Your Lot in Life

Your Lot in Life

     by Teresa Sullivan

This collage is about the story of Sodom and Gomorrah from the Book of Genesis from the Bible. The inner part of the collage is about this story, while the outer part of the collage compares the story to America. In the story, Lot and his wife are told by God to leave the city and not to look back. Lot's wife turns to look at the destruction of the City and is turned into salt.



Referenced in Wikipedia:

Sodom and Gomorrah (pron.: /ˈsɒd.əm/;^[1] pron.: /ɡə.ˈmɔr.ə/^[2]) were cities mentioned in the Book of Genesis and throughout the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament and Deuterocanonical sources, as well as the Qur'an. According to the Torah, the kingdoms of Sodom and Gomorrah were allied with the cities of Admah, Zeboim and Bela. These five cities, also known as the "cities of the plain", were situated on the Jordan river plain in the southern region of the land of Canaan. The Jordan river plain (which corresponds to area just north of the modern day Dead Sea^[3]) has been compared to the garden of Eden,^[Gen.13:10] being a land well-watered and green, suitable for grazing livestock.
Divine judgment by Yahweh was then passed upon Sodom and Gomorrah along with two other neighboring cities that were completely consumed by fire and brimstone. Neighboring Zoar (Bela) was the only city to be spared during that day of judgment.^{[Deut.29:23][Gen.10:19]} In Abrahamic traditions, Sodom and Gomorrah have become synonymous with impenitent sin, and their fall with a proverbial manifestation of God's wrath.^{[4][5][Jude 1:7]} Sodom and Gomorrah have been used as metaphors for vice.

America's Sanctuaries collage

America's Sanctuaries collage

by Teresa Sullivan

America's Sanctuaries collage is a very unique piece of artwork created by Marc Gagnon. The piece is based on the literary work of American Script Writer and Producer Gene Roddenberry. Back in the 80s, he wrote a script which was essentially the history of the world. The time was the year 2008 where the economy was suppose to deteriorate which would lead to a great depression. By the year 2020, there would be a Sanctuary in every major city of the United States. In these sanctuaries would house the unemployed, indigent and eventually the mentally ill.  The clip below is from the show Deep Space 9 which shows life in the sanctuary walls. Today, there are some major cities in the USA considering the creation of these sanctuaries. Is this coincidental?

Deep Space 9 concerning the Sanctuary Districts
The name of Gagnon's collage is America's Sanctuary.

The Boston Massacre collage by Marc Gagnon

The Boston Massacre collage by Marc Gagnon

    Blog by Theresa Sullivan, Treasurer of Marc Gagnon Inc.

Marc Gagnon, Photographic Artist, who has over 114 art pieces in permanent collections did a piece on the Boston Massacre, a critical historical event in American History.  John Adams, the man who United a country toward the signing of the Declaration of Independence was the pivotal character in the Boston Massacre incident. Below is the account of the event and then the collage:

The town of Boston was a very uneasy city throughout the 1760's. This uneasiness quickly turned to belligerence in the early part of 1770. Tensions had been mounting from the beginning of the year with various clashes between British sympathizers and colonists. However, in early March the tensions erupted into bloodshed.   On March 5, 1770 a small group of colonists were up to their usual sport of tormenting British soldiers. By many accounts there was a great deal of taunting that eventually lead to an escalation of hostilities. The sentry in front of the Custom House eventually lashed out at the colonists which brought more colonists to the scene. In fact, someone began ringing the church bells which usually signified a fire. The sentry called for help, setting up the clash which we now call the Boston Massacre. A group of soldiers led by Captain Thomas Preston came to the rescue of the lone sentry. Captain Preston and his detachment of seven or eight men were quickly surrounded. All attempts to calm the crowd proved useless. At this point, the accounts of the event vary drastically. Apparently, a soldier fired a musket into the crowd, immediately followed by more shots. This action left several wounded and five dead including an African-American named Crispus Attucks. The crowd quickly dispersed, and the soldiers went back to their barracks. These are the facts we do know. However, many uncertainties surround this important historical event:

• Did the soldiers fire with provocation?
• Did they fire on their own?
• Was Captain Preston guilty of ordering his men to fire into a crowd of civilians?
• Was he innocent and being used by men like Samuel Adams to confirm the oft-claimed tyranny of England?

John Adams defended the British soldiers in a court of law. He defended them well and they were found not guilty as it was found that one of the people in the crowd (a colonist) shouted out "Fire," which resulted in the soldiers firing their flintlocks.

Keene New Hampshire collage

Keene New Hampshire collage

Keene, New Hampshire is located on the west south side of New Hampshire off route 102. Keene NH is the home for Keene State College, a well known State College in New Hampshire.  Keene is also the home for former Redsox Catcher great Carleton "Pudge" Fisk who finished his career with the Chicago White Sox.

Keene, New Hampshire also has among its citizens many artisans (i.e. painters, sculptors, photographers, poets, writers). As you walk the main street, you will see numerous coffee houses where you may see these artisans. Keene is also in proximity to Route 91 which can take you up the State of Vermont and south to Springfield Massachusetts and Hartford Connecticut.

The community was granted as Upper Ashuelot in 1735 by Colonial Governor Jonathan Belcher to 63 settlers who paid five pounds each and whose properties were assigned by lot.[3] Settled after 1736, it was intended to be a fort town protecting the Province of Massachusetts Bay during the French and Indian Wars. When New Hampshire separated from Massachusetts in 1741 Upper Ashuelot became part of New Hampshire.

During King George's War, the village was attacked and burned by Indians. Colonists fled to safety, but would return to rebuild in the early 1750s. It was regranted to its inhabitants in 1753 by Governor Benning Wentworth, who renamed it Keene after Sir Benjamin Keene, English minister to Spain and a West Indies trader. Located at the center of Cheshire County, it became county seat in 1769. Land was set off for Sullivan and Roxbury, although Keene would annex 154 acres (0.62 km2) from Swanzey (formerly Lower Ashuelot).

Timothy Dwight, the Yale president who chronicled his travels, called the town "...one of the prettiest in New England." Situated on an ancient lake bed surrounded by hills, the valley with fertile meadows was excellent for farming. The Ashuelot River provided water power for sawmills, gristmills and tanneries. After the railroad arrived in 1848, numerous other industries were established. Keene became a manufacturing center for wooden-ware, pails, chairs, sash, shutters, doors, pottery, glass, soap, woolen textiles, shoes, saddles, mowing machines, carriages and sleighs. It also had a brickyard and foundry. Keene was incorporated as a city in 1874, and by 1880 had a population of 6,784.

New England manufacturing declined in the 20th century, however, particularly during the Great Depression. Keene is today a center for insurance, education and tourism. The city nevertheless retains a considerable inventory of fine Victorian architecture from its flush mill town era. An example is the Keene Public Library, which occupies a Second Empire mansion built about 1869 by manufacturer Henry Colony.

Keene NH was also the site for the filming of Jumanji which starred Robin Williams. Please see the Jumanji chase scene at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uoXapEpQQg.

You can purchase the below piece for $100 including shipping (16"X20") signed by the artist on drymount and send either to Marc Gagnon Inc., PO Box 8776 Coral Springs, Florida 33075 or Marc Gagnon Inc. , 131 Daniel Webster Highway, #246, Nashua, NH 03060.

Why The Term Temperamental Artist?

Why The Term Temperamental Artist?

 by Teresa Sullivan, Agent

Everyone has heard the term temperamental artist. This assumes that there is something wrong with the artist in the way they deal with others. Art is a very personal and unique talent and the artists themselves do not see things the way that the masses do. An artist is not just for those who paint. They can be sculptors, photographers, writers, poets, musicians, architects, interior designers or even inventors. Artists are big on truth and not their truth but universal truth. They are interested in making a stand for causes and are not afraid of public ridicule.

There once was a playwright by the name of Bill. He was not considered seriously by the people who worked with him, or the people who viewed his plays. At the time, women were not legally able to become actors on stage. He decided to write a play about a truth about life and took a chance in including a woman in the play. The play was about two people who loved each other so much that they were willing to die for each other and that is the way it ended. The audience was shocked and the actors were ready for impending public scorn. Then it was revealed that a woman acted in the play which could result in imprisonment. The Queen of England was so impressed with Bill, that she invited him to discuss the depth of what his play was about. He was then respected throughout the land. That man who stood up for womens rights was William Shakespeare.

Artists who do not make a stand for some dimension in life, are not ridiculed or publicly scorned or ridiculed, are really not artists. Many times people who say about an artist's work "I would not have done it that way" are part of the masses.  The next time you say this about an artist, check the artist out and see what the people who have collected his / her artwork say about it. If they are royalty, the aristocracy, heads of state or religious leaders, maybe you should think twice. Paul Gaugin challenged the Catholic Church for judging natives in the South Pacific for their hedonist ways. Mark Twain's work challenged society in showing youth not influenced to be a racist by associating with a black man known in his writings as Jim.  True artists enjoy helping others artists develop their artwork.  It is their way in giving back. Richard Avedon gave to Marc Gagnon by mentoring him in the 80s. You could say that America had an artist as President, Thomas Jefferson.

The term a Termperamental Artist is attributed to an occasional outburst resulting from narrow thinking. The artist though is not moved to change. They are driven to continue. It is this that I support Monsieur Gagnon, Artist and Friend.  A friend of Gagnon's by the name of Jacques Wiesel is a writer and many would consider him at times as temperamental. He is passionate about life and does so through his writings.

Below is a collage done by Gagnon and the piece is about one of the greatest artists of all time, Davinci. Also below is a painting of Jacques Wiesel and Marc Gagnon painted by Carol Morris.

King of Spain Acknowleges Artist Gagnon

King of Spain Acknowleges Artist Gagnon

by Agent Teresa Sullivan

King Juan Carlos I of Spain has recently approved Marc Gagnon's art collage Spain, The Gateway of the America's. Gagnon presented a dosier as well as a sample art piece and a presentation letter which was written in Spanish. The letter praises the people of Spain for the vision and bravery in charting the new world. The King of Spain graciously accepted the piece to be hung in the Palacio de la Zarzuela. The King of Spain has approved Gagnon's works in the past which include THE DISCOVERY COLLAGE.  The piece was featured on the cover of Applause Magazine.  Gagnon first was inspired to do these collages on a visit to the Salvador Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida. He was accompanied by friends Elizabeth Riggs and Jeffrey Riggs.  Below are the letters both written by Gagnon and the one written by the King's people as well as the actual Columbus collage. The envelope is also included in this blog.  Marc Gagnon's purpose for his artwork is to identify those that are much greater than himself and to highlight people's lives. Gagnon's artwork is in over 110 collections.

Gagnon's collage website

Marc Gagnon, Photographic Art Organizational Site

Jacques Wiesel as Essayist

Jacques Wiesel as Essayist

Jacques Wiesel, Author, Motivational Speaker and Coach has a column in the Our Town News in Coral Springs. The articles range from a variety of topics and much of the subject matter is reflected in his four published books. His books are Options from Within, How to Survive and Thrive in a Concrete Jungle, Bloom Where You're Planted, and 9 Knockdowns and 5 Miracles (Autobiography). Recently, Carol Morris did a painting of Jacques Wiesel and made him into a modern day Benjamin Franklin. Jacques is a strong willed individual with strong voiced opinions. Most great writers in the past demonstrated these traits. Jacques recently spoke at a Rotary Club in Coral Springs and briefly covered all four books. Jacques also has a series of tapes for sale.  Jacques background for training is the sales industry which he was number 1 in four international companies.

Jacques Wiesel's speech at Rotary Club at Heron Bay, Coral Springs

Above is Jacques Wiesel and a former military officer in WW II. They were re-united recently at a Jewish Community Center talk.