ART •
Thirteen more exquisite and sensual paintings from returning artist Dan Griggs. We last saw him in the October 2002 issue.

The bitingly satirical pen-and-ink drawings of Heinrich Kley display not only his sense of humor, but an astonishing degree of draftsmenship.

Russian painter Ilya Repin painted a scene depicting Ukrainian Cossacks writing a response to a letter from the Turkish sultan demanding their surrender. We provide a couple of translations — one, quite entertaining and filthy.

Former Sergei Bongart student Norm Nason gives us an invaluable insight into the great Master’s techniques with his “Notes on Painting.”

PHOTOGRAPHY •
Dan Burkholder has made his mark in the world of photography as a top professional and innovator, and also as an educator.

Jill Burkholder blah blah blah.

A four-gig flash card of ours went south and PhotoRescue saved the entire contents. Highly recommended.

FILM •
Kumbh Mela is a phenomenon that happens every 12 years in India on the Ganges River. Filmmakers Maurizio Benazzo and Nick Day captured the 2001 event in Short Cut to Nirvana.

Sam Balcomb and Jesse Soff teamed up to create The Ore, a million-dollar-looking Sci-Fi film shot for only a few thousand clams.

Danusha Goska reviews the PBS production Jane Eyre, with illustrations by Fritz Eichenberg.

Gaiam is our new affiliate, and we'd like to present ten of their videos on topics such as T'ai Chi, Yoga, Pilates, Qigong, and Lower Body Conditioning. Check them out here.

We continue to feature What Dreams May Come and Somewhere in Time producer Stephen Simon’s wildly-popular new movement called Spiritual Cinema Circle, which promotes uplifting films with positive messages, delving into such topics as life after life, enhanced powers and sensibilities, reality and time, visionary romance and adventures, and the power of love And... the first month’s DVD is free! No strings, quit any time you want.

MUSIC •
Film composer Nicholas Pike writes about Yoga Master Peter Sterios’ amazing new DVD Gravity & Grace, featuring three hours of music especially written by Stuart Balcomb. A double CD is on the way.

COMING SOON: Australian performance artist/musician Jodi Rose plays the bridges of the world — you heard us... bridges. Those massive structures that connect one piece of land to another. And you thought drummers had a lot to carry to the gig!

FICTION •
“Daddy was unreliable and often drunk, and his new lady, Norlene, the meanest one yet whenever his back was turned. Lu had no allies — until Talion came, with his crew of shadowy accomplices.” This excerpt from Mary Maddox’s novel in progress, Talion, is by turns heartbreaking and scary with its blend of realism and dark fantasy.

NONFICTION •
“On January 29, 2002, President George W. Bush famously referred to Iraq, North Korea, and Iran as an ‘axis of evil’ threatening world order. In so doing, he invoked a Christian idea of ‘evil’ that is dauntingly complex, including, as it does, everything from sexual indulgence to diabolical genius.” Read “Homer and the Birth of Consciousness,” from Chapter Seven from his new book “American Vulgar.”

“It takes about three seconds. I am in the passenger’s seat, searching through the campground guide to find a place to park our 30-foot pull-behind camper, when something — a swaying of my seat perhaps, a quick intake of breath — makes me look up. In a queer, high voice my wife says, ‘I can’t believe this is happening!’” from “3 Seconds,” by John Kilgore.

In “Acid Queen” Sonja Mongar gives us a glimpse into the life of Cyd, her fourteen-going-on-fifteen-year-old sister.

POETRY •
Lola Haskins’ poetry does what great poetry always does.  It stops you.

Charles Fishman listens to the world with a stillness and intensity most of us can’t imagine. He knows there are voices in the wind, and he hears them and listens to them, and then he tells us what they are saying in a voice so direct and selfless and loving that we feel that we ourselves are hearing those voices.

COMMENTARY•
“Stay Awake” is the title of photographer Sean Kernan’s commencement speech to the 2005 graduating class at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. What he has to say is a timeless message for us all.

QUOTATIONS •
Bon mots, witticisms, stupidity, and just plain nastiness.

BOOKS •
Want some suggestions for good reading? Check out TheScreamOnline Bookshelf. Buying books through these links can help keep us afloat.

"Most of us spend our lives as if we have another one in the bank."
—Ben Irwin