Justice – NealEnJoy

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

Posted on March 30, 2024March 31, 2024 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!

Monday Moaning or Monday Marveling?

Monday Moaning or Monday Marveling? 8/28/23 “Taylor Square”

Posted on August 28, 2023August 28, 2023 by Neal Saye

Marveling. Marveling. Marveling.

My beautiful small southern city of Savannah has twenty-two extant squares, each unique, in our Historic District.

Robert and I live just off the northeastern-most one, Washington Square, close to the river.

But this morning is about the Square formally known as Calhoun Square.

Here’s the link to the article in case you are interested. (It made the national news.)

https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/25/us/savannah-square-susie-king-taylor

Oh, and just so you know, the previous name of the square? Calhoun Square, named after John C. Calhoun, a former vice president of the United States, who owned slaves and vigorously defended the institution of slavery.

“What he stood for is not what Savannah stands for,” Savannah mayor Van Johnson said.

Way to go, Savannah!

And Congratulations to Susie King Taylor!

HR in Taylor Square this morning. The old name markers have been removed, but the new ones are not up yet. Soon!

Holiday Joy

“Joyful Christmas and Justice for All!”

Posted on December 24, 2021December 24, 2021 by Neal Saye

Robert and I LOVE sending out Christmas Cards! We feel the practice (slowly disappearing?) is a way to pass along a little cordial and heartfelt “Soul of the Season.”

Our card for 2021. Here, we’re sending it to you!

Happiest of Holidays!

************

What’s the backstory for this year’s card, you ask? Well, I AM super holiday busy (it IS Christmas Eve you know) but if you absolutely insist, I’ll take the time from singing “The Twelve Days of Christmas” to Robert, and explain.

I get the disturbing impression Robert’s just not that into the song anyway. He hasn’t blinked since the first time I sang the verse about the eight maids a milking—which I keep messing up, so of course have to start over from the beginning.

Anyway, back in September, with the pandemic seeming to ease up a bit, we ventured out on our first you-gotta-get-on-an-airplane-to-get-there trip. We spent a gloriously laidback and uneventful week in the Poconos, then hopped over to Manhattan for another week. (Where were all the people?!)

One day we booked a guided tour of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, led by guide extraordinaire Rob …