Tag: Spring 2012
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The Death of Marat by Jacques-Louis David
This famous painting shows the death of the radical politician of the French Revolution, Jean-Paul Marat (1743-1793). Suffering from a chronic skin disease, perhaps dermatitis herpetiformis, he was soaking himself in a medicinal bath when stabbed to death by Charlotte Corday. He may have contracted the disease while hiding in the sewers for safety. It…
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Piero di Cosimo
Piero di Cosimo was a highly eccentric Florentine painter (ca. 1461-1521) whose best known paintings are quite idiosyncratic. His mythological paintings exhibit a bizarre style, many filled with fantastic humans and animals. . . . it appeared that he had lived the life of a brute rather than a man, as he had kept himself…
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Frida Kahlo
Now recognized as one of the great painters of the 20th century, Frida Kahlo’s life had been one of suffering and pain. Born in Mexico, she had polio at age six, leaving her with a contracted left leg. At the age of 20 she had a serious bus accident that fractured her spinal column, clavicle, ribs,…
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Quentin Massys – The Ugly Duchess
Flemish artist Quentin Massys (1465–1523) was born in Louvain and worked in Antwerp, where he painted many exquisite works of art. In 1513, he painted the portrait of An Old Woman, popularly known as The Ugly Duchess. Perhaps the best known of his works, it may be a portrait of Margaret, countess of Tyrol and…
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WHACK’ed … and then everything was different: portraits of traumatic brain injury survivors
Eliette MarkhbeinNew York, United States My show, WHACK’ed . . . and then everything was different, honors traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivors who changed perceptions of TBI and disability and became role models for millions. The series of large scale portraits personify the various causes of TBI as well as the diversity of people it…
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December fall
James BallardHershey, Pennsylvania, United States Poet’s statement Those of us who care for patients at the end of life realize the importance of closure (i.e., the settling of unfinished business, misunderstandings, and disputes between patients and their families and friends before death). This poem begins and ends with images of an early December day seen…
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Retired hurt
J.M.S. PearceUnited Kingdom Poet’s statement Lines on retirement written years ago in a transient mood of reflection, not depression. Retired hurt1 What is this life with time to spare,There’s too much time to stand and stare. No breakfast rushed, no traffic raceNo bureaucrat’s unsmiling face. No prim grey suit worn everyday,No shiny shoes your pride…
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Ripping point
Michelle JoyNew Haven, Connecticut, USA Poet’s statement This poem came forth as an expression of coping with the violent experience described within, which transpired some years ago to my younger, very loved brother. Ripping point My mother’s hysteric words rang as loudly as the shot that was fired—They fell as soundly (upon my ears)As the…
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Memory – Grandpa Louis
Eleonore Blaurock-BuschHersbruck, Germany Poet’s statement Poetry allows us to summarize human and world issues in condensed lines and emotion. By condensing, we focus on that which we consider important. MemoryHe is old now, my older brother.Hip and knee replacement,the prostatectomy took a toll.He is slower, more pale and wrinkledand before he forgets morethan his money…
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In the spider’s web – Landscapes – Intelligent design
Daniel Thomas MoranMassachusetts, USA Poet’s statement “In the Spider’s Web” is about a visit I made to see my late grandfather at a nursing facility in Michigan as he was suffering from the final stages of Alzheimer’s Disease. This poem was included in my collection From HiLo to Willow Pond. “Intelligent Design” is a little…