Perhaps there’s someone else out there who is equally surprised, but somehow delighted by the fact that the reclusive author Cormack McCarthy has decided to give his third interview in 40 years to none other than Oprah Winfrey? Surprised: his style of books is not the rosy happy ending genre that is usually featured on Oprah’s book club. Delighted: whenever someone who is ”supposed to be” one way turns out to be another makes for unpredictable humans, which I hope we all strive to be- life is more fun that way- trust me. Good for you Mr McCarthy

For an immeasurably contemplative journey into literature, find either All the Pretty Horses or The Crossing and get dialed into the desolate “equestrian road movie” world of McCarthy. I love his work. For some reason, his books hook into my occasional conviction of the desperate and futile nature of life. But with some hard-heeled snake-skin boot determination and hope thrown in. Sample it!

It was a subdued and joyous gathering at the St. George Village Botanical Gardens in St. Croix to celebrate the life and work of Maria Henle. Maria passed away on February 4, 2007 in New York. Cancer was the demon that took her away.
  Frederiksted Sunset

She was a true talent in the Caribbean art world, and I feel at peace in the presence of her paintings. She had a welcoming personality and a fire in her soul, determined to see the world and find the essence of foreign lands through her passionate paintings.

When my wife and I moved to this small island, I was first intimidated by Maria’s talent and openness, but soon found myself deeply engrossed in her stories and descriptions about who’s who in the St. Croix art scene. She had wonderful things to say about everyone, and had a secretive way of whispering when she talked about something astounding or out-of-place.

A fine person – an extraordinary artist has left many memories behind here, and I expect it will take a good bit of time for our community to heal.

Maria, come visit next time I paint. Give me a sign. I promise I will keep spreading your message of artistic power. I miss you, now that your studio is empty of your energy and contagious fire. Thank you for extending such a welcome to join you in your passion. Thank you always. 

St Croix, March 1, 2007:

“Above all I am concerned with what I find to be the arresting visual effect of the bags.  I can’t seem to get enough of it, really.  I’ve had the smaller piece in four other locations at the garden so far and there is at least one more to do yet.”

St. Croix, USVI: Mike Walsh’s dual show, appearing for the months of January-March, 2007 at the St. George Village Botanical Garden and at Walsh Metal Works Gallery on St. Croix, is a beauty. Delicate and industrial the carefully handled “bag grid” conveys our modern irony and peaceful downfall. Walsh’s Blue Bags series, and plastic bag theme in general, I found particularly appropriate for the US Virgin Islands where Walsh resides. Here, double and even triple bagging comes as a statement to overuse; today I un-wrapped a grocery bag: six bags for four items. This synthetic deluge litters our roads, our trees, our kitchen floors, and balloons into what remains of our atmosphere. Since Sam Mendes’ touching movie, American Beauty, exposed on cinema the feather-like quality of a plastic grocery bag, Walsh takes it a breath further with these blue bellow installations. In turn, his pieces are a welcome lightening from the weight of excess that these inconspicuous bags bring to our world.

The setting of the Botanical Gardens was fresh, at the gateway of the cool rainforest shade, but one more piece was needed to alert the public of something deliberate, something to check out. Though overall, it was a reminder to let go and hold onto the harmony of the wind, ourselves, and all that we create.
Amy Konwerski

Walsh Installation Location at St. George Village (arrows)

Tyringe, Sweden: Artist and creative genius Leif Lilja is displaying 16 new oil paintings and several iron and stone installations at the Tyringe Forsamlingshem (organized by Ars Viva, the Finja Artist Association) in Southern Sweden’s pastoral countryside for the month of February, 2007. Swedish correspondent Barbro Lanner says the show was well attended and that she loved the vibrant colors of Lilja’s work.

The inspiration for the paintings and the sculptural pieces come from a whole life of living as an extraordinarily creative human, an artist from early years, in rural Sweden’s peaceful but sometimes frustratingly conformist society. Lilja claims that his work is sometimes difficult to understand for the common Swede, although more and more of his neighbors and acquaintances have taken to accepting it as something new in their world, something not entirely safe, nor entirely unattractive. Lilja has metal sculptures in several public collections in Southern Sweden, and a select group of patrons from other parts of Sweden, Denmark and Germany.

The show will be on display through the end of February. For more information, contact director@salt-gallery.com or If you’replanning on visiting Southern Sweden, contact Finja Konstförening; Johan Ullbergsgatan 10, Box 135, 282 23 Tyringe; phone: +46-451-50550; contact Staffan Örneskans,