My Favorite 5 Artworks Via 5 Faiths in 2012

ALPHA OMEGA ARTS
By Tahlib

My 5 Favorite works of Art for 5 Faiths in 2012.

1. "The Shambala in Modern Times" (2008) by Gonkar Gyatso, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
2. "Blessed" by Tony Melendez, Indianapolis, IN 
3. "Holi Festival" by Annan Sharon, Bangalore, India 
4.  “The Life of the Shoe” by Samreen Uzzama, Indianapolis (Grade 12). Winner of A&O Youth Prize for 2012
5. "Temple Talismans" by Yona Verwer, NYC

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Celebrate All 12 Days of Christmas, Dec. 25-Jan. 5, 2013

ABOUT.COM | CATHOLICISM
By Scott P. Richert

"Epiphany" (1475-80) By Hieronymus Bosh

We can easily celebrate the Twelve Days of Christmas, which end with the Solemnity of the Epiphany, on January 6. In an important way, Epiphany completes the Christmas feast, because it is the day that we celebrate the fact that Christ came to bring salvation to the Gentiles as well as to the Jews. In some countries, it is customary to give small gifts throughout the twelve days of Christmas. In our family, because we're usually visiting our relatives in another state on Christmas Day, our children open one small gift on each day of Christmas, and then, having returned home, we go to Mass on Epiphany, and open all of our presents that night (after a special dinner). Of course, we keep the Christmas tree up the whole time, play Christmas music, and continue to wish friends and family a Merry Christmas. It's all a wonderful way to draw the joy of Christmas into the New Year--and to draw our children more fully into the beauties of the Catholic Faith. [link]

Dates for 12 Days of Christmas? Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012 through Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013.

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Leslie Rinchen-Wongmo's Online Ancient Tibetan Spiritual Art Form

KCET | PBS
Meher McArthur

Lotus by Leslie Rinchen-Wongmo

KENTUCKY---This article is the first in an ongoing series that explores the diverse range of artistic influences from Asia in the arts and culture of Southern California. Almost 20 years ago, a young Californian woman Leslie Freilich walked into the atelier of a Tibetan Buddhist artist in the Indian city of Dharamsala and fell in love with the Buddhist image that he was stitching. Now an established artist in this ancient Buddhist textile art, Leslie Rinchen-Wongmo (her artist name) has decided to pass her skills on to others. She does so from a virtual atelier, instructing students all around the world using such modern tools as pdf files, web cams and teleconferencing via Skype. [link]

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11th Day of Christmas ....Fabulous for 2013

ALPHA OMEGA ARTS
By Ernest @DisneyBritton

On the 11th Day of Christmas, there are eleven men in skirts blowing bagpipes but as his gift, Greg unwrapped, a pink Guest of Honor Ribbon which read "Fabulous" with the face of Minney Mouse. For some reason he won't wear the ribbon to work though. I don't understand why not? The other half of the gift is a Gold's Gym Waist Trimmer Belt. Fits up to 50-inch waist, so he has room. [12 Days]

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Hoosier, and Muslim Artist Uzma Mirza Illustrates the 99 Names of God

THE JOURNAL GAZETTE
By Rosa Salter Rodriguez

“Al Fattah (The Opener)” by Uzma Mirza illustrates one of the 99 Names of God.

INDIANA---Uzma Mirza, who has a degree in architecture from Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario, has practiced with firms in Connecticut, Chicago, Indianapolis and Fort Wayne. The roots of her art, Mirza says, lie in the Arabic calligraphy used for centuries in creating copies of the Quran, the Muslim holy book, and in the religion’s understanding of God. Some of the pieces now on display are embellished calligraphy of verses from the Quran or prayers, while others are her unique representations of the names of God. In Islamic theology, Mirza explains, there is one all-powerful and all-knowing God known as Allah. But Muslims often understand and invoke the deity through what they call the 99 Names of God, with each name describing one of God’s attributes – for example, The Compassionate or The Bringer of Justice. [link]

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Lockerbie Methodist: Historic Downtown Church to Close

THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR
By Will Higgins

INDIANA---The historic Downtown church building that housed a small congregation of Methodists and also the Earth House Collective is closing and will likely be sold. "The building was just too costly," said Brenda Freije, minister of Lockerbie Central United Methodist Church. That, or the congregation was just too small. It had dwindled to only a couple dozen people, and after the closure in August of its affiliate Earth House, keeping the church building no longer made financial sense. [link]

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10th Day of Christmas...Whoopers

ALPHA OMEGA ARTS
By Ernest @DisneyBritton

On the 10th Day of Christmas, a box of Whoppers (the original Malted Milk Balls) and "The Dukes of Hazzard" reunion movie collection. Kind of silly but no worse than 10 Lords a Leaping.  [12 Days]

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