Author Archives: Laura

ART SUNDAY 05/11/08: Robyn Collier, Australian artist

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Lake Bennett, Oil on canvas I discovered a great artist on the internet. She comes from Australia and she is a wonderful nature artist. What I like about her work mostly is her color combinations. Her work is based on Australian landscapes and her colors are awesome ! She knows what I like !  I can’t believe these are paintings ! They look like photographs. My favorite one is the last one, but I’m sure you’ll have your own favorite.     Robyn Collier is a painter in the realist … Continue reading →

The History of the Conversos

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CONVERSOS, 1450 -1789  The Jews of Spain who converted to Christianity are usually called conversos, although they are also known as Marranos or New Christians to distinguish them from the more numerous Old Christians. Some Jews converted voluntarily. Two of the best known are Abner of Burgos and Pablo de Santa María, both of whom were baptized in the fourteenth century and inspired others to follow their lead. Other Jews were forced to convert to save their lives during the massacres and mob violence motivated … Continue reading →

Art Sunday 06/08/08: Fra Angelico

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Coronation of the Virgin Fra Angelico The Louvre, Paris   I discovered the work of Fra Angelico for myself. What I love about his paintings are his choice of colors. I love the blue and peachy shades he uses in his paintings. Most Renaissance paintings have mostly reds and golds, but I love Angelico’s soothing blue shades in his work, and they seem to be in many of his paintings. I love Renaissance art and I find it to be a refreshing way of seeing it. Enjoy them !   Fra … Continue reading →

Poetry Wednesday 02/20/08: Simon and Garfunkel – Old Friends

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Time it was, and what a time it was, it was A time of innocence, a time of confidences Long ago, it must be, I have a photograph Preserve your memories, they’re all that’s left you Old Friends by Paul Simon and Arthur Garfunkel Old friends, Old friends Sat on their park bench Like bookends. A newspaper blown though the grass Falls on the round toes Of the high shoes Of the old friends. Old friends, Winter companions, The old men Lost in their overcoats, … Continue reading →

Theater Thursday 06/19/08: Life is Beautiful

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This 1997 Italian foreign film, Life Is Beautiful, (Italian: La vita è bella) was an international sensation and the most successful foreign language film in U.S. history. An inspired motion picture masterpiece, it was nominated for 7 Academy Awards — winning 3 Oscars, including one for Best Actor Roberto Benigni, who also directed and co-wrote the film.  In this extraordinary tale, Guido Orefice (Roberto Benigni) — a charming but bumbling waiter who’s gifted with a colorful imagination and an irresistible sense of humor — has won … Continue reading →

Poetry Wednesday 04/02/08: Sleep My Baby

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Empire of the Sun is a 1987 English language epic film directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Christian Bale, John Malkovich, and Mirand Richardson. It is based on thenovel of the same name by J.G. Ballard; the film’s screenplay being adapted by Tom Stoppard and Menno Meyjes. The film was critically acclaimed, being nominated for six Oscars and winning three BAFTAs (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) for Cinematography, Music and Sound. Bale received a special citation for Best Performance by a Juvenile Actor from the … Continue reading →

Art Sunday 03/23/08: Tantric Art

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Yab-yum (Tibetan literally, “father-mother”) is a common symbol in the Buddhist art of India, Bhutan, Nepal, and Tibet representing the male deity in sexual union with his female consort. Often the male deity is sitting in lotus position while his consort is sitting in his lap. Despite appearances, the yab-yum is not related in any way to sexual practices. The traditional Tibetan Buddhist Yab-yum image of two deities in an overtly sexual posture, is a meditational tool, one of many seemingly contradictory images of sex used to achieve the … Continue reading →

IMAX Movies

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                                                             I’m not going to put down IMAX movies. At least, not all of them. I think there have been some creative ones that I have actually been excited to see. Coral Reef was great. I think I remember seeing one about Mount Everest, and another called Mission To Mars. I think I saw Mission To Mars at a planetarium theater. The Polar Express was good. I would say over the years, my favorite IMAX movies have been mostly nature movies. Yesterday, we saw the … Continue reading →

It happened on December 10, 1991

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This picture of Justin Hayward was taken out of a program booklet when The Moody Blues did two benefit concerts in New York City in 1991. I’ve been to so many of their concerts in New York City. This concert was at the Paramount Theater and the photo was from the Tour Of The Kingdoms. The big hit at this time was, “Say It With Love.”  It was a benefit concert, and after it had finished, the first ten rows of people (we had what was … Continue reading →

Theater Thursday: Raging Bull

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Raging Bull is a 1980 film directed by Martin Scorsese, adapted by Paul Schrader and Mardik Martin from the memoir Raging Bull: My Story. It stars Robert De Niro as Jake LaMotta, a temperamental and paranoid but tenacious boxer who alienates himself from his friends and family. I think this may be one of Robert De Niro’s greatest performances besides The Godfather. Also featured in the film are Joe Pesci as Joey, La Motta’s brother and manager, and Cathy Moriarty as his abused wife. The … Continue reading →