Self-Taught Genius Gallery Queens, New York – In 2017, the American Folk Art Museum in Manhattan opened an offshoot space for the exhibition of artworks from the museum’s vast collection of some 8,000 items. Entitled the Self-Taught Genius Gallery, visitors to this Long Island City space will find folk artworks made by extraordinary self-taught (also referred to as “outsider” or “Naïve”) artists over the last 300-odd years.
Ember Wednesday in Lent Roman Station Church: The Basilica of St. Mary Major @ Barnhardt
Winnemucca Lake – Nixon, Nevada Using the test information, the carvings were estimated to have been made somewhere between 14,800 and 13,200 years ago or between 11,300 and 10,500 years ago, as those are the periods when the water levels were low. The latter date range is most likely, as it correlates with other archaeological finds in the area. Regardless of which date range the petroglyphs were made in, they’re currently the oldest known carvings in North America.
“We no longer have time for the good, the beautiful, or whether or not something is true. We have only time for conversation.” — John Cage
It is a commonplace that the overwhelming mass of our contemporary art that is “exhibited” has devolved into mere “exhibitionism.” Vapid, disposable, and preening the works are doomed to be buried in the gaping garbage pits of marketing-driven museums, and crapulous galleries that hold most contemporary American and European art. Still, great souls persist among us, and great art, though it is often obscured by poseurs and perverts and pallid imitators of all stripes, can still emerge when talent and skill are wedded to inspiration and belief. . . .
What a wonderful counter to an otherwise less than great morning. This was some good medicine.
Thank you.
JWM
RuthMarch 10, 2022, 12:17 PM
A little while ago we buried our dear kitty Sissy (Miss Sissy-Bunnie, for short) and as we stood over her grave, I lamented to my husband that after 13 years with her, we don’t have a single good photo to remember her by. She had such an unusual fox-like face.
Well, I came in the house and began scrolling through “Beautiful Daze” for distraction…and comfort. And suddenly, there is my fluffy, golden, foxy-faced kitty staring back at me (the “Crazy Cat Lady” picture). If you were to shrink that enormous fellow down to about eight pounds, you’d be looking at our girl. Even the fluffy toes. I saved the photo…it will have to do.
It was literally just a few minutes between my wishing for a photo…and finding one here. So thanks, Gerard. You’ve made a tough day a little easier.
VanderleunMarch 10, 2022, 12:33 PM
You are most welcome, Ruth.
Casey KlahnMarch 10, 2022, 12:45 PM
Kind thanks, Gerard. I’m humbled.
jdMarch 10, 2022, 2:42 PM
Quite the mix, Gerard. Thank you.
Princess CutekittenMarch 10, 2022, 4:29 PM
👏👏👏
Thank you! Those are great.
The Cat Lady I knew was not the stereotypical misanthrope trying to substitute cats for a man. ( A fruitless endeavor, by the way—while cats are happy to kill spiders, they refuse to cut the grass.).
She was a sweetheart who always wanted to help, whatever the problem was, and not at all “political “ as the word is understood today. She voted but did not practice politics as a religion. She was nice to talk to. Also born blonde. She had guys calling her the day after her husband’s funeral. I think a lot of cheerful Cat Ladies are like her.
Going from the sublime to the ridiculous, there’s the stereotypical hateful liberal I saw scowling into the camera—with an adorable puppy on her lap. Unless you live in one of those countries where people only like dogs if they (the dogs) are medium-rare, how is it humanly possible to look that angry with an adorable puppy on your lap? ‘Tain’t natural, say I.
mmackMarch 10, 2022, 7:28 PM
Gerard,
First, cool picture of an Aeronca Champ (the high wing monoplane on skis). I saw one or two around the airport I took my first flying lessons at.
Secondly, thanks for all the other pictures of art 🖼. My late mother-in-law painted in watercolors and did some wonderfully detailed paintings which are framed and hanging around our house for us and visitors to view. I have four of her paintings in my office. She had that weird artist’s temperament: Some of her best paintings she thought were no good and she shoved them in a drawer for us to find after she passed on.
We thought they were incredibly detailed and treasure them, she thought they were junk.
TerryMarch 10, 2022, 10:09 PM
Wonderful visual display. Made me believe I was in the real (old) world again.
We all need more positive, and beauty in our lives as of currently.
Real World Address for Donations, Mash Notes and Hate Mail
Gerard Van der Leun
1692 MANGROVE AVE
APT 379
Chico, Ca 95926
Green Pants Interior by Klahn
Who Am I? by Carl Sandburg
My head knocks against the stars.
My feet are on the hilltops.
My finger-tips are in the valleys and shores of universal life.
Down in the sounding foam of primal things I reach my hands and play with pebbles of destiny.
I have been to hell and back many times.
I know all about heaven, for I have talked with God.
I dabble in the blood and guts of the terrible.
I know the passionate seizure of beauty
And the marvelous rebellion of man at all signs reading “Keep Off.”
My name is Truth and I am the most elusive captive in the universe.
Duty, Beauty, Liberty, Country, Honor, Family, Faith — Plus a few simple easy to follow rules for guys
Men saw the stars at the edge of the sea
They thought great thoughts about liberty
Poets wrote down words that did fit
Writers wrote books
Thinkers thought about it
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
Many’s the road I have walked upon
Many’s the hour between dusk and dawn
Many’s the time
Many’s the mile
I see it all now
Through the eyes of a child
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
[Chorus]
Lost dreams and found dreams
In America
In America
In America
Lost dreams and found dreams
In America
In America
In America
And close your eyes
Leave it all for a while
Leave the world
And your worries behind
You will build on whatever is real
And wake up each day
To a new waking dream
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
[Chorus]
Change, change come over
Change come over
Talkin’ about a change
Change, change
Change come over, now
Change, change, change come over
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I see my light
See my light
See my shining light
I see my light
See my light
See my shining light
AND REMEMBER KIDS . . .
Textured Pastel Art Captures Fantasy Landscapes in Vivid Color
When Baroque Has Modern Accents In Amazing Paintings 
Winnemucca Lake – Nixon, Nevada Using the test information, the carvings were estimated to have been made somewhere between 14,800 and 13,200 years ago or between 11,300 and 10,500 years ago, as those are the periods when the water levels were low. The latter date range is most likely, as it correlates with other archaeological finds in the area. Regardless of which date range the petroglyphs were made in, they’re currently the oldest known carvings in North America.
How Portraits of Women and Cats Break the “Crazy Cat Lady” Stereotype
This Ski Jacket Mimics the Color-Changing Skin of a Squid
Unnatural Selection: Emil Schachtzabel’s Pigeon *Prachtwerk* 
daily timewaster: Vintage and Beautiful
20 Contemporary Quilt Patterns You Can Start Working on Today
This Fantastic 1000-Piece Full Moon Puzzle
Brazilian Artist Tullius Heuer Creates Digital Paintings That Leap Off The Page
Beautiful Blooms Look Like Real-Life Flowers
“From Far Away…”: Mustafa Said Bilir Creates Dreamlike And Surreal Photo Manipulations
Eye Candy for Today: Vermeer’s Geographer 
Street Photographer Uses San Francisco’s Fog to Enhance His Images
Aerial Lavender Field Video Lets You See the Site from New Heights
Photographer Stephen Wilkes Talks “Day to Night” and Its Evolution
Utagawa Hiroshige: Last Great Master of Ukiyo-e 
“O Magnum Mysterium:” The Persistence of Sacred Beauty
Gerard Van der Leun
Comments on this entry are closed.
What a wonderful counter to an otherwise less than great morning. This was some good medicine.
Thank you.
JWM
A little while ago we buried our dear kitty Sissy (Miss Sissy-Bunnie, for short) and as we stood over her grave, I lamented to my husband that after 13 years with her, we don’t have a single good photo to remember her by. She had such an unusual fox-like face.
Well, I came in the house and began scrolling through “Beautiful Daze” for distraction…and comfort. And suddenly, there is my fluffy, golden, foxy-faced kitty staring back at me (the “Crazy Cat Lady” picture). If you were to shrink that enormous fellow down to about eight pounds, you’d be looking at our girl. Even the fluffy toes. I saved the photo…it will have to do.
It was literally just a few minutes between my wishing for a photo…and finding one here. So thanks, Gerard. You’ve made a tough day a little easier.
You are most welcome, Ruth.
Kind thanks, Gerard. I’m humbled.
Quite the mix, Gerard. Thank you.
👏👏👏
Thank you! Those are great.
The Cat Lady I knew was not the stereotypical misanthrope trying to substitute cats for a man. ( A fruitless endeavor, by the way—while cats are happy to kill spiders, they refuse to cut the grass.).
She was a sweetheart who always wanted to help, whatever the problem was, and not at all “political “ as the word is understood today. She voted but did not practice politics as a religion. She was nice to talk to. Also born blonde. She had guys calling her the day after her husband’s funeral. I think a lot of cheerful Cat Ladies are like her.
Going from the sublime to the ridiculous, there’s the stereotypical hateful liberal I saw scowling into the camera—with an adorable puppy on her lap. Unless you live in one of those countries where people only like dogs if they (the dogs) are medium-rare, how is it humanly possible to look that angry with an adorable puppy on your lap? ‘Tain’t natural, say I.
Gerard,
First, cool picture of an Aeronca Champ (the high wing monoplane on skis). I saw one or two around the airport I took my first flying lessons at.
Secondly, thanks for all the other pictures of art 🖼. My late mother-in-law painted in watercolors and did some wonderfully detailed paintings which are framed and hanging around our house for us and visitors to view. I have four of her paintings in my office. She had that weird artist’s temperament: Some of her best paintings she thought were no good and she shoved them in a drawer for us to find after she passed on.
We thought they were incredibly detailed and treasure them, she thought they were junk.
Wonderful visual display. Made me believe I was in the real (old) world again.
We all need more positive, and beauty in our lives as of currently.