Peace 🕊 on Earth

On December 21, 2024June 20, 2025 By ResaIn Holidays

It’s the Only Thing on My Holiday Wish List

As the year draws to a close, I’m excited because days are getting longer, and I have a new Art Gown to share. She’s super special, so pop by Art Gowns on December 27th. It’s a holiday feast for the eyes.

In the meantime I wish all the very best, no matter what you celebrate this December!

Christmas

Holy Family with Saints Margaret and Francis (1578- oil on canvas) – Lavinia Fontana (1552 – 1614) Italian

Hanukkah

As I don’t have a photo of a Menorah, here’s one from Pexels. However, I have a photo of a Tora binder, rimmonim and yad. (below)

Torah binder (1696/97) – Simcha, wife of Levi of Buttrio – silk embroidered with silk thread

Kwanza

Kwanzaa – an annual celebration of African-American culture, culminating in Karamu, a communal feast. (December 26 to January 1)

Yule

Yule is one of the oldest winter solstice festivals, with origins among the ancient Norse thousands of years ago. That would be what the Vikings celebrated.

Well, I don’t have any Vikings, but I just happen to have some VI-QUEENS.

Big thank you’s to my models – Holly, Gigi, Dale, Shey, Marina & Rebecca

There are probably other celebrations/or respects. Best wishes to all! For all here’s Holly’s Tangle-Heart in a magic sky. It’s from © Timothy Price. Thank you for letting me use your photos dear Tim!

Comments are closed, so I can yet again attempt to catch up on visiting blogs.

However, comments will be open on December 27th, on Art Gowns.

Holy Family with Saints Margaret and Francis (1578- oil on canvas) – Lavinia Fontana and Tora binder (Simcha, wife of Levi of Buttrio ) , rimmonim and yad – from Making Her Mark exhibition, Toronto, Canada, 2024. Photos © Resa McConaghy

Kwanza street art pic, VI-QUEENS art & pics, Art Gown & photo © Resa McConaghy.

The Healing Garden

On December 14, 2024December 13, 2024 By ResaIn Alley Gallery, GLaM Extra152 Comments

There had been some cool alley finds on this hot day, but not a real prize.

Then I turned into a shady alley, sweet smelling and comforting.

It was a Healing Garden.

Turns out this alley is one of 2 Healing Gardens. A concept designed by artist Monica Wickeler & Indigenous artist Nyle Miigizi, the alley is filled with native plants and healing medicines. The Anishinaabe Nation’s story of the gift of Jewelweed was handed down to Nyle from his grandmother, Verna Patronella Johnston.

Mural artist Gosia Komorski was hired to paint.

Healing… we can all use some right now.

Best to be whole and positive, as we go into what seems will be a hectic new year.

Now it’s winter, but I fully intend to find the other Healing Garden, in late spring when the herbs are happening.

Pics taken by Resa – August 30, 2024

Toronto, Canada

Mural Artist:

If you click on the document below, you can read about the project. Pardon for the sloppy shot!

This song is not about a Healing Garden, but it feels like one. (Yes, the image is moving!)

Cora’s Quest

On December 3, 2024December 3, 2024 By ResaIn Outside the Box Book Reviews163 Comments

Celebrating Lauren Scott’s New Book

Recently, wandering the urban forest, I espied a patch of colour. Turning the corner, a stunning autumn hued tarn with hikers appeared.

Instantly, I thought of Lauren Scott, and her love of country hiking. The next thought was “Isn’t she writing a children’s book? It must be almost finished.”

Well, I asked her. Turns out YES! Cora’s Quest is just released! As we are having an endless postal strike in Canada, I purchased the EBook.

The Blurb

Cora is a curious fawn who loves spending time with her parents. On one beautiful day, they stroll deep into the wilderness. They trot along on the trails, and Cora finds other animals fascinating. They skitter and fly around her with joyful purpose. Every unique sound catches her attention, stirring her curiosity to discover just where that sound came from. But suddenly her delightful family day takes a turn that begins to test the courage inside of her…

I know Lauren is unhappy with how the Ebook formatting came out. She got one from amazon. I got mine from Kobo. Yes, it is not perfect, but it’s all there.

Geared to 2- 5 year old children, this sweet and loving story, complete with enchanting illustrations by Chris Mendez, is the type of book a child might want to hold, carry around or even take to bed.

So, a real book works the magic an EBook can’t!

About Lauren

About Me

Cora’s Quest is available in ebook and/or hard copy on:

BARNES & NOBLE

Kobo

Amazon

Congratulations Lauren!

Mural Pics taken by Resa – November 19, 2024

Toronto, Canada

Mural Artist:

Exterior

On November 24, 2024November 23, 2024 By ResaIn The Painted House162 Comments

Round about the Painted House go!

In this 9th & last post showcasing The Painted House, we finish viewing the exterior. The east side begins with this gorgeous bird.

Then a cool head,

…..leads to a flower with an eye, then continues in Slide Show below.

The flower with eye is before April Showers,
..which is seen far right, then chicken w/head & mushroom cap cat.
Then a diver with Endangered Species, odd guy & fish w/face in stomach..
The guy of ?
Sunflower women is next to the entrance,
..guarded by thistle head?

I adore the Sunflower Woman.

Enter the backyard by Thistle Head, to find a floral back wall w/skeleton. Note the dog door on far left! This is the entrance to the house, and appeared in Kitchen segment.

The Backyard has its own post. Then we come around to the west side of the house, in Slide Show.

West side.
Colourful face (sun came out!)
An Elicser character offers…
Colourful Face some grapes.
The final image is a tropical scene.

A painted walkway,

..leads us out the front gate. Bye, bye Painted House! You were a lot of fun.

Pics taken by Resa – August 11, 2024

Toronto, Canada

Artists, in order of appearance:

@life_inthestreets

@bkez

@oblsk1

@mac.the.maker

SOWL

@whatismorty

Anika Becker

@nixostreetart

To view all Painted House Posts, Click on the Doors Face on the Sidebar

Interiors – The Painted House

On November 7, 2024November 6, 2024 By ResaIn The Painted House138 Comments

In this second last post of the Painted House, we look at the remainder of the interior.

Main Floor

Bathroom

This is a difficult painting to capture, as the bathroom was about 5′ wide, tops.

I used the zoom-out feature to shoot it.

……which accounts for most of the distortion seen in the slideshow.

Dining Room

Living Room

The art was painted over wall paper in the living room. In a couple of pieces, the art was integrated with the wall paper, as seen in. the slideshow.

Second Floor

Bedrooms

This was a Jackson Pollack + (sort of) all over paint with installation. This is a tiny room, and the most popular with the kids.

“Put that back! Don’t touch that! I want this! No, it’s part of the art! Waaaaaa!, Don’t go there! I want the bear! Put the bear back!,etc.”

I got out of that room fast, but not before I nabbed a shot of me in the splattered mirror.

The master bedroom was done in faux stained glass effect, and partly shown in in the post September of The Painted House series. The third bedroom was featured in Bedroom of TPH series

All 8 (9th coming soon) of The Painted House posts are easily available to view by clicking on the diptych doors art, second from the top on the sidebar.

Pics taken by Resa – August, 2024

Toronto, Canada

The Artists: in order of appearance

@life_ inthestreets

Stephanie Avery

Catchoo

Sean Martindale

The Halloween Feast

On October 30, 2024October 29, 2024 By ResaIn Halloween, Street Art128 Comments

It’s for you!

Funny how the ring comes after I answer. MAWHAAAAA

Good News! Your rat and mandrake root pizza is ready!

The Mandrake root is specially grown in dead pumpkin graveyards.

It’s an exciting narcotic flavour, with hallucinogenic overtones.

However, we are unable to find grain fed rats anymore.

All rats are now 100% rat fed.

It makes for a tough chew, but with enough pepper on it, it doubles quite nicely for pepperoni.

It would be highly appreciated if you could pick your order up as soon as possible!

My entire family has shown up, and they’ve all got their eye sockets on your pizza.

It’s for Sherrie!

Happy Hallowe’en Birthday!

Our pastry chef has just arrived with his secret ingredients for your birthday cake.

Skullorita said she would bring it by before the party!

She’s bringing a bunch of happy-go-lucky party skulls along with her.

DJ No Way here to spin you tonight!

Call me crazy, but every time I hear this song,I get hungry!

Pics taken by Resa – November 2023 – October 2024

Toronto , Canada

The Artists:

Artemis or Diana?

On October 25, 2024October 24, 2024 By ResaIn Parking Lots126 Comments

Original thoughts went to Artemis.

Then again, I have read a bit about Artemis, and almost nothing about Diana.

This piece is 3 years old.

I’m crazy about it.

The abstract background is killer.

Artemis or Diana – In the end I see an amazing Power Woman.

BONUS

Recently Dan Anton over at No Facilities posted a series on his visit to the Heinz Museum, in Pittsburg.

A Woman’s Place (the name being grist for the mill) is one of the exhibits. Fabulous and important women of Pittsburg featured in the exhibit are: Mary Schenley, Nellie Bly and Ava Duvernay.

Other notable women of Pittsburg include: Mary Cassatt, Martha Graham, Gertrude Stein, Mary Dee Dudley and Mary Cardwell Dawson.