In the Chinese Zodiac, this is the Year of the Ox, beginning on February 12, 2021. The ox is an animal valued for its role in agriculture and for being honest, hardworking, and reliable. Those born under this sign are said to be strong and independent, but may also be very stubborn. Famous people born in the Year of the Ox include Napoleon, Vincent Van Gogh, Adolf Hitler, Walt Disney, Richard Nixon, Saddam Hussein, and Barack Obama.
A new day is dawning…
A view of the central garden courtyard around which the Casa Azul (Blue House) was built in 1904. Located in Coyoacán, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Mexico City, this casa is where Frida Kahlo was born in 1907, grew up, and where she died in 1954. Four years later, Casa Azul was turned into a museum dedicated to the life and work of Frida Kahlo.
Welcome, 2021
The sun is coming; hope is in the air; spring will soon be on its way.
We can see the light at the end of the tunnel!!! As the winter solstice passes and the days slowly but surely get longer, we look forward to 2021. Happy Holidays to one and all…And Best Wishes in the New Year.
Another pandemic-induced hybrid sketch, this time of the Five Rathas site at Mahabalipuram, on the coast of the Bay of Bengal, in Tamil Nadu state, India. The complex, built in the 7th century during the reign of King Narasimhavarman I, comprises fine examples of Indian rock-cut architecture. Each ratha (chariot) is carved from a single granite monolith. The above view shows the Bhima Ratha on the right, the Nakula Sahadeva Ratha back and toward the left, with a full-size elephant sculpture in between.
This is another view drawn on site during my visit to Chennai in 2015. The Five Rathas was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.
For partners and pets, family and friends, nature’s flora and fauna as well as the creative constructions that enrich our lives, and all who hold compassion and love in their hearts. And for all the memories.
With deep respect for all who have served this country honorably.
[A cropped copy of Frans Hals’ Singing Boy with Flute, 1623, Pastel, Architecture 35: Decorative Arts, University of Notre Dame, 1963]