La Guardiana del Huevo Negro 1955 Surrealism Oil on canvas
‘La Guardiana del Huevo Negro’ portrays a cloaked woman sitting alone in an arid desert balancing a black egg upon her lap. She is the keeper, guardian, and protector of the egg. Fini reveals her interest in notions of divinity and the mystical powers of womanhood.
Leonor Fini Surrealism, Magic Realism, Symbolism Born: 30 August 1907, Buenos Ares, Argentina Nationality: Argentine-Italian Died: 18 January 1996, Paris, France
Fini was a surrealist painter, designer, illustrator, and author best known for her depictions of powerful and erotic women
Frank Zappa Rock, Jazz, Classical Born: 21 December 1940, Maryland, USA Nationality: American Died: 4 December 1993, California, USA
Zappa was a musician, composer, and bandleader. Mostly self-taught, his work is characterized by nonconformity, free-form improvisation, sound experimentation, and satire of American culture. In a career lasting more than 30 years, Zappa composed music in various genres including rock, jazz, jazz fusion, and orchestral. He also produced, with his band the Mothers of Invention, over 60 albums. Zappa is regarded as one of the most innovative and diverse musicians of his generation
Here Follows Some Verses upon the Burning of Our House 1666
In silent night when rest I took For sorrow near I did not look I waked was with thund’ring noise And piteous shrieks of dreadful voice. That fearful sound of “Fire!” and “Fire!” Let no man know is my desire. I, starting up, the light did spy, And to my God my heart did cry To strengthen me in my distress And not to leave me succorless. Then, coming out, beheld a space The flame consume my dwelling place. And when I could no longer look, I blest His name that gave and took, That laid my goods now in the dust. Yea, so it was, and so ’twas just. It was His own, it was not mine, Far be it that I should repine; He might of all justly bereft But yet sufficient for us left. When by the ruins oft I past My sorrowing eyes aside did cast, And here and there the places spy Where oft I sat and long did lie: Here stood that trunk, and there that chest, There lay that store I counted best. My pleasant things in ashes lie, And them behold no more shall I. Under thy roof no guest shall sit, Nor at thy table eat a bit. No pleasant tale shall e’er be told, Nor things recounted done of old. No candle e’er shall shine in thee, Nor bridegroom’s voice e’er heard shall be. In silence ever shall thou lie, Adieu, Adieu, all’s vanity. Then straight I ‘gin my heart to chide, And did thy wealth on earth abide? Didst fix thy hope on mold’ring dust? The arm of flesh didst make thy trust? Raise up thy thoughts above the sky That dunghill mists away may fly. Thou hast an house on high erect, Framed by that mighty Architect, With glory richly furnished, Stands permanent though this be fled. It’s purchased and paid for too By Him who hath enough to do. A price so vast as is unknown Yet by His gift is made thine own; There’s wealth enough, I need no more, Farewell, my pelf, farewell my store. The world no longer let me love, My hope and treasure lies above
Anne Bradstreet Born: 8 March 1612, Northampton, UK Nationality: English Died: 16 September 1672, Massachusetts, USA
Bradstreet was a poet, the most prominent of the early English poets of North America and the first writer in England’s North American colonies. Bradstreet is the first Puritan figure in American Literature and is renowned for her large body of poetry and personal writings, mostly published posthumously
In those days past so very long ago When magic was shared on gossamer wing With old stories told by the bards that sing And fairies danced amid the moonlight’s glow
While sprinkling their magic dust where they go To refrains plucked out on the bardic string Soon to the song the fairies learned to bring Their own voices to the musical flow
Around the world, we could hear them all sing Enchanting songs only magic can know Mankind heard it too when the spring winds blow To the choir early man’s voices did ring
Of when the world was young with all to show In those days past so very long ago
A Penny for Your Thoughts Album: New Directions Date: 1982 Genre: Soul Artist: Tavares
Tavares is a funk and soul music group composed of five Cape Verdean-American brothers. They have been performing since 1959 and are best known for their hit ‘Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel’ in 1976