blog no. 43: Queer Eye, The Maharishi Effect, Joyce Kilmer Poem



I am in CALIFORNIA

October 22nd through November 12th, 2021

Please contact me if you would like to book a private appointment to see the art in the quiet of your own home, are interested in hosting a small “art party” or would like to join a viewing in your area.

To get the most out of this blog, please click on many of the images, underlined words, etc. for links to more information, interviews, music, etc.


Heather Schieder Illustrates

three things we love

Queer Eye for the Straight Guy

Full episode of Queer Eye

This blog would not be complete without my mentioning one of my favorite shows--Queer Eye (Fab 5 Version) on Netflix. It is an ultimate makeover reality show, featuring the cast of Bobby Berk (interior design), Karamo Brown (culture), Tan France (fashion), Antoni Porowski (cuisine), and Jonathan Van Ness (grooming)--five delightful human beings who set out on each episode to offer consult and advice in hopes of helping to improve the life of one lucky person. They do it with a great sense of tender loving care and as a result, everyone is left feeling uplifted. Although Season 6 is in production now and won't be coming out until Spring of 2022, I await it with excitement. Now is a good time to begin watching from Season 1 if you haven't seen it already. Queer Eye is such a shot of love and goodwill that even those who have seen all the seasons already might want to take another look just for the simple joy factor.


The Maharishi Effect

Whether you actually meditate or not, I think we all would agree that meditation has its benefits and it would be a good idea for us to do it on a daily basis for individual health, stress reduction and general well-being. But have you heard of the Maharishi Effect? According to best-selling author and spiritual guide Deepak Chopra, “If you’re having over 100,000 people all shift to the same state of consciousness, it could easily start a pandemic of peace in the world.” World-renown quantum physicist John Hagelin Ph.D. commented that “There is far more evidence that group meditation can turn off war like a light switch than that aspirin reduces headaches. It is a scientific fact.”


Joyce Kilmer Poem

Click here to see how the Hug a Tree movement began in India

Pam Smilow Green/Yellow Tree, mixed media on paper, 60” x 22'“ $4000.

Gert Mathiesen, Rust Tree of Life, giclee print on canvas, 60” x 40” $4500

Trees are one of the things that I love the most, the subject of much of my art. Joyce Kilmer wrote a beautiful poem which I share with you here--and whatever your definition of God might be, I think this poem captures the essence of tree-ness and nature.

Trees
by Joyce Kilmer

I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.


painting of the week

Pam Smilow, Green with Blue Leaves, mixed media on canvas, 31” x 62” $6500


Donate to The Coalition for the Homeless


Another Self Portrait going grey in the time of Covid…


About The Author

New York City based contemporary artist, Pam Smilow created the creative lifestyle blog “things we love” in an effort to foster a sense of community during times of isolation and reflection. To read more about her and her art, visit her website and check out the essay written by the Hammond Museum's Frank Matheis entitled The Sophisticated Innocence of Pam Smilow.