Painted between 1503 and 1506 by Leonardo DaVinci, the portrait of the wife of Francesco del Giocondo (Lisa Gherardini) known as the “Mona Lisa” is one of the most well-known paintings ever produced.

Of course, this was during a time when women of class were more demure, without senseless celebrities to imitate and had less need for attention-getting tactics. You know for certain that if Mona Lisa were alive today, she’d bare at least two thirds of her boobs on her Facebook pic, have at least one unsightly tattoo and she’d probably still shit in a bucket — although she’d make at least one public video of the act.

What Happens to a Dream Deferred?
Does it Shrivel Up like a Raisin in the Sun?
Or Fester like a Sore and then Run?
Does it Stink like Rotten Meat?
Or Crust and Sugar Over like a Syrupy Sweet?
Maybe It Just Sags like a Heavy Load.

–Or Does it Explode?

 –Langston Hughes

Read It!  Think about it!  Take notes! Most of all interact with it!

Reading is an act of giving.  An act of giving away control and lettiong your mind wander with the artist’s (author’s) direction.  You let the artist lead your hand through the interpretation with the guides they give you in the piece.  There is still plenty left for you to do in regard to your imagination.  I call this reading in the moment, you let yourself be aborbed into the time period, the location, and the description of the times and places the artist takes you to.  It is surrendering yourself to the will of another by faith.

In order to make reading worthwhile, you must feel the literature.  Live it as you read and the reading will have meaning.  Overtime your can begin to understand with your whole heart and your being.  Literature is a living art and should be treated as such.  Once you can be open, then you can respond to the message the artist has in mind.

While on blogitude, we may question and sometimes push the limits on what are is, I have an announcement to make.  As part of Maryville, Tennessee’s Last Friday, I will have my first photography show inside Southland Books.  The festivities begin at 5:00 and go until the cows are about to come out.  So feel free to show yourself for a night of art, music, wine, and cheese.  If you can’t make it you can also see my exhibition on flickr.com. 

     I stumbled into Robert Munroe’s treasure trove of talented ‘toons quite by accident, and can’t help but impressed.  Sure, some might seem a little obscure, maybe even a bit “geeky,” but what the Hell do you expect from a Physicist and Robotics Engineer? 😉

     Actually, he seems to be a remarkably talented evil genius:

     In case you didn’t get that one…

     And this remarkably astute piece is titled, “How it Works”:

     Regardless, I think it’s clever stuff.  But then, some people consider me a little warped… Others consider me a lot warped… and a handful think I’m not warped at all.  The latter make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

     Check out xkcd.com for more.  😉

Tip: Courtesy of xkcd.com, by way of Paul Simer, by way of Les Jones.

Many of you may not know, but the week after I got hitched, I bailed and went to Germany for 10 days. Fun, fun, fun don’cha know.

Anyway, I was in Hannover for a couple of days and managed (between the raindrops) to get out and do the tourist schlep. Grabbed a cab and took in Herrenhausen Gardens. Quite the impressive place actually. One could get lost up in there.

Figured I’d share with you what the German folk consider to be art, as they had an art exhibition in full gear within the garden gates whilst I was there. Enjoy.

Ok, so these are babydolls cocooned in Saran Wrap and hung in trees.
*scratches head* I still don’t quite get it, but ok. Kinda creepy in a Blair Witch kinda way.

And this is an exhibit called (surprisingly) “Split Pea Soup & Beer”

In case you’re wondering, the lil sign says no drinky the beer or do not touch or something to that effect.

This here is the Creme de la Creme. A Penis made out of a sticky bush. Nice. The exhibit was entitled “Sex.”

Imagine that. I certainly could have done with a lil nookie after looking at a seven foot tall prickly penis.

And the grande finale photo is not actually part of the art exhibit, it was just one of the few flowers left that hadn’t frozen it’s stamen off yet.

It was cold and miserable that day, but the oversized penis… dayum, it really did make the whole thing worth it.