I See No Stranger: Early Sikh Art and Devotion is an art exhibition which presents paintings, drawings, textiles, and devotional objects that explore the values, practices, and artistic heritage of Sikhs, who comprise the world's fifth-largest organized religion.

Founded in the sixteenth century by Guru Nanak, a poet, philosopher, and holy man, the religion holds that God is found through humility, service, and an affirmation of beauty and joy in everyday life. Its messages of openness, equality, social responsibility, and devotion to simple truths are as radical today as it was in rigidly ordered medieval India.

Organized by the Rubin Museum of Art and with the support and participation of The Sikh Foundation and The Sikh Art and Film Foundation, the exhibition comprises loans from museums in India and the United States and private collections in the United States and England.

This exhibition opens at the museum on September 18 and runs through January 29, 2007.

“I believe that we all have a Creative Spirit within us waiting to be unleashed. Putting paint to canvas or following my passion does just this. It takes me on an inward journey deep inside the crevices, allows me to transcend the dark realities of life, to abandon my fears, to let my heart go and most of all, gives me wings to soar. Having been diagnosed with cancer last year, I know that time is all I have – but at the easel, time becomes irrelevant and as darkness changes to light outside, I can feel myself being rejuvenated, being guided by my Spirit infusing me with a “push” of a “cocktail” of love, hope, stillness, compassion and visions of a better world. I invite you all to visit my website.”

Edgardo and I have corresponded over the last several months about his watercolor paintings. They are beautiful to behold. See more of his work here.

Edgardo, now a native of Montreal, Canada, says he grew up in Colonial Goa and was inspired to do watercolors after seeing an Akbar Padamsee nude.

Ashta Nayak: Eight Pioneers of Contemporary Indian Art is a landmark show featuring the eight founders of Modern Indian art.  It begins today!

“The Progressive Artists Group formed on the eve of India's independence from Britain in 1947.  Inspired by Western Expressionism and Fauvism, and opposed to the revivalist and ethnic trends in Indian art, the Progressives aimed to create a new national aesthetic for India within the framework of international modernism.  The result was a spirited use of color, bold brushwork, and abstraction in Indian art, which contrasted the relative placidity and restraint of India's artistic past. Including new works and works from private collections, Ashta Nayak presents a comprehensive survey of how Indian art has evolved in the past 50 years by these 8 masters and juxtaposes the diversity amongst these artists.”

Please RSVP to Alka Singal, Gallery Director.

Meghan Murphy's mission statement reads:

“Artocracy was started to help artists make extra money through digital and downloadable prints.”

I have no qualms about that.

The gallery has some impressive work. Tempted to have your work considered for the site? Here's how.