Gallery in search of taboo art

Art often expresses, and breaks, societal norms.  At it’s best, it causes us to think about the world we live in and stirs up an emotional reaction.  Artists weave pieces of their soul into their creations and then hope it connects with someone strongly enough that they pay to take it home.  It’s not a profession known as a safe way to make a living.

Sage Magee, photo credit: facebook

Sage Magee, a senior at Avalon Charter High School, is hosting an art gallery to examine both of those issues – breaking societal norms and building bonds between starving artists and art lovers with pocketbooks.

The Taboo Art Gallery is looking for art that breaks taboos in any culture.  Art will be displayed at Sacred Paths Center during a weekend run in April.  Magee says the exhibit is accepting art submissions from any US resident and there is no age barrier.  Painting, drawing, printmaking, fiber, and mixed media or photography are the preferred disciplines.  Magee says pieces are picked for display based on relevance to the theme and difficulty in display.

Magee’s exhibit is part of her larger senior project “In Search of a Well-fed Artist” which she says is helping her explore a career in art management,  “I’ve been using my senior project as a way to test the waters in a career in arts management. It’s my practice run you could say.”  While she’s learning about gallery management first hand, she hopes that attendees learn about different taboos from cultures around the globe.

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Music Review: Song of Solstice

Buy this CD.  Buy it.  Buy it now.

I don’t think I’ve ever had this strong a positive reaction to a CD, especially a holiday CD, but I can’t recommend this work of pure art by Jennifer Cutting highly enough.  There is not one single track I’m not in love with.  Song of Solstice “invites contemplation and celebration, consideration of darkness and light in both spiritual and natural realms that accompanies the turn of earth’s time from autumn through winter and back to spring again.”

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Jennifer Cutting’s OCEAN Orchestra

Song of Solstice
12 tracks – Original music, Rare Celtic, and Medieval Songs
CD – $17.97 + shipping on CD Baby
Download Album (MP3) – $9.99
Or talk to your local metaphysical store – shop local!

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Yes, I’m gushing.  Let me tell you why.

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Jultide Celebration

For Pagans and Heathens looking to celebrate Jule according to Old Norse traditions the options can be limited, even in Minnesota where cultural diversity means you’re of German descent instead of Norwegian or Swedish.

If a Juletide celebration is something you crave, mark December 18th on your calendar.  Guests pick a rune as they come through the door, listen to the stories of the season, dance in a circle of community, and feast and toast to one another in the Old Norse way.  You’ll also be treated to performances by Kari Tauring and Carol Sersland.

Kari Tauring says dance parties are an ancient way for a community to affirm and build their relationships with one another. “Dancing in a circle, arms linked and singing together is a way to share the mott and meign, physical space and energy,” says Tauring.  She notes that circle dances are intergenerational and much more ancient than couples dances and are important to the celebration, along with other activities you’ll experience that night, ” These celebrations have formal and formulaic rituals that bind the community together through gift-giving, food-sharing, making toasts, and singing and dancing together.”

Juletide Celebration
Sunday, December 18, 6-8 pm
Tapestry Folkdance Center
3748 Minnehaha Ave, Minneapolis, MN
Admission $10 for individuals $15 for groups of up to 5
For questions call 612.722.2914

Jultide Program Includes:

  • Each attendee receives a rune on a string jule gift at the door of the Hall.
  • Opening Toast and Special Program by Kari Tauring, Carol Sersland, Stavers in the House, and recent workshop attendees.
  • Integrative Ring Dances
  • Ritual “Vaes du Hael” (Old Norse for “To Your Health”): a three-part toast to the yard (outside the building/house), the doors of the house (Tapestry Folk Dance Center), and then finally the Hall (the doors of the large studio space).
  • Grand Entrance – a longdans that leads us back onto the dance floor.
  • Lighting the rune tree and calling with runes and stavs
  • Children’s Circle Dances
  • Community Circle Dance and Farewell Song
  • Guests may bring treats to share

Organizers say that everyone is welcome and ask attendees to bring their dancing shoes as the shoes you wear to the Hall cannot be worn inside.

Magus Books Co-owner to launch Blog Radio Show Saturday

Joseph A. Amara

“Edge Mysteries & Beyond” with Joseph A. Amara is launching this Saturday from 3-4pm on blogtalk radio.com . It is scheduled as a regular feature on the third Saturday of each month.

Join Joseph A. Amara, one of the owners of Magus Books , as he discusses the Mysteries of life and spirituality that serve to bring wonder and meaning into our lives. He will highlight new and popular book titles, as well as answer listener questions and conduct interviews with luminaries in the fields of Magick and Mysticism.

Joseph is a Gnostic Priest who has been practicing Ceremonial Magick for 20 plus years in a number of differing Orders and Covens. He is the former Prior of Ordo Astrum Sophia and Past Master of his Masonic Lodge AF&AM. He is versed in Kabbalah, Neo-Platonism, Hermeticism, Alchemy and Gnosticism.

Listen live and join in on the conversation at: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/edgemagazine/2011/11/19/edge-mysteries-beyond-with-joseph-a-amara The call in number to speak with the host is (714) 364-4750.

Pagan Warrior Radio launches with Veterans Day Celebration

Pagan Warrior Radio is a new internet radio show serving Pagan veterans and those on active duty in the United States Military, plus their family, friends, and supporters.

Pagan Warrior Radio debuts with a special Veterans Day show on Friday, November 11, 2011 at 8 pm CST on http://www.blogtalkradio.com/witchschool/2011/11/12/pagans-tonight–veterans-day-special.

The first part of the show will be a celebration of Military Pagans and their service. Several Pagan leaders and clergy who do support work with Pagan veterans and troops will be among the special guests on this special Veterans Day Celebration.

During the second part of the show, listeners are invited to call in and share their Veterans Day experiences and tributes to Pagan Warriors, living and dead. In addition, listeners can participate throughout the show through the chat room.

Beginning on November 15, Pagan Warrior Radio will move to its regular weekly time slot on Tuesdays from 9-10 pm CST.

This new weekly internet radio show will be hosted by co-founders Pamela Kelly of Texas and Selena Fox of Wisconsin.

Pamela grew up in a military family and is presently serving as the facilitator (DFGL/Distinctive Faith Group Leader) of the Pagan Circle at Sheppard Air Force Base. Selena, who worked for a short time in a civilian capacity for the office of the US Army Chief of Staff at the Pentagon, has been active in the quest for equal rights for Pagan troops and veterans and their families for more than thirty years. She is senior minister of Circle Sanctuary and director of Circle Sanctuary’s military ministries.

Pagan Warrior Radio is being sponsored and produced by Circle Sanctuary, in partnership with the Pagans Tonight Online Radio network. Circle Sanctuary, one of America’s oldest and largest Wiccan churches, sponsors Pagan Circles at US military installations and on ships in the USA and overseas, including in Afghanistan, Iraq, Korea, and Qatar.

“Pagans have served and are serving in each of the branches of the US Armed Forces. We are creating Pagan Warrior Radio as an additional way to support Pagan veterans and troops and their loved ones, and to be a forum for networking, education, and dialogue. Shows will be a mix of news, information, music, reflections, ideas, and call-in discussion,” says Selena.

Pamela adds: “Pagan Warrior Radio is for Pagans of many paths – Wiccans, Druids, Heathens, Unitarian Universalist Pagans, Pantheists, and others. Upcoming shows will include topics such as the Future of Pagan Military Chaplaincy, forming Pagan Circles at military installations, making portable altars, and more!”

For more information about Pagan Warrior Radio, contact Pamela Kelly: 940.642.8736 ; paganwarriorradio@gmail.com

More about Pagans Tonight: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/witchschool

More about Circle Sanctuary’s military ministries:
http://www.circlesanctuary.org/ministries/military
608.924.2216 ; circle@circlesanctuary.org

Editor’s note:  The above article was sent to PNC-Minnesota by Circle Sanctuary.