“Gethsemane” by Gabriel Mills
“Once, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, in a gallery of paintings by Peter Paul Rubens, I was asked, ‘What is the most important thing in this room?’” writes artist Gabriel Mills.
“After a moment, I replied, ‘The air. After the air, then probably the walls.’”
* * *
Mills continues: “This led me to the more profound question of whether the glass is half full or half empty. The glass is entirely complete, holding both water and air… a beautiful illustration of the relationship between spirit and matter.”
* * *
For more like this, check out the journal “Image: Art * Faith * Mystery.”
* * *
Can you imagine what it might mean, to see the glass as complete? Daily. To believe it.
* * *
This week I saw a bee dead asleep on a stalk of goldenrod while a cherry tree nearby barely held on to a steep embankment. A chilly sea breeze ruffled the feathers of a gull on a rocky outcrop. A mermaid briefly surfaced and splashed her black tail in the waves, then I realized she was a seal. Two small yellow butterflies and a reddish one flew against the wind, west, towards the setting sun. Not together, mind you. Alone, each of them, winging their way maybe home.
* * *
About the journal Image (from its website):
Anchored by a quarterly arts journal, Image is a lively community that gathers readers, writers, artists and art-appreciators in person and online.
Mission: Image fosters contemporary art and writing that grapple with the mystery of being human by curating, cultivating, convening, and celebrating work that explores religious faith and spiritual questions.
Vision: Image is animated by our vision to be a vibrant thread in the fabric of culture, contributing to mainstream literary and artistic communities by demonstrating the vitality of contemporary art and literature invigorated by religious faith.
Jennifer, I shared this post to Facebook. Hope you get one or two additional followers. Love your pictures and prose. One of these times when we visit our granddaughter and her family in Nashville, I would love to meet you somewhere, maybe a coffee shop? Peace, LaMon
Please do reach out when you’re in town, LaMon! I’d love that! And – thank you for sharing on Facebook. That is so kind of you. Xoxo
Gorgeous prose
Thank you dear Jack. Xoxo
What a beautiful meditation on the beauty around us. Thank you for reminding me to slow down today and to look. IMAGE looks like a lovely publication, too.
Thank you for being in touch, Ophelia! It is always a pleasure to hear from you! I need to be reminded every day. Xoxo