
A creative celebration of Light and Life
This painting was especially created for "The Psalms of RA" CD. It is inspired from the ancient Egyptian classical image of Horus, the solar falcon. It also incorporates other ancient Egyptian iconography such as the Eye of Horus, the scarab beetle, and the ankh.
The Eye of Horus shown here is his right eye, which is also his solar eye. Hence it appears within the Aten, or solar disk atop his head, radiating light outwards to all beings. The solar disk is contained within an oval shape that merges with a T shape below it. These together form the ankh, ancient symbol of the life force. At the crossing point of the ankh is a scarab beetle pushing up a tiny red sun. It represents Khebera, the Lord of the Dawn, who brings the sunrise with every day. The scarab also represents the three lobes of the brain, and hence the higher mind.
The light and dark blue areas of Horus's™ wings symbolize the daytime and the nightime sky, for Horus is the bird of heaven. In spectral contrast, the light which emanates from the sun gives Horus his red to yellow flame-colored wings as a celestial firebird. In all, this painting is based upon an understanding both spiritual and practical; ie, that to meditate upon the sun, physically concentrating our third eye center on its brilliant light, is to access the eternal awareness of all creation.
A creative celebration of Light and Life
The paintings of Jim Berenholtz place him clearly in the realm of contemporary visionary arts, while at the same time reflecting his interest in ancient iconography and symbolism. These works are structured according to the universal principles of the mandala, and of temple art found at sacred sites throughout the world. Jim's art has been published in numerous cultural and metaphysical journals, in the album art of his music CD's, and in his first book, “Journey to the Four Directions” (Bear & Co., 1993). He has also exhibited his paintings at art galleries on Canyon Road in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and on the Plaza in Taos, New Mexico.
In 2009 Jim was honored to be the November Artist in Residence during the Tutankhamun exhibition at the de Young Museum of Art in San Francisco, California. His paintings and other creations inspired by ancient Egyptian civilization were shown together in a multi-media installation entitled "Temple of the New Sun".
The paintings of Jim Berenholtz place him clearly in the realm of contemporary visionary arts, while at the same time reflecting his interest in ancient iconography and symbolism. These works are structured according to the universal principles of the mandala, and of temple art found at sacred sites throughout the world. Jim's art has been published in numerous cultural and metaphysical journals, in the album art of his music CD's, and in his first book, “Journey to the Four Directions” (Bear & Co., 1993). He has also exhibited his paintings at art galleries on Canyon Road in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and on the Plaza in Taos, New Mexico.
In 2009 Jim was honored to be the November Artist in Residence during the Tutankhamun exhibition at the de Young Museum of Art in San Francisco, California. His paintings and other creations inspired by ancient Egyptian civilization were shown together in a multi-media installation entitled "Temple of the New Sun".