POP Religion

POP Religion

 

 

The series "POP Religion" came about in a natural flowing process .  Artistic, intuitive research into myth and spirituality over a time period of several years (I may even say, several decades, or a lifetime), has inspired me to create this series.  Led by my Muse I witnessed the evolution of a cohesive/confused concept that has kept me painting, creating with enthusiasm.  It has been a revolution in my mind expressed and communicated with paintings. The images display a     sincere/ironic vibe.

 

POP Religion, the concept, in 25 words or less:

This series is artistic research into the human need to believe in something, anything. It is a quirky personal pantheon of reverent/irreverent images.  POP Religion believes in Gods, Goddesses, Celebrities,  Royalty, Art, and QUESTioning.
 

These writers on myth theory have influenced my thought processes;  Joseph Campbell,  Sir James Frazier, and Carl Jung. 

 

Cardinal Woman

Acrylic on canvas,  20"x16", 2014

 

Digital painting, 23M flat file, 2023

 

Hey yall, we are not going to live forever.  In the words of Gauguin, "Where did we come from.  Why are we here.  Where are we going?"  You wont find any answers here, just some confounded meandering.  

 

Saint Louis Cathedral

acrylic on canvas, 36"x48", 2006

This painting, was created seven years ago.  It was made at a time when I was exploring the textures of acrylic impasto. I am using it now to introduce POP Religion

Holy Ghosts hover in the alcoves of a woozy church.  Maybe, it is better not to enter.  Are you brave? I don't know, it is all so confusing.  This is not a real church it is a painting.  POP Religion is not a real religion, or is it?   Is it a hoax, a joke or a concept? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Belushi Bacchus

oil and acrylic on canvas,  36"x48", 2012

 

Bacchus is the god of Mardi Gras.  He reigns over hedonistic abandon.  Woohoo, he is the party god.   His revelers act out impulses beyond the borders of  social constraint. 

Bacchus, (Dionysus to the Greeks), is the protector of those who do not fit into conventional society. He symbolizes chaos and danger, the escape from human reason. Bacchus worshipers seek  a place beyond the borders of the known and civilized. His is a freedom, mystery religion.

 



Prometheus in his Sean Connery Incarnation

Acrylic on canvas,  48"x36", 2014

 

Digital painting and Epson print, 17M flat, 2013



details

 

 

Prometheus brought fire to humans when they were shivering and ignorant cavemen. The big honcho of Elysian Fields, Zeus, CEO of the heavens, wanted to keep fire, (a metaphor for intelligence) for himself alone. Prometheus stole fire from Zeus, so he was punished with eternal suffering.  This Promethean savior of humankind was chained to a rock, an eagle attacked and ate his liver everyday.  Overnight his liver grew back, only to be eaten again.

Recently Prometheus has been reincarnated  as Sean Connery.  After enduring the sadistic punishments of Zeus, this is like a vacation incarnation for him.  He enjoys being 007 and a movie star. 



 

Marilyn Aphrodite

acrylic on canvas, 24"x24", 6/2013

 



Marilyn Monroe is the reincarnation of the Greco-Roman goddess Aphrodite/Venus. She celebrates the sensuous symphony of physicality.  Marilyn has captured popular imagination since 1952, in my opinion  that qualifies her for goddess status.

Oprah Cleopatra

digital print

detail

 

 

Breaking news!!! Hot flash!!!

It has been discovered that Oprah is the reincarnation of Cleopatra!

Cleo had grown bored of everlasting languid lounging on the loveseat in LalaLand.   So she reinvented, reimagined and reincarnated herself as the Queen of Television.

 

This important event has been verified by Archie Long, an archeologist in Egypt who is an old and dear paramour of Oprah's.  Upon close examination of the famous Cleopatra Odalisque Statue of Giza, he found a gluteal area tattoo with phallic symbolism.  He was surprised and excited to find the unusual ink that matches the exact tattoo and placement he fondly remembers stroking on Oprah's caramel skin.  The tattoos match perfectly, it can not be a coincidence.  They prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that the TV Queen was previously the Egyptian Pharaoh Queen.  

Tune in to award winning program TELL IT LIKE IT IS, tonight on the Irreverent Channel.  Clark Kent presents an in depth interview with the renowned archeologist Archie Long.  This amazing, ground breaking discovery will change your life.  Don't miss it. Tonight, channel 9393. 

John Lennon Jesus

Digital painting and Epson print, 22M flat, 2013

Love one another.  All you need is love.  Love your neighbor as yourself.  Give peace a chance.

Mary, Queen of All

  mixed media on canvas, 24"x18", 2010

 

 

 

details

 

 

 

Mary, Queen of All

 

 

This vibrant picture speaks of compassionate love.  A collage of  pictures of a variety of women form the familiar Mary image.  Janis Joplin appears in the heart center.  Compassionate goddesses are worshiped historically world wide.  These forgiving, supportive myths speak to a deep need for the enveloping arms of perfect motherly love. 

 

The artistic process for this picture started with my collection of original digital female figure paintings, created over several years.  The layout was plotted digitally and  puzzle like sections were printed and cut out using archival Epson ink and paper. The cut out collage elements were then embedded into layers of acrylic paint.  Golden brand acrylics were used to create a pearly glowing halo. 

 

 

 

 

Baby God Crying

oil, acrylic on canvas, 36"x48', 2013

 

 

Artist have continually mined the rich vein of the artist giants that came before.  In this painting I "mash-up" a thirteenth century Mary picture with a realistic Jesus, throwing a tantrum.

  

 

 

 

Mary and Krishna

oil, acrylic on canvas, 36"x48", 2013

 

 

Yashoda and Jesus

oil, acrylic on canvas, 36"x48", 2013

 

"Mary and Krishna" and "Yashoda and Jesus", are companion paintings, titled together as "Switched at Birth".    These paintings illustrate the similarities in religions world wide. Birth of a savior stories contain universal elements.  They teach us that people everywhere seek the sweetness of protection and compassion.   

 

For more info about these pictures and the similarities of Jesus and Krishna myths, see my blog entry for June, entitled, "Mary and Krishna, Yashoda and Jesus".

 



 

  

 

 

 

Jagger Devil

acrylic on canvas, 24"x24", 7/2013

 

The devil is a convenient repository for all that is judged as negatives.  He is the basement closet where badness is locked up.  With a devil thought concept evil is nicely organized into one hated mind space. With a devil for scapegoat humans can imagine that negativity is isolated from their everyday existence. No pantheon is complete without a dumping spot for evil.

 





Bleeding Jesus

acrylic on board, 16"x20", 2011

 

The Christian myth of Jesus fulfills a chasm of human needs.  Here is a god that can save us from ourselves.  Humans are driven more by primitive emotions than by reason.  Emotion trumps reason.  Human behavior is frequently self defeating and socially counterproductive.  Jesus suffered for our sins.  He offers redemption.  I don't know about you, but I need to be saved from a lot of my stupid mistakes, my past actions.  Redemption myths offer hope that we may be "more better" in the future. Hope that our regrets may be washed away with blood and we will be sin free, white as snow.  Well, it is nice to think so, except for all the blood, which is gory.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Source of Water

Acrylic on canvas, 24"x18", 2008

 

 

 

 

The metaphor images of woman/water has historically reoccurred in art. Vemeer painted "Woman with a Water Jug, in 1660.  In 1856 Ingres painted woman as a spring, bringing forth water, he was inspired by an earlier painter.  Woman and water as the source and spark of life, weaves through art history as a iconic thread of human existence.

 

  Water is more necessary for life than food.  A person can live for weeks without food, without water he may survive at most a few days.  We are at least 80% water.  Before entering this earth through the woman birth canal we float in a watery womb. 

 

Water reflects light.  It is also transparent, revealing another layer, a fluid realm beneath the surface.

 

The pairing of woman and water celebrates the amazing fertility of life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Phoenix Flying

Digital painting and Epson print, 21M flat, 2013

 

The mythical Phoenix bird is the original come-back-kid.  She lives and soars for 1000 years.  At the end of the millennium she crashes and burns.  The Phoenix dies by fire every 1000 years, then she rises from the ashes, reborn, to live and soar another 1000 years.  This myth fulfills our need to be reassured that we can rise from the ashes of our stupidity (personal stupidity and racial stupidity) and finally get our shit together.

 

 

 

 

 



 

 Gidget, Gadget and Gizmo

Digital painting, Epson print, 18M flat, 2013

 

This is just a funny little picture at the end

 

 



 

 A few notes:

 

This blog entry was updated September, 2014

  

These writers on myth theory have had influence on my thought processes;  Joseph Campbell,  Sir James Frazier, and Carl Jung. 

 

Many visual references have contributed to this series,  too many to name.

 

My posts are unedited, any misconduct is my error, mine alone. 

 

I rely on Wikipedia for reference.

 

Yashoda and Jesus



Mary and Krishna

Oil on canvas, 48"x36", 2012

 

 

 

Antenna Gallery, Mixed Messages

 

These two paintings will be in the Press Street's Antenna Gallery, Mixed Messages exhibition.  Opening Saturday June 7, 5pm to 9pm.  On view through July 1.  Gallery hours 12 noon to 5 pm, Monday through Sunday. Call 504-298-3161 before arrival. Address:  3718 Saint Claude Avenue, New Orleans, La.  Hope to see you there!

 

SWITCHED AT BIRTH is a pair of paintings,

MARY WITH KRISHNA and YASHODA WITH JESUS

 

These two paintings are from the series, "POP Religion".  POP Religion explores the myths that humans live by with irreverence/reverence and with humor.

 

In this pair of paintings the babies are switched between the two mothers.  The Caucasian mother holds the blue skinned baby, and the blue Indian mother holds the pink baby.  The Christian Mother Mary is holding the Hindu Baby God Krishna.  The Hindu nurture Mother Yashoda is holding the Christian Baby God Jesus.

 

The inspiration for these pictures is the similarities between the births, myths and teachings of Krishna and Jesus.  Similarities between Christianity and Hinduism. 

 

Both Krishna and Jesus were divinely conceived, brought to earth via miraculous insemination.  God planted holy sperm seeds in the human mothers' wombs. 

 

Krishna was born in a prison, Jesus was born in a barn (manger means a feeder for livestock).  So they were both born in lowly, unlikely places.

 

Both Krishna and Jesus were hybrid human and immortal Gods.

 

As Gods incarnate in human bodies, both were the chosen Saviors of flawed and suffering humans.  Both Gods were dedicated to saving humans from themselves.

 

Both Krishna and Jesus were humble and lead simple ascetic lives.  Both associated with downtrodden people.

 

Both healed the sick and raised the dead.

 

Both taught tolerance, mercy and kindness;  compassionate love.

 

There are many similarities in their lives, leading some scholars to theorize that the two myths stemmed from the one same story, and the differences in the myths are explained by their word of mouth retelling over time and traveling over a geographical area.

 

Other scholars, like Carl Jung postulate that the many similarities in not just these two myths but in many myths worldwide and over historical centuries is a result of an oversoul or spiritual connection between all humans everywhere and for all times.

 

Another factor in the similarities of world wide myths is the universality of the human dilemma.  In the words of artist Gauguin, "Where did we come from?  Why are we here?  Where are we going?"  We cant stand not knowing.

 

POP Religion is influenced by the writings of Joseph Campbell, Sir James Frazier, Carl Jung and by historical visual depictions of world wide myths.  The seriousness of these influences is balanced by humor.  Because if we cant laugh at ourselves, then we are really in trouble.

 

 

Note:  the "Yashoda and Jesus" picture here is the digital image that I used as preliminary study for the canvas painting.  The painting is different, the figures are similar but the background of the canvas picture is of clouds. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

To See Beyond the Dogma

Digital painting, created 2/21/13

 

 

To See an Angel

detail of To See Beyond the Dogma

 

 

detail

 

 

To See Beyond the Dogma was created, according to my files, on 2/21/13.  I have been painting in the studio, so do not have a new digital image to post at this time.  This image was created about 14 months past and illustrates, especially by the title, my enduring concern with religion and spiritualty. 

 

After a childhood of physical abuse in the name of THE LORD, I had a plethora of hungry issues.  I foraged in the hills and the valleys, in the cities and the wilderness, grazing on food for my soul.  I have been a Methodist, and a, I forgot what you call it, an extreme form of Christian, oh yea, a Fundamentalist.  I have been an agnostic, an atheist, and a pantheist.  A freethinker and a Buddhist and a New Ager. If I had only stopped at agnostic, my brain would not be as overstuffed as a Kardashian Kloset.  A vague, freeform pantheism best satisfies my spiritual hunger.   

 

I have had "spells"  of mystical states since childhood.  I don't know why some people, like me, are inflamed with a spiritual itch, and other people think that the whole searching endeavor is ridiculous.  I am resigned to being confused in my verbal mind, but fairly content in my soul.  It is more than words.  It is the occasional experience of ecstatic states that convinces me there is more to life than concrete reality.

 

And, you know, I try to be kind and loving.

 

A few weeks ago Second Son and Grandgirl and I were in the feed and seed store shopping for parts for the wood burning stove.  I said to Son, within earshot of Grandgirl, "We brought you here to sell you".  Grandgirl thought that this was funny (funny points for Gramma).  I thought that it was very funny because it was so daring.  Son was not pleased.  I need to apologize.  Later, I felt ashamed, and resolved to edit my speech better.  I resolved to be kinder. 

 

I was reading, "Anna Karenina" by Tolstoy.  Near the end of the one thousand pages, Levin, (the character that Tolstoy most identified with), had a spiritual epiphany and decided that after all the philosophical catastrophe could be easily solved with simple kindness.  He resolved to be more kind.  Shortly after that he was riding in his buggy and berated his servant driver over an insignificant incident. 

 

The next time I saw my son I ganged up with his wife to gently pick on him.  This won me much needed points with Daughter in Law, but Son was annoyed.  This kindness practice takes practice.  I will keep trying. 

 

The angel in this picture was downloaded and worked in Photoshop.  She is a vintage ceramic piece.  I salute the people who designed and created her, whoever they are.  Her eyes are rolled back in her head, eyes rolling back can signal a mystical trance. 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 



Mary Ascending

Digital Painting

 

 

Hey Y'all,

 

 

I haven't been posting lately because it is the busy season for obfuscating and extrapolating.  I downloaded a daffodil and damaged my Dingbat.  After an indecent week of intensive introspection, I am glad to report that Dingbat has recovered to a previous level of deliberate denial. You know, it is just one glitch after another.  Giggling seems to help with a gaggle of glitches.  I have also been having trouble with incurable incompetent alliteration, if anyone knows a cure for this please leave a comment. 

 

 

 

 

Here's hoping that all your glitches don't constipate your gizzard,

 

 

Janet

Sandra Blair, A Time Warp Portrait

 

Sandra Blair, A Time Warp Portrait

 



A few weeks ago Sandra posted an 80's photo of herself on Face Book. The wide shouldered dress reminded me of pictures of my mother from the forties.  Sandra and I FB chatted.  I quipped that with Photoshop, I could put my mother's 40's hairdo on Sandra.  She said, "Oh, do it, that would be so cool!"  I thought about doing the px for a few days, because I knew, that once started, it would be a time commitment to complete.  Soon, I knew that I wanted to do the portrait. 

 

Why do art??  There are many answers to this question.  One of the most compelling is curiosity to see how the picture will develop.  There are surprises involved in working a picture.  A hundred small decisions, color, line, texture, and composition decisions add up to something that has never been seen before.  If the inspiration is viable then the time spent crafting an image is rewarded with a beautiful NEW creation. 

 

Sandra Blair was organizer and the sizzling Queen of Krewe of Clones for about seven years in the 80's. Krewe of Clones was a large and popular artist Mardi Gras marching parade connected with the Contemporary Arts Center.

 According to my understanding, the Crewe of Rex (the oldest Crewe) was established to parody the royalty of Europe.  Krewe of Clones was established to spoof Crewe of Rex. And now, Crewe de Vieux has inherited the out of control satire mantle of Krewe of Clones.

 

 What a wonderful decade the eighties were for me and mine.  We, an excitable pack of good friends and family, hot children in the city, were the "Hemorrhoid Marching Klub", creating costumes and mobile "sculptures" for the parade!  Why?, you may ask, as many other baffled people have questioned, did you call it "Hemorrhoid  Marching Klub?  The answer is simple, "Because hemorrhoids are disgusting".  Yes, that was the decade when I learned how to avoid "good taste".  When I graduated from being hemmed in by appropriate behavior rules, a bigger world opened to my consciousness.  This gave my art the freedom of a rebel, made me a committed nonconformist supported by a band of unruly misfits.   

 

I am sorry Mother, and I apologize to my loving Aunts,  you taught me well, but I had to escape the prison of being a good girl.  Decades have passed, if you, careful teachers and role models, are still turning over in your grave, then you must be very dizzy.  But, I imagine that you are looking down from above, lounging on a cloud, wearing elegant angelic palazzo pajamas, flipping through the channels of your descendants (the saints and the sinners) reality shows.  I imagine that you "get it" now, that you understand why I needed to explore outward from the strictures of good breeding.

 

Sandra Blair, as Queen of Clones, was chief guide to the outer limits of wicked bad taste. Costumed as an over the top drag queen, she broke every rule in Miss Manners' stuffy book. She created her own blow your mind costumes.  Crafty woman, that Sandra.  

 

Somehow it is ironic that I would mate my mother's 'every hair in place' do with the face of the Queen of Divine Bad Taste.  Now, this is art, mashing up seemingly antagonistic elements.  And, this, is another good reason to make art.  Sometimes creating helps me to reconcile antagonistic elements of my life.  Better than therapy.  Better than chocolate.  Almost better than sex.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sandra Blair in the Eighties

Isnt she beautiful?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Angelina Jolie, Queen of the Night

 

 

Angelina Jolie

Queen of the Night

Happy Mardi Gras!

Belushi Bacchus

Oil on canvas, 36"x48", 2013



 

 

Jagger Devil

Acrylic on canvas, 36"x48", 2013

 

 

Happy Mardi Gras!!!