Local Voices
The scope and beauty of Gloria Plevin's work are revealed in this gorgeous catalog that springs from a major retrospective at ARTneo: The Museum of Northeast Ohio Art. The book's 106 color reproductions highlight the best paintings, pastels, prints and drawings from the artist's five-decade career. A prominent painter of Northeast Ohio and Chautauqua County, Plevin's still lifes, portraits, botanicals, and Chautauqua landscapes grow from her desire to show us the places, people, pets, and things she loves. According to Butler Institute of American Art curator Robert L. Kurtz, "Plevin creates an art of astounding beauty, an art whose power forces the viewer to look anew at what are often ordinary objects." Inspired by Mary Cassatt, Pierre Bonnard, and Fairfield Porter, Gloria Plevin is one of the small group of American artists who rejected 20th century trends toward abstract and conceptual art, choosing instead to advance art's power to capture and celebrate the life around us. The artist's short essays offer insight into her process for creating specific works along with reflections on art, nature, family, and country life. This splendid catalog is an essential resource for anyone interested in Gloria Plevin's art as well as a wonderful treat for art-lovers, artists, and aspiring artists alike. Includes introductions by William Busta and ARTneo curator Christopher Richards, photos of the artist in her studio, and a detailed chronology of Plevin's career.
Something had to change. Two parents challenge one another to find balance between work and family life. Their stories are both uproarious and poignant as they raise children and strive to leave their mark on the wider world. Filled with tender moments and plenty of laughs, Here Be Dragons recounts the adventures of a family trying to stay afloat, and offers a life raft to the rest of us in choppy waters.
Hidden in Plain Sight is a down-to-earth subjective account of the author's abbreviated brush with cancer. An abrupt melanoma diagnosis threatens to unhinge an otherwise unproblematic orientation. There is an unsettling role reversal as the author, a registered nurse, becomes the patient.
Past and present intertwine as vivid examples of God's provision are illuminated during a crisis that seemingly surfaced out of nowhere. The universal themes are thought-provoking and relatable, regardless of one's status or circumstances.
May 9, 2019 marks the ten-year anniversary of the author's cancer-free status!
It is entertaining to be anti-Masonic and perpetuate conspiracy theories and stories based on satanic worship rather than join Freemasonry or any other private organization primarily structured with improving the individual in society. The Masonic term "making good men better" is the desire of the craft concerning all people living in a multicultural society to better themselves. This is masonry in a nutshell. To achieve this betterment takes a great deal of work and self-introspection, which the critics of the craft refuse to endure and fail to examine the important historical esoteric symbols associated with the craft. This book is dedicated toward neutralizing such superficial negative ideology pursued by critics who have a personal interest in negating the significant works of the greatest fraternal organization in the world. Contained herein are chapters on women in Freemasonry, the Catholic Church, and Freemasonry (which contains an addendum relating to over one hundred cardinals and bishops who, under pseudonyms, were Freemasons), a chapter on the 133rd Psalm (providing a line-by-line interpretation of a work which provides the important ideological, humanistic basis for both society and Freemasonry) with an important chapter analyzing the final end-period of a man's life as it related to Ecclesiastes Chapter 12. Men join Freemasonry because in their hearts, they seek to improve themselves. In a reality, any can start living as principled individuals, exercising the same values without being a Freemason. All that is required is desire and work effort, with a foundation from the Holy Bible to betterment of himself. However, the Masonic Craft assists an individual in this journey by providing defined structure, support, and a roadmap that helps focus the advancement and, as such, increases the probability of a successful outcome. Freemasonry centers on learning how to charge one's self with thought and physical conduct. However, in order to improve, one must read, study, and understand the true nature of reality in life, buttressed by the role of oneself and those with which one socializes. This philosophy underlines why the most important virtues of Freemasonry are symbolic and teach us to be better humans. Freemasonry gains its structure and foundation through an inherent love of an adherence to the Holy Bible and would not exist without that devotion. The foundation of Masonry is predicated on the fact that the craft and the Bible are intricately interconnected, just as other holy books around the world are central to their Freemason organizations. Much of Masonry's symbolism is taken from biblical sources, especially Genesis and the stories surrounding the building of King Solomon's temples. Great emphasis is placed on the development of moral and ethical virtues and the building of character, with truth being the guiding principle of our lives. Thus, brotherhood and charity are natural outcomes and further define one of Masonry's major tenets. Masonry uses proven methods to enhance the lives and spirits of members in a tangible way. In every Masonic lodge, upon its altar, there is a Holy Bible supporting the square and compasses. This old familiar book, so beloved by so many generations, is our Volume of the Sacred Law and represents the Great Light in Freemasonry. The Bible is open when the lodge opens; the Bible is closed when the lodge closes. No lodge can transact its own business, much less initiate candidates into the mysteries of the craft, unless the Book of Holy Law lies open upon its altar. It is the true responsibility of each individual Mason to seek out and understand the true nature of reality through the teachings of Freemasonry discovered in the symbols of the craft. The individual must learn to recognize and interpret the footprints of the deity and the sublime methods that he uses to reveal his message. So mote it be. May the mystery begin
