Artwork of the month: "St. Benedict of Palermo"

One of the recent acquisitions at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, a sculpture of St. Benedict of Palermo, is so stunning you are truly missing out if you don't go see it right now.

Attributed to José Montes de Oca

Spanish, 1675-1750

"St. Benedict of Palerno"

1734, polychrome and gilt wood, glass

St. Benedict was the first christian saint of african origin to be canonized.  And as with all saints, it took a while for it to be official with the church, this guy more so because of who he was.

He was born in Sicily, 1524, to parents that were freed slaves from Ethiopia.  Yep, he was a black man and the church wasn't progressive enough at the time to canonize a black man.  He was beatified by Pope Benedict XIV in 1743 then canonized in 1807 by Pope Pius VII.

St. Benedict was know for his extraordinary religious devotion, patience and understanding when confronted with racial prejudice, and acts as a truly devoted man of god.

"St. Benedict of Palermo" was purchased by the Minneapolis Institute of Arts in 2010.

Minneapolis #6

I just completed another of my Minneapolis works.  Enjoy it.

Minneapolis 6

24 x 12, oil on linen

Check back later...

...the next Minneapolis painting is on the way.

BitTorrent 12 "The Peloponnesian War"

I just finished another painting in the BitTorrent series.  It is my philosophical representation of the "Peloponnesian War" and how I see both sides of the massive conflict to be.  I have used a triadic harmony in opposite of what I normally work with in color.

I am currently working on my compositional ideas for a series of works on "The Peloponnesian War" that will focus on the individuals involved in the war.

BitTorent 12 "The Peloponnesian War" 

24 x 36, oil on linen

New studio in NE Minneapolis

Hi all,

I haven't had the time to post much lately as it has been a very busy few months.  Wedding planning has taken over my life, as it probably should.  

I have almost finished the studio.  I only have a few alterations to the work flow and some winterizing to do and it's complete.  I have been working on new paintings, the kickstarter rewards, and a new set of wood chairs.  

Here is a picture of the studio as it is now.

Thanks for thumbing through my blog...

...More to come soon.