As I get older, I seem to be even more metaphysically inclined rather than less. Still a bit of a heretic, it seems ...Click on the images for larger versions or on the captions below them for descriptive text. Older works can be found here.
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Marker pen on paper & electronic layout, 8 1/2" x 11", 2006
A little sympathy for the authorities of the day, speculating on how they may have regarded him, and a warning to all who follow their conscience. More on this at my blog entry, Jesus the Troublemaker.
Tryptych: Each panel is acrylic on canvasboard, 9" x 12", 2006
The Holy Trinity is a profoundly sublime concept, possibly the most mind-crackingly Zen idea in Christianity (if you doubt, try wrapping your head around the Athanasian Creed).
This tryptych, (actually three separate paintings mounted along a beam) is an attempt to update the popular image. It incorporates modern concepts of the equality of minorities and women -- for surely, the concern expressed in the Sermon on the Mount identifies more with the Third World than Imperial America. And if masculine properties are included in the image of divinity that we are created in, then it is equally certain that the other half of the human race should likewise be represented.
Thus a somewhat Rastafarian-looking Christ and the Holy Spirit depicted as a young, confident woman. Only the Father gets to retain to his traditional "Hairy Thunderer" look.
The style chosen was based on traditional New Mexican santos. Of course, any attempt to portray such a transcendental mystery will wind up as a cartoon, but this was an experiment to try to explore the idea of the unity of the Persons of God by showing the Trinity as a family. No idolatry, blasphemy, or mockery is intended.
In any case, the Holy Spirit shown as the Divine embodiment of the feminine is at least better than either of the images of the Holy Ghost I grew up with: a radioactive pigeon, or some guy in a sheet with a halo. ;->
Christ
Each age sees Christ differently. Gone are the days of a blonde, blue-eyed, Nordic Jesus as personified by Max Von Sydow in "The Greatest Story Ever Told". This a more politically-correct version for the 21st Century, and one I'm personally much more comfortable with. Top
Ancient of Days
A more traditional view of Jehovah. Top
Holy Spirit
The life-giving, nurturing feminine nature must be as fully embodied in a Person of the Diety as the masculine is. This is an attempt to do so without using the somewhat awkward "God the Father/God the Mother" formula, and avoids the ambiguity of "Our Divine Parent".
One scholar, at least, claims that in the early Church, the Holy Spirit was indeed considered feminine.
In Christian tradition, the four cardinal points are presided over by mighty archangels. In this set of drawings, I have incorporated much similar symbolism, not all of it Western, associated with the directions, in color, shape, time, etc. I've also included the animals associated with the evangelists, who have also been assigned to the quarters, and of course, as many of the traditional attributes of the archangels themselves as I could.
Ink, colored pencils & watercolor on paper, 9 1/2" x 7 3/8", 2005
St. Raphael the Archangel: Ruler of the East
St. Raphael is traditionally shown as a young man, often carrying a fish (patron of anglers), and is invoked to safeguard travelers and as a healer, too. Top
St. Michael the Archangel: Ruler of the South
The great St. Michael, Prince of the Heavenly Host, shown in lion armor, is famous for having kicked Satan out of Heaven. Here's a traditional prayer to him.
St. Gabriel the Archangel: Ruler of the West
St. Gabriel is the Herald of God in Islam and Judaism as well as Christianity. Thus he carries the Trump of Doom for everybody.
St. Uriel the Archangel: Ruler of the North
St. Uriel is the most neglected of the four. Some of the few legends that exist connect him with alchemy, naturally enough.
Next – Beyond the Veil 2
The Night Gallery: Beyond the Veil 1
