelve freestanding stained glass panels by Kehinde Wiley that depict contemporary portraits of young Black residents of Brooklyn, New York. It mirrors the form, composition, figural pose, and framing of historic stained glass windows from the medieval and Renaissance periods, and specifically a window titled Saint Amelie by the French Neoclassical painter Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres (1780-1867).

Wiley honors his subject, Kern Alexander, whom he used as a model in multiple works, by depicting him in a context traditionally reserved for Christian saints and religious contemplation.

Like much in Wiley’s work, Saint Amelie explores the invisibility of Black people within the traditional art historical canon.

Hand-painted stained glass, mounted on lightbox with aluminum frame.

A beautiful exhibit!

Posted in The Artful Dodger, Unexpected Art

“The Artful Dodger“ #21

Posted on by Neal Saye

A blog category about finding “art” in unexpected places and situations.

So recently HR (“Husband Robert,” come on now, you know that) made a simple but yummy breakfast of scrambled eggs and sausage patties (from local fresh-from-the-farm-meats 920 Cattle & Company, up the road from us).

“Neal, it’s ready.”

I morning-stumbled to the table … and almost instantly SAW THEM.

Twins. TWINS! Dressed in casual but elegant Sunshine Morning Yellow Rompers.

I sat down. Asked their names.

“Lisa and Liam, sir. Yours?”

“Neal.”

“You both look so cute,” I gushed. “And you smell just SO good!”

“Thank you,” they hesitantly responded.

“Are you a cannibal, sir?”

Posted in The Artful Dodger, Unexpected Art

“The Artful Dodger“ #20

Posted on by Neal Saye

A blog category about finding “art” in unexpected places and situations.

One of my Father’s Day gifts this year was a beautiful box of nuts and dried fruit.

I made a yummy trail mix out of the nuts and some of the chopped-up dried fruit. (OK, maybe with one bag of plain M&Ms thrown in for good measure.)

And then, this morning for breakfast, Robert had bought some fresh cantaloupe. When I saw it on my saucer, I realized it was frowning at me, but his face was sadly incomplete.

Dried fruit to the rescue. Two dried plums and a beautiful, sweet green kiwi for the nose.

Happy breakfast for all!

Posted in The Artful Dodger, Unexpected Art

“The Artful Dodger“ #19

Posted on by Neal Saye

A blog category about finding “art” in unexpected places and situations.

So the other morning, I was finishing up HR’s yummy breakfast of local country ham, soft-scrambled eggs (one of his specialties—I don’t like hard scrambled!) and black raspberry-covered toast …

… when, Lo and Behold, I looked down and saw him :

But who is he? A character from Finding Nemo or The Little mermaid? Or what?

Posted in The Artful Dodger, Unexpected Art

“The Artful Dodger“ #18

Posted on by Neal Saye

A blog category about finding “art” in unexpected places and situations.

So the other morning I sat down to Robert’s yummy breakfast of English muffins, black raspberry jam, and some kinda seasoned stir-fry potatoes.

I was still trying to wake up, but immediately saw some artistic possibility when I popped a couple of dollops of jam onto the two halves of the bread.

Oh, and when I Piled the Potatoes beneath the eyes, I knew I had a breakfast Masterpiece in the Making.

Doesn’t he look a bit like a walrus or maybe Burl Ives in the iconic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer?

Chef-d’oeuvre!

Posted in Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 4/28/23

Posted on by Neal Saye

My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.

1. Pretty purple blossoming in Savannah squares.

2. Courageous lawmakers who will heed the will of the people in our democracy.

May other states follow Washington’s lead.

3. Metal man hiding in the bushes near us.

4. Our incredible skin which envelopes our bodies and protects us so spectacularly.

5. Packing up our little gay gray car for a weekend trek down to Seminole State Park and the SAM Railroad to Plains, GA.

May your weekend be packed with good!

Posted in The Artful Dodger, Unexpected Art

“The Artful Dodger“ #17

Posted on by Neal Saye

A blog category about finding “art” in unexpected places and situations.

A little while ago, Robert and I were leaving our favorite little Atlanta breakfast place, Homegrown.

Walking toward the car, I heard them before I saw them. Detective-like, I quickly turned around.

They were casually (and somewhat seductively) leaning against the back shed of the little hole-in-the- wall jewel of a restaurant, singing, belting their hearts and souls out.

The Seven Sisters singing their way through The Great American Songbook.

I could’ve stayed there all day, reveling in the joy, the pathos, the excitement, the disappointment, the yearning fullness of their song.

They were us all—EveryWoman, EveryMan—leaning back and leaning into life. Our days, months, and years filled with living the truth of their diverse songs.

But HR finally made me get in the car.

“Neal, other people need to park.”

“And hear,” I thought.

So we made our way back to our midtown Airbnb, but not without the Sisters’ melodies still ringing in my ears and heart.

As we pulled up to our Airbnb, the most amazing thing REALLY HAPPENED, raising goosebumps on my skin. A young lady in a pick-up parked near us. When she opened her door, Robert and I heard her before we saw her—-singing joyfully. She made her way into the other half of the duplex that makes up our Airbnb. She continued to sing as she turned on the vacuum cleaner. Vocal joy. It actually felt a little quietly empty when she got in her truck and drove away.