BEAUTY: Painting--Shaun Tan

Australian painter and author / illustrator Shaun Tan creates gorgeous little paintings that are snapshots of life frozen in time ...  a view down a road at sunset, a glance through a car window of a city street sidewalk, the sight of a sprawling airport across the tarmac at dusk ... and much like Edward Hopper, previously here, he chooses to show places that bear a mark of humanity but are empty, as though people just left or will be arriving at some point.

You can buy prints of his works at his site here:
https://www.shauntan.net/prints-1

And you can pick up one of the many marvelous books he has written and illustrated here:
https://www.shauntan.net/

Congratulations Scott Colom!

And it's Scott Colom for the win in Mississippi!

Graphic from CNN

Veteran's Day 2026

"Regardless of feelings on conflicts past or present or military action in general, it is best to understand that the men and women who are or have been in the Armed Forces do not choose their wars, but they do their work no matter what the cost."

"I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can, only as one who has seen its brutality, its futility, its stupidity."
--Dwight D. Eisenhower, Address before the Canadian Club, Ottawa, Canada, 1/10/46

Today, I want to honor my father, who served in the Navy, as well as two other relatives—veterans of two world wars. One died in World War I; the other fought valiantly against Fascism in World War II.

I cannot help but wonder what they would make of the world today. They belonged to generations that witnessed the devastating consequences of war, nationalism, and authoritarianism firsthand. One of these men was himself an Italian immigrant. I can only imagine how appalled they would be to see authoritarianism and the rhetoric of Fascism finding renewed acceptance in American politics, increasingly embraced, excused, or encouraged by elements of the Republican Party and its supporters.

There was a time when Republicans thought Fascism was a bad thing.

My relatives served so that future generations might inherit a world better than the one they knew. And it has made me infinitely sad—and deeply angry—to watch nationalism, authoritarianism, contempt for facts and humanity, the demonization of minorities and immigrants, and the suppression of dissent gain ground in the country they helped protect. Their lives, their struggles, their sacrifices and their deaths deserve better. And we—the people they believed they were serving—deserve better, too.

But something happened last week that gives me reason to hope.

In the midterm elections, Americans delivered a powerful rebuke to the direction our country has been taking. The Democratic Party's victories in both houses of Congress suggest that a great many Americans have had enough, that the principles of democracy still matter, and that the electorate is neither powerless nor indifferent. For the first time in a while, I find myself feeling that perhaps we have turned a corner.

Of course, a single election cannot undo the damage already done, nor can it guarantee what comes next. Authoritarianism does not disappear simply because it loses at the ballot box. But it is thrilling to see that democracy has a remarkable capacity for self-correction when its citizens are willing to defend it. And last week's results offer an encouraging reminder that the American experiment is not yet finished.

Meanwhile, on a day meant to honor those who have served, we find ourselves once again confronting the terrible human cost of war—this time in Iran, where a conflict our own government  initiated has continued for more than eight months without a lasting resolution. Lives have been lost, families are grieving, civilians are suffering, and enormous resources have been consumed in a conflict whose ultimate purpose and end remain painfully uncertain.

That makes Eisenhower's words above feel less like history and more like a warning we have repeatedly refused to heed. He understood war not as an abstraction or a political talking point, but as someone who had seen what it actually costs. He called it brutal. He called it futile. He called it stupid.

Perhaps honoring our veterans should mean more than thanking them for their service. Perhaps it should also mean doing everything in our power not to squander the lives of another generation in wars that never needed to be fought—and defending, here at home, the democratic ideals that earlier generations of Americans were asked to risk everything to preserve.

This Veterans Day, I find myself thinking not only about what my father and my relatives gave to this country, but also about what we owe them in return. We owe them vigilance, certainly, but we also owe them the conviction that a better future is possible.

For all the darkness of recent years, I believe there is reason to be hopeful again. Last week's election was not the end of our troubles, but perhaps it was the beginning of something better.

And I like to think that the men in my family who served this country would find some comfort in knowing that the ideals they believed in are still worth fighting for—and that Americans are still willing to fight for them.

This time, thankfully, with ballots rather than bullets.

Henri Matisse's "The Red Studio": Great Art Explained

Gallerist and art historian James Payne has released huis newest installation of his "Great Art Explained" series and this one is a fascinating study of a fascinating panting: "The Red Studio" by Henri Matisse.

Payne's book "Great Art Explained: The Stories Behind the World's Greatest Masterpieces" is available for purchase in the US here and in the UK here.

AND. EVEN. MORE.

As votes continue to be counted, we seem to have picked up FIVE more seats for a total of 250!

Graphic from CNN.

After this truly historic and unprecedented outcome, I am full of optimism and elation, not because "we" have won and "they" are in tears ("owning the conservatives" is not a legitimate or helpful policy direction) but for the possibility that my country can return to a sense of decency and progress, to help anyone who is in need, to welcome people who are fleeing countries and regimes where they will be slaughtered, to take our place on the world stage again in terms of scientific advancements and medical research and breakthroughs, to assure people that if they have any type of medical emergency they will not automatically--and literally--lose their life savings and go bankrupt, to be abe to promote democratic values to unstable nations around the world and actually be the example we are convincing them follow, to demonstrate that we, as a nation, value kindness and are working to unify and lift up, not just locally or nationally but globally. There is a tremendous amount of work to be done and a lot of damage to fix. This crop of leaders just elected are young and motivated and I wish them the strength and perseverance necessary to do what needs to be done for all of us.

UPDATE at 2:30PM: We are at 253 now...

Graphic from CNN.

AMERICAN (BLUE) TSUNAMI

I was cautiously optimistic but this is more than we could have ever hoped for ... it feels like a weight has been lifted. And it is incredible to see news footage of people not just in the United States but around the world celebrating. A crowd of young people in Melbourne, Australia jumping and dancing at the news that Democrats took the House and Senate, while others across Europe are saying "welcome back" to sanity, to fairness, to dignity. Democracy still works and there is light dawning for us all.

Graph from BBC News.

UPDATE at 4:00PM: And the right wing MAGA party continues to take an absolutely savage beating, deservedly so. We now have even more seats in the House...

Graphic from CNN.

We are seeing so many thrilling, inspiring firsts today:

--First out gay male US senator Rep. Chris Pappas, New Hampshire
--First female Native American US senator Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan
--First Muslim US senator Abdul El-Sayed, Michigan
--First elected woman US senator in South Carolina Annie Andrews, South Carolina
--First female Black member of Colorado Congress Melat Kiros
--First Muslim member of Congress from New Jersey Adam Hamawy
--First Native American congresswoman in New York Rep. Claire Valdez
--First out gay member of Congress in Michigan Jeremy Moss
--First Hispanic member of Congress from Nebraska Denise Powell
--First female Black governor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Georgia
--First Black governor of Florida Rep. Byron Donalds
--First Hispanic governor of Texas Rep. Gina Hinojosa
--First female Native American governor Deb Haaland
--First woman elected governor of Ohio Amy Acton
--First female governor of Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn
--First Black governor of Wisconsin David Crowley
--First Black governor of Nevada state Attorney General Aaron Ford

And right here at home, we have the first Latino elected governor of California Xavier Becerra (he got my vote!)

UPDATE at 5:30PM: HA, we keep picking up seats!

Graphic from CNN.

UPDATE at 7:00PM: Even more.

Graphic from CNN.

Il Giorno dei Morti — All Souls’ Day in Italy 2026

On November 2, Italians observe Il Giorno dei Morti, also known as La Commemorazione dei Defunti, or All Souls’ Day. Much like Mexico’s Día de los Muertos, it is a day devoted to remembering and honoring loved ones who have passed away. Following Ognissanti (All Saints’ Day) on November 1, families throughout Italy visit cemeteries, clean and decorate graves with flowers—particularly chrysanthemums—and light candles in remembrance. Churches hold special Masses and prayers for the departed.

The day also has a particularly charming place in the traditions of Italian children. In Sicily, an old custom holds that departed relatives return during the night, leaving sweets, toys, and small gifts for children. In parts of southern Italy, families prepare special treats associated with the occasion, while elsewhere regional pastries and biscuits known as ossa dei morti, or “bones of the dead,” appear in bakeries. In parts of Sardinia, children go door to door receiving treats in memory of the souls of the departed. These traditions offer children a gentle introduction to the idea that those who have died remain part of the family's story.

Although customs vary from region to region, Il Giorno dei Morti remains an occasion for families to gather, share memories, and honor the generations that came before them. Like Día de los Muertos, it reminds us that remembrance need not be solely an expression of sorrow, but can also be a celebration of love, family, and the enduring presence of those we have lost.

Feliz Día de los Muertos 2026!

Today is Día de los Muertos, a joyous, upbeat holiday originating in Mexico but now widely celebrated here in the United States. It is a day to celebrate and remember ancestors and departed loved ones. Altars are created in homes that feature pictures of dead loved ones along with favorite objects and food they liked when they were alive (called ofrenda or offerings), decorated sugar skulls, imagery of skeletons and calacas (a figure of a skull or a skeleton), colorful paper cut-outs, candles, and copious amounts of marigolds.

Families go to cemeteries to tend to family plots, gravesides and tombs. There is a carnival-like atmosphere in Mexico as huge crowds descend upon cemeteries to hold all night vigils and cook food not only for themselves but also for the spirits of the departed who can visit this earthly realm one night a year. Old women sit in chairs by the graves while children run and play tag, musicians play and sing, and people sit and talk with family members.

In the United States, the largest Día de los Muertos celebration is held in San Francisco. A street parade with drumming and dancing attracts thousands of people who dress up in traditional skull face paint and costumes. Nearby Garfield Park is home to many altars honoring the lives of friends and family members. Some altars invite people to participate by adding photos of lost loved ones. The video below, by KQED Arts is a wonderful introduction to the festival and its deeper meaning.

For more information or if you would like to attend the festival, visit:
https://dayofthedeadsf.org

Bonne Fête de La Toussaint 2026!

Aujourd'hui est le jour de La Toussaint en France.

La Toussaint by Emile Friant (1863-1932)

Today is La Toussaint in France, a national holiday. Toussaint (pronounced "TOO-sawnt") is a combination of the word tous ("all" in French) and saint, meaning "All Saint's Day." The festival is closely related, in intent and spirit, to the Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration in Latin cultures (previously here). It is a day to remember, celebrate, and honor departed loved ones and ancestors.

In France, the general population are not very religious, so this once-Catholic celebration has become a secular national holiday. People visit cemeteries to have picnics and to tend to the graves of family members and decorate them with chrysanthemums, a flower symbolizing death (a symbol shared with Day of the Dead); generally, the French do not use this flower for any other purpose.

Happy Halloween 2026!

Happy Halloween!

The night is still
And the frost, it bites my face
I wear my silence like a mask
And murmur like a ghost

"Trick or treat"
"Trick or treat"
The bitter and the sweet

The carefree days are distant now
I wear my memories like a shroud
I try to speak, but words collapse
Echoing, echoing

"Trick or treat"
"Trick or treat"
The bitter and the sweet

I wander through your sadness
Gazing at you with scorpion eyes
Halloween... Halloween

A sweet reminder in the ice-blue nursery
Of a childish murder, of hidden lustre
And she cries

"Trick or treat"
"Trick or treat"
The bitter and the sweet

I wander through your sadness
Gazing at you with scorpion eyes
Halloween... Halloween

http://siouxsieandthebanshees.co.uk/

"Young and Dumb" by Everything But The Girl

Out of the blue, a new Everything But The Girl album, "Blue Reservoir" will be out on February 19, 2027. And here is the first single, "Young and Dumb" sounding like some dark, bittersweet, bossa nova jazz from their classic eponymous 1984 album.

At 17 I lived for drama
But now I don’t have the armour
Where did the wildness go
I’d like to know

I swam in a raging sea
Climbed a mountain in bad shoes
Took mysterious pills
Swore I’d always love you

Yes I’m older and wiser
I know more than I did then
But I’d give up all the wisdom
To be young and dumb again

I
I want to try
I want to live
Before I die
We don’t know
What comes next
Or how much
Time is left

So let’s drink to the future
Let’s drink to our friends
Let’s drink to just living
Like we’re young and dumb again

https://ebtg.com/

BEAUTY: Painting for Halloween--Cam Rackam

For Halloween, look at these glorious pieces of skeletons and skulls in such realistic detail by the extraordinary painter Cam Rackam.

Top to bottom: Be Mine; Bitter Spring; Evermore; Flora; Marigold; May Queen; Reaper; Starcrossed

Prints of these works are available at his site:
https://www.camrackam.com/

BEAUTY: Art--Skeletons and Skulls For Halloween 2026

Image sourced from the Public Domain Image Archive / The Metropolitan Museum

Top to bottom: Vanitas by Kim Cogan; Pleasure by Stephen Mackey; Prosthetic by Miles Cleveland Goodwin; untitled man and skeleton by Xavier Escala; Vanitas Still Life by Jacques de Gheyn II, 1603; Skeleton With Yellow Rose by Katie Gamb; imagine me and you by Spike Milliken

BEAUTY: Digital Art--Eric W. Brenner

Artist Eric W. Brenner says he "uses collage, digital painting, and computer manipulation to drag surrealism kicking and screaming into the 21st century, where it belongs." I concur and love his unsettling use of shape, color, and texture in these otherworldly portraits. Wonderful work!

You can buy prints of any of his work seen at his website!
https://www.ericwbrenner.com/