UnGraven Image offers a creative and artistic vision for the Family of Humankind that begins in Genesis 1, and/or in the theories of elemental physicists, when the universe is created.

UnGraven Image is art at the intersection of religious theology and elementary physics theory. Ironically it is always sweepingly inclusive as it focus is on the smallest of pre-particles, which are symbolized by binary symbol strokes (Torah font Hebrew letters) from original biblical texts. The Western theology that UnGraven Image is based upon is as elemental “as in the beginning GD created the heavens and the earth. Since the font used is a binary font it simultaneously refers to Eastern religions including, Buddhism, Hinduism and Taoism. Of course, the scientific aspect allows even the staunchest atheist and agnostics to come within this shared vision of the universe.

UnGraven Image is not a narrative theory of art but a conceptual one. The strokes are always referenced and served by any imagery (the What), a complete flip from the basic history of art. As such, it is focused on How a work of art is created (the strokes, however small).

The corollary in life is our focus is not so much on the actually theology each one of us holds true and dear (the What), but rather of How we treat each other, down to the smallest gesture. The How focuses us individually on our own behavior (thoughts and actions) because all any of us can create is what we do, not what we perceive others are doing. But, perception puts us in relationship, so, like all of the arts, UnGraven Image must always be about relationship, specifically for us about the How we treat others and the How we relate personally to Our Creator (or one's understanding of a Higher Power).

I am not an expert on religions, and admit to only recently , to my delight finding out that UnGraven Image theory included the Buddhists and Hindu, too and there are other religions such as some of the Native Americans also referenced). However, just standing upon the knowledge I have of Judeo-Christian theology (where the theory was originally founded, plus the science), Genesis 1 and 2 and onward deals with the creation of the universe for all humankind.

Genesis ' Adam and Eve (English translation) are the first man and first woman. Biblically, they are the ancestors of each of us. Anthropologists and biologists have worked through genetics to discover that we are all related to one original female, who they named Eve.

Recently some one I am fond of was going to go to a camp-out with people who called themselves the rainbow people. In the USA , we've all heard of the Rainbow Coalition and other such groups. Well, theologically this is just nonsense and also it is non-science.

Rainbow people. Indigo people? Violet people? Green people? Magenta people? Cyan-or Blue? Huh?

I have always been interested in religion, including mythology, while maintaining my own personal views. No way, no how does the idea of rainbow people hold up. No where that I know of, do the Creator – or creators (Jupiter, Zeus, Ra et all) create blue, green, violet, etc. people.

OK. In fairness, I do understand that the idea of rainbow people means people of many colors and races. It is for Inclusivity, just as I am. However, the concept of “rainbow” people is just uppity and blind, and so is referring to people as black or white.

Actually, as an artist who excels with color, let me assure you that we are all the color of the earth. Dirt. According to the Bible, Adam was made from the earth by the Creator. It is not nearly as exciting and fabulous as rainbow people but we are the people of the earth. Some of us are pale sand colored and others are dark loam, some are reddish brown and others yellowier and still other more like Bermuda 's pink sand. Whatever, we each have skin colored like the earth, the dirt, sand or whatever you call it somewhere. There are no really black people, just very dark umber and no white folks either. Oh, well.

Inclusivity is easy. We focus on how we are alike. What we have in common. It feels good. We really have so much in common, so much immediately in common. Art addresses these understanding. Landscape art, for instance, addresses understandings we all share. We are standing on the ground. We are looking up at the sky, in the day we see the sun, maybe clouds; we see stars and usually the moon at night – and we marvel at the vastness of the universe.

Wars are fought because people are convinced that they are different, often radically different from the enemy. Ethnic cleansing is based upon this theory.

Here is the view of an artist. I put my Northern Western European American decent forearm up next to anyone of full African American descent and the difference is a few shades of raw and or burnt (reddish) umber. Basically we are all the same color --just a different intensity of it and maybe a little redder (like the red rocks) or yellowier (like the yellow rocks. Is this enough to fight with each other about or even fuss about?

Religious wars are fought not by people who do believe in the Creator against those who do not, but those who believe in a different theology about how to serve the Creator. Why not just leave that in the hands of the Creator, who ought to be able to handle it – at least without our help.

Obviously, there are other reasons we fight, enslave, abuse and harm each other. Power, riches, pride and domination are heady drugs. They are the drugs of those who seek domination over others. These are not usually used to insight others to fight or abuse fellow humans. More commonly, good hearted people are recruited to fight others based on small differences that are perceived to be a threat. Differences are supposed to be a big deal.

UnGraven Image asserts commonalities are the big deal. Through art we can come together and celebrate our similarities. We can share a vision. We are all the people of the earth. We are all the color of the earth.

UnGraven Image's inherent theological and scientific inclusivity is for all people who opt in and come together in peace to celebrate what we can agree upon. All people includes people of all religious backgrounds and creeds who respect the inherent rights of others to exist peacefully, all people of whatever color, race, sex or age. All people deserve respect, dignity and appreciation until they threaten the inalienable rights of another.

Finally, also stemming from Genesis 1 and then 2 as the Creator tells the first humans to take care of the earth; UnGraven Image naturally cares about the preservation of the planet and the life here, both flora and fauna (including human). This emphasis on ecology and preservation surpasses politics and economics and religious biases. It belongs to art, which has always inspired and led humankind since our earliest records.

Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning, the Lord GD created the heavens and the earth…” I paint with the Hebrew letters that say this almost every day in the Genesis: Sunset – Sunrise series.

Time is a concept addressed by science and most religions. Religions deal with the concept of time as eternal and also as now. Meditation, used in all the world's great religions and lesser known ones too, focuses on being in tough with a Greater Source (insert any word you use) and being present in the now.

The tiny but mighty stroke always references the now. Even if a person is not full conscious of it, it is impossible for any of us to do anything (make even the smallest unit of a movement, such as inhale), except in the now

Hillel asked, If not now, when? Jesus proclaimed, The kingdom of heaven is at hand (our hands are in the here and now). Lao Tsu said a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step (a small motion unit made in the now).

Using symbols-strokes (strokes with inherent meaning) further puts the focus on the now, the small moment, rather that the “larger picture.' Each moment and action, no matter how brief or fleeting has meaning and significance, as does a symbol-stroke. All of our creative power as human beings (also as artists) is contained in each and every moment of now – in the stroke, the wave-like breath of now.

The now is teeming with possibilities -- possibilities for our creations. It is also comprised of many wave-like motions (branes, pre-particles) that combine, and then combine some more to create atoms and then matter and energy as we recognize it. Although reality appears solid, and in times of trouble, amazingly solid and unmoving, according to elementary physics, it is made of waves that are also able to be understood as particles. As waves – energy – the universe is pregnant with possibilities in every moment.

UnGraven Image Art theory is about portraying the understanding that understanding, of the now and it's infinite possibilities through the symbol-stroke.

August 18, 2007