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. 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 



Art Show on a Table

 

 

 

 

Art Show on a Table