Profiles of Contemporary Art and - ARTisSpectrum

New York City: Evoking the Muse
by Angela Di Bello
The Muse - she was once the female platonic ideal, a deity, a sage, a goddess; and for hundreds of
years the blessing of a Muse was essential for the creation of art. For many artists, the Muse is alive
and well, infusing the psyche with a gust of the divine, to inspire not imitation but new insights. For
many years I have privately addressed the issue of new art forms with artists from every corner of the
world. This dialogue has culminated in the theory that today’s muse is often either a physical place or a
place in the heart. Over the past ten years artists have discussed with me the inspiration that becomes
manifest when they are exposed to the spirit and energy of New York City. In the November 2010 issue
of ARTisSpectrum, five artists shared their experiences of the city with our readers. This proved to be
extremely popular, and for this edition I have invited seven artists to do the same. I thank Adka, Caroline,
Heather, Kristina, Mary, Susannah and Wendy for their evocative and powerful contributions, and
encourage others to share their experiences with us for the November 2011 issue of ARTisSpectrum.
Dr. Caroline Josephs Ph.D. in front of Riverside Park, NYC
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