Sunday, March 27, 2016

Spring, War and Psanki

The official arrival of spring brought an early Easter for Christians this year. Hindus celebrate their New Year in early April with the Sikhs celebrating their harvest and New Year on April 14. My Jewish friends celebrate Passover beginning on April 22, but Muslims must wait until early June for Ramadan. 

All these religious observances. Yet our world is plagued with violence more than ever it seems. Not just in other parts of the world either. Talk is now surfacing about an open gun carry for the Republican Convention in July out of fear of an ISIS attack. Where will it all stop? Will it ever?

I really don't know. 

What I DO know is that art restores the soul. Given the ugliness of so much violence in so very many places in our lives, I choose to create art. No, I MUST make art! Without it, I would not be able to live in today's world. 

Ah, am I wearing blinders, you ask? Not at all. Instead of focusing on the over abundance of negatives, I choose to fill my life with more positives. More to seek balance than not to see.

Rebeccah Doggett made these Ukrainian styled Easter eggs.
No matter what the news brought to you today, how can you not be uplifted by the site of these eggs decorated Ukrainian style? A folk art it is called, yet, still, our spirits rise with joy at the delightful designs and colors after even a mild winter. 

Unless, of course, you have just lost a loved one to war or other tragedy. I think we need a re-enactment of the Greek play Lysistrata where the women withheld sexual favors in order to stop war, the hatred, the violence. Or, at least, a whole lot more folks could follow the recent example of Pope Francis on Holy Thursday when he washed and kissed the feet of a wide variety of refugees.

Where do you stand? Comment below.


Jean Ann Henderson is a fine art photographer, which means she makes photographs for herself rather than for clients. Go to her website to learn more.