For centuries artists have been challenging their intellects and skills by paying homage to the painters who preceded them. Jenness Cortez has emerged as the twenty-first century's most notable exponent of this facet of art history. In her series of Homage paintings, Cortez plays author, architect, visual journalist, art historian, curator and pundit to help open our eyes to what we have overlooked. Each painting presents a specific theme, mixing straightforward cues and obscure allusions, complemented by references to other artists lives and times.

In the midst of a nineteenth-century boom in spiritual experimentation, the Cercle Harmonique, a remarkable group of African-descended men, practiced Spiritualism in heavily Catholic New Orleans from just before the Civil War to the end of Reconstruction. In this first comprehensive history of the Cercle, Emily Suzanne Clark illuminates how highly diverse religious practices wind in significant ways through American life, culture, and history. Clark shows that the beliefs and practices of Spiritualism helped Afro-Creoles mediate the political and social changes in New Orleans, as free blacks suffered increasingly restrictive laws and then met with violent resistance to suffrage and racial equality. Drawing on fascinating records of actual seance practices, the lives of the mediums, and larger citywide and national contexts, Clark reveals how the messages that the Cercle received from the spirit world offered its members rich religious experiences as well as a forum for political activism inspired by republican ideals. Messages from departed souls including Francois Rabelais, Abraham Lincoln, John Brown, Robert E. Lee, Emanuel Swedenborg, and even Confucius discussed government structures, the moral progress of humanity, and equality. The Afro-Creole Spiritualists were encouraged to continue struggling for justice in a new world where "bright" spirits would replace raced bodies.

In the world of today, men on both sides of the science-humanities barrier feel an urgent need for mutual understanding. This symposium sponsored by the American Council of Learned Societies, stressed that it is only in a spirit of disinterested yet sincere evaluation that science and humanism can escape disastrous consequences in the future. Karl W. Deutsch (M.I.T.) deals with the general area of interplay between the sciences and the non-scientific aspects of our culture. F.E.L. Priestley (University of Toronto) discusses the impact of science on English literature. David Hawkins (University of Colorado) surveys the anthropological background of science. Harcourt Brown (Brown University) gives an account of the influence of the scientific outlook in French literary culture, and contributes an introduction explaining how the book came to be written.

Come awake to a more creative life—by realizing clarity of mind, body and spirit. Creativity is basic to the very fiber of our being, and not—as many suspect—solely the privilege of a gifted few. When we silence the voice of creativity that lives within us, we confine our spirit. Award-winning author Dan Wakefield helps us to examine our reasons for not creating—debunking the myths—and shows us the path to a fulfilling, creative life. Drawing on examples from religion, philosophy, and literature, Wakefield teaches us that the key to unleashing our own inner creativity is in clarity of mind, body, and spirit. Releasing the Creative Spirit gives us practical guidance to demystify the creative process and to help each of us achieve this clarity by: Breaking the Myths—Explode the myths that creativity is only for the artistic elite, that creators must suffer, and that science and business can not be creative pursuits. Emptying—Learn ways to recognize and move beyond the tired routines in your life that deaden the senses and soul. Filling Up—Experience new sensations through simple practices that revive natural perceptions and unlock hidden creative resources. Creating—Try hands-on, practical exercises to explore the mystery of creativity in your life from a spiritual perspective. This passionate, personal guide draws on examples from the experiences of many creative people—Elaine Pagels (professor), Tom Wolfe (novelist), John Coltrane (jazz musician), Harold Kushner (rabbi), Danielle Levi-Alvares (yoga teacher), Stephen Hawking (physicist), and Phil Jackson (basketball coach), just to name a few—who each demonstrate one or more of the characteristics of someone who creates from the spirit. Creative People... Develop clarity as the source of creativity Take responsibility for their lives and work Regard age as an opportunity See obstacles as an invitation to create new solutions, techniques, and skills Recognize the body/mind/spirit connection Find surprising new ways to perform routine tasks ...and much more This fresh exploration of the creative spirit includes hands-on exercises to help you unlock your creative powers, inviting you to experience the artistic grace and pleasure that can exist in our everyday lives. You may discover, as many others have, that with creativity comes more joy, more laughter, and more accomplishment than you previously thought possible.

Roxane Head Dinkin, PhD, a clinical psychologist practicing in Bradenton, Florida, who has long dealt with the problems of infertile women, and history professor Robert J. Dinkin have created an informative book showcasing seven prominent women who struggled with infertility and became creative powerhouses in a variety of fields. Unable to have children themselves, the Dinkins utilized their combined expertise and discovered how these seven women had worked through their infertility issues and honed their creativity to more fully utilize their talents: - Juliette Low, founder of the Girl Scouts of the USA - Joy Adamson, wildlife conservationist and author of Born Free - Josephine Baker, entertainer and adoptive mother of twelve - Frida Kahlo, innovative artist - Emma Goldman, anarchist and birth-control advocate - Ruth Benedict, leading anthropologist - Marilyn Monroe, film star and sexual icon Infertility produces a profound loss for women who hold the expectation that they will reproduce. Infertility and the Creative Spirit clearly illustrates the connection between the desire and inability to have children and lasting accomplishments in other areas of life, showing how infertile women contribute to the next generation.

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