Dorothy Day

A young Dorothy Day embraced the counter culture, bohemian lifestyle of New York City in the 1920's. She was an open agnostic. Her clothes were all from second-hand shops. She valued her independence. And she felt that she needed no one.

Then in 1926, she gave birth to her daughter, Tamar. It caused a significant change inside Day - as someone now needed her. This led to a spiritual awakening and, eventually, starting what became The Catholic Worker movement. In a sense, this new found spirituality did not suppress her devotion to others. It ignited it.

An open anarchist and constant war protestor, Day continued to question authority and often made the church "uncomfortable." And yet, she took seriously Christ's command to be responsible for our neighbor; the individual on the street who was forgotten by society, the one lying on the park bench that we pass each day. She became a beacon to the poorest of the poor, setting up numerous establishments to help feed, clothe, and comfort the poor - the very basis of Christianity.

Devoted. Loving. Selfless. Compassionate. Peace-driven. And yes, wonderfully radical and liberal. Dorothy Day was all these.

Much like Jesus.

Johnny Cash

By 1968, Johnny Cash had already gained what most musicians can only dream of: fame, fortune and a seeming endless following of fans. But to Cash, his life was empty. According to friends, he claimed to have "tried every drug there was." His first marriage had failed. And he was terribly lonely. In the spring of that year, under the clouded influence of drugs, he went to Nackajack Cave in Marion County, Tennessee in an attempt to kill himself. As he descended deeper into the cave, trying to lose himself and "just die," he passed out on the floor. He said that he was exhausted and feeling at the end of his rope when he felt God's presence in his heart and managed to struggle out of the cave by following a faint light and slight breeze. To Cash, it was his own rebirth.

After that, this outlaw was still the "Man in Black." But he had a new focus, as well as appreciation of God. Now, he wore black "on behalf of the poor and hungry, on behalf of the prisoner who has long paid for his crime, and on behalf of those who have been betrayed by age or drugs."

You can almost close your eyes and hear his deep bass-baritone voice. It's wonderfully unmistakable. And even though he considered himself a "troubled Christian" to the day he died, I'd like to believe that that epiphany Cash had fortysome years ago in a cave in rural Tennessee might have been his biggest break of all. And if God has a voice that we can hear, I'd like to believe it sounds like that of Johnny Cash.

Art Loft Gallery Opening!

Now, let me start by saying that I HATE to be the center of attention. Really. So putting all my paintings on walls and inviting the world to come and see is like stripping naked, spraying myself with fluorescent orange paint, and running down a crowded street. Still, when Phyllis Catania, the spouse of one of my very best friends, asked me if I would like to exhibit my work at her gallery, the Art Loft, there was no way I could say no. And, truth be told, it was a great learning and growing experience for me. I liked it. In fact, I would love to do nothing but paint for the rest of my days. I'd live to be 120+ years old. Shouldn't we all find jobs we love so we never have to work another day?

Miles Davis

It's hard to describe this guy. The "nocturnal" quality of Davis's playing and his somber reputation, along with his whispering voice, earned him the lasting moniker of "prince of darkness", adding a patina of mystery to his public persona. But when he played he was pure genius. One of his earlier works, Round Midnight, is still one of my favorites. I added it below. Hearing it, it always smooths out my emotions. And on a side note, that's a young Herbie Hancock on the piano.

Enjoy.

John Malkovich

I don't know much about John Malkovich other than what I have seen on the screen. In life, he's a relatively private individual. His father, Daniel Malkovich, was a state conservation director and publisher of Outdoor Illinois, a conservation magazine. While his mother, Joe Ann, owned the magazine. Because of his father's work, the Malkovich family is widely regarded as one of the founding families of the environmental movement in Illinois.

I saw this photograph of Malkovich and immediately liked it. It's full of character. And very different. And cool. Which seem to match the man himself. And at 22x28" it is one of the newer, larger palettes that I am starting to really enjoy. Painting now more than ever, I am in a "groove" and absolutely loving it. This has allowed me to notice an evolution in my work. Let me know if you notice it, too. As always, enjoy. And let me know what you think. Thanks.

Georgia O'Keeffe II

This painting marks a trio of new ventures for me.

I believe that Georgia O'Keeffe is the first person I've painted twice. See the first from 10.9.09 here. It's a younger Georgia from a photograph taken by her husband, Alfred Stieglitz, in 1932.

Also, at 24" by 30", this painting is one of the largest I've ever done. Many have suggested that I paint larger than my standard 20" by 24" palette. I really like the larger feel and effect!

Lastly, this painting marks the first time I am selling my work. Recently, I was invited to exhibit at a friend's gallery in March. Click the link for more info. I'll be there on the "First Friday" event on March 5. I will have more to sell there as well. Just finished one of Jon Malkovich which turned out very cool. I will post that shortly. Just starting another of Miles Davis. Then, Al Franken. Then, Jennifer Aniston. Then, Michael J. Fox.

I should do one of Linda Ellerbee. "And so it goes."

I love it.

Audrey Hepburn

She has been considered one of the most beautiful women of all time. The styles that she embodied continue to be popular among women today.

Still, Audrey Hepburn did not place much value in fashion. Nor did she consider herself very attractive. In a 1959 interview, she admitted to having "underlying feelings of insecurity and inferiority." "I couldn't conquer these feelings by acting indecisive. I found the only way to get the better of them was by adopting a forceful, concentrated drive."

After her final film role in 1988, Hepburn harnessed that drive as she was appointed a goodwill ambassador to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), a role that she embraced. Over the next four years, she traveled to Ethiopia, Turkey, Venezuela, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Sudan, Bangladesh, Vietnam and Somalia, helping deliver critical aid and medical assistance to some of the most impoverished children in the world.

After her death in early 1993, a UN photographer said, "Often the kids would have flies all over them, but she would just go hug them. I had never seen that. Other people had a certain amount of hesitation, but she would just grab them. Children would just come up to hold her hand, touch her – she was like the Pied Piper."

Oscar winner and fashion icon, yes. But Audrey Hepburn proved to us all that there is so much more that we can contribute to this world.

Beautiful.