CThru.com Presents Tony Ward

Resurrection Day

………..According to Wikipedia, Easter is the central religious feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to Christian scripture, Jesus was resurrected from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. Some Christians celebrate this resurrection on Easter Day or Easter Sunday.

Pere Lachaise

The chronology of his death and resurrection is variously interpreted to be between AD26 and AD36. Easter also refers to the season of the church year called Eastertide or the Easter Season. Easter also marks the end of Lent, a season of fasting, prayer, and penance.

Paris

The Studio wishes everyone a Happy Easter.

Exhibition Announcement

……….I just got back from Silicon Gallery to see the prints that are going to be hanging at PENN starting on Thursday, February 18, 2010, opening reception from 4 to 7. Charles Hall put one hell of show together. I recommend that everyone should stop by the opening if your in town. Various associates of the Studio will be there……

The Kandy Project

……….According to Wikipedia, Saint Valentine’s Day, shortened to Valentine’s Day is an annual holiday held on February 14th, in celebration of Love and affection between intimate companions. The holiday is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Valentine and was established by Pope Gelasius 1 in AD 496. It is traditionaly a day on which lovers express their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards, commonly known as Valentines. The holiday first became associated with romantic love in the cirle of the Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of the courtly Love flourished.On behalf of Tony Ward Studio we wish everyone a joyous and loving Valentines.

Medical Clinic, Haiti, 1987 . Photo By John Grant

Posted By John Grant

…….I was there in 1987 visiting a doctor friend who worked in a clinic in the middle of the island and made two-hour treks to tiny villages up in the mountains three days a week. One thing I will never forget is watching a man who worked in the clinic use a pair of common pliers to extract a tooth from the jaw of a 30-year-old peasant woman. He was having a hard time wriggling the thing out, and she was suffering immensely. But she did not let out even a peep! It gives me the chills just recalling the scene.

The 23-year-old memory of that woman’s stoicism actually inspired me six months ago to extract a painful, loose tooth of my own. In my case, it was considerably easier, and I saved a $100 dental bill. As comfortable Americans, we should purge ourselves of any sense of superiority vis-a-vis Haiti and learn to respect and honor Haitians for the suffering they have endured — and are enduring at this moment.  In that spirit, we should extend our hand.

If nothing else, the earthquake disaster should wake Americans up to what an amazing place Haiti really is — absolutely unique in the Western Hemisphere, an island liberated by Africans brought to this hemisphere in chains as slaves. While poverty and horror are the usual images that pop into Americans’ minds when they hear the word “Haiti,” the real story is much more complicated and full to the brim with stoicism, art and music. And, folks, if we get all superior and see voodoo as third-rate theatrics and nonsense, it’s no different than all religions — it’s people trying to make sense out of darkness and death. The fact is, we could learn a lot from Haiti.  

The Prophecy

Posted By Mikel Elam

“Numbers and letters may fitly be called eyes” Alan Ginsberg

……..I have a kindred spirit in another well known artist by the name of Francesco Clemente. We share in several ideals. Words can be great inspiration for future paintings, as I have always been an avid reader. I’m fascinated with the concepts of hidden messages. In my life numbers, letters and passages have become fodder for my imagination.

In this painting, there is a woman who is in a meditative state of consciousness. A place of relaxation and exploration of her future objectives. Something unexplainable is happening to her. Perhaps it occurs in her subconscious. It’s leading her in a certain direction. She clutches a tool for choosing her fate.
This story is one I created for this painting, yet as important to me is the viewer’s interpretation which can be quite different and equally as valuable.
My work has been a constant exploration of the mind’s eye, intermixed with the conscious world.

In fact eyes are the windows to the soul. It’s the place where breathing leads to meditation and ultimately to transformation.

…….To learn more about Mikel’s work log on to www.mikelelam.com……..

Is Celibacy Healthy For The Church?

Posted by Melissa Norbeck

People choose to abstain from sex for various reasons. One may abstain from sex because he/she is too young, wants to wait for marriage, isn’t in a committed relationship, etc… But those who take a vow of celibacy are the Catholic Priests and Nuns. Deciding against having sex or any type of sexual relations for the rest of your life is a huge commitment. However, for those who are “marrying” God and devoting their lives to religion, it’s only a small gesture.

A Natural Fantasy

Catholicism is a broad term referring to the Catholic faith and has been around for centuries. Nevertheless, there seems to be a double standard when it comes to the priests and the nuns. Nuns must try to live the life of perfection. Although priests do take the vow of chastity, obedience, and poverty, we all know that some of them do not uphold their ends of the bargain. Growing up Catholic and attending Catholic school for eight years, I have seen the differences: the cars they drive, the smoking and drinking, and the way they live. And of course we have all the heard the sad stories of the young boys. The priests who did those horrible things ruined the images of the good priests. There are also incidents in which the nuns were forced to have sex with the priests and had abortions as a result. All of that being swept under the rug.

Is Celibacy Hurting The Church?

I know a woman who was going to be a nun before she met her husband. I got in touch with the daughter to see if her mother would be interested in answering a few questions. The woman declined to comment. I know of another woman who was a nun for years but left the order. I got in touch with her, and she wanted to know why I needed this information. When I told her it was for a piece I was writing for Tony Ward’s website, of course she wanted to see the site. I gave her the web address, and I’m sure you can guess what her answer was after she saw this site. I could have lied and said I needed the information for school or something else but being a Catholic and all, I shall not lie, right?

Should Nuns And Priests Marry?

What I find even more intriguing than any answer either of these women could have given me, is the secrecy. I cannot understand why these women would not want to answer questions about something they feel strongly about, about something that is part of them. I think the fact they said nothing says a lot – makes you wonder what goes on behind the closed doors of the convents and the rectories.

Is Chastity Good For The Church?