As we approach Halloween (All Hallows’ Eve), the evening before All Saints (All Hallows’) Day followed by All Souls Day, some sages are prone to say that this is that time of year when the veil grows thin between the temporal and the spiritual worlds—the time when those who are inclined have access to the knowings and the understandings of the powers on the other side beyond our ordinary, everyday earthbound experience. Some savvy artists among us are skilled in accessing and living in this other dimension the year round. Deborah Barnett, one of four Featured Artists in artCentral’s HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE, is just such an artist. With her heart tuned by intuition and instinct and listening for inspiration, she has mastered the art of going over in a state of surrender that allows the creative process to take over her telling of what she finds. |
Make your way to artCentral’s home in Hyde House, 1110 East Thirteenth Street in Carthage, and see for yourself the amazing collection of wealth Deborah has brought to share with us in her beautiful array of brilliantly colored mandalas. They are waiting for your viewing and choosing to take home as your own to display or to give away to someone special on your shopping list.
The mandala—Sanskrit for circle—generally represents the spiritual journey, starting from the outside and moving into the inner core of awareness. For centuries in various spiritual traditions mandalas have been used as spiritual guidance tools—aides to meditation that focus attention and establish a sacred space. First appearing in Buddhist art that was produced in India during the first century B.C.E., the mandala subsequently was incorporated into many eastern religions. The Cosmati pavements, including those at Westminster Abbey, are geometric, mandala-like mosaic designs from thirteenth century Italy. |