Sunday Stealing

Art Historic

Classical: If you were an Olympian god, what would you be known for? Like Artemis and Diana, I'd be known for my love of animals.

Byzantine: Do you prefer gold or silver accessories? Silver

Medieval: Are you religious? In my way. I find myself disgusted by the way it's become fashionable to cloak hostility in my Christianity. (See post below.)

Gothic: What is your favorite historic building? Oh, I love so many old buildings! Since you're asking me for one, I'll go with JFK's birthplace in Brookline. This is where history was shaped -- the defining sibling relationships among Joe, Jack, Rosemary and Kathleen ... where Kennedy first picked up a book and fell in love with words and reading (if you visit, you'll see his well-worn copy of Billy Whiskers) ... the surprisingly small backyard where he learned to ride a bike ... I visited only once, more than a decade ago, but it's stayed in my heart.

Renaissance: Have you ever had a time in your life when you felt enlightened or changed? So many times! But, since an earlier question got me thinking about faith I'll go back to a sad Saturday night in the early 1990s. I had just ended a relationship with a man I loved very much. I was desolate, and that night felt like the longest one of my life. Sunday morning dawned and I went to church. Singing hymns as the sunlight streamed into that sacred place was a balm to my heart. I made the decision that morning to join the congregation. I wanted to formally show my respect and gratitude to the Lord for helping me heal.

Baroque: Do you enjoy the finer things in life? Not really. A typical refrain of my youth was my father admonishing me for not showing proper respect for my stuff: "This is why the Gal can't have nice things."

Rococo: Is your bedroom full or trinkets and pictures? If so, which pictures adorn your walls? I love this poster of Marilyn in Malibu, 1948. At the very start of her transition from model to actress. Doesn't she look happy? I respond to the uninhibited joy, and it reminds me to be careful what I wish for, because I just might get it.

Neoclassicism: If something came back into fashion, what do you hope it would be? I liked the big, satchel handbags of the 1970s. Let's see those come back.

Romanticism: Do you often see things in a positive light? I try. Not always successfully.

Pre-Raphaelite: Which book would you like to see turned into a film? The Astonishing Thing

by Sandi Ward. It's the tale of a family in distress as told by their confused cat. It's a moving and life-affirming story and I'd love it to reach a wider audience.

Impressionism: Do you look for details or take everything in at once? I get an impression, and then I drill down.

Art Nouveau: When were you last at the theatre? I saw The Old Man and The Gun back in October.

Surrealism: Why does the porcupine think it's a duck? Because it's quacking up.

Pop Art: Do you enjoy pop culture? Yes.

Contemporary: What did you do today? It's still morning, so not much yet.