Denver Art Museum

The African Art section in the Denver Art Museum is breath taking. While walking through this section in the museum there are a variety of pieces ranging from wood to canvas. In this section you can either be taken back by the struggles these people have endured or be intrigued by the talented art pieces they have created. One of the most interesting pieces in this section to me was a piece by Olowe of Ise. One of Olowe’s last pieces Housepost is featured in the Denver Art Museum.

Olowe of Ise (1873-1938) was a part of the Nigerian Yoruba tribe. The piece Housepost was created late 1920 out of wood. The piece is 1.75 meters (6’9”) high. The piece is of a warrior, his horse and people of his community (two men and two women). The warrior is visibly larger than his horse while seated on him. In this carving the scale of the subjects seems to show the amount of power/respect they receive. (Ise) By taking this into perspective the warrior is bigger than the other subjects in the carving to show they are superior. With their being both men and women being the same size it shows that both the men and the women are treated as equals in the Yoruba community.

Olowe of Ise was a young male born into the Yoruba community of Nigeria is 1873. (Denver Art Museum) The Yoruba community has a big effect on the types of art that was created by Olowe and others of the Nigerian Yoruba tribe. The Yoruba are known for their music, art and distinct language. Some of the most forms of art from the Yoruba are sculptures, masks and paintings. The Yoruba tribe used many resources that were plentiful to makes their arts. (University of Iowa)

The culture from the Yoruba community influenced this piece by Olowe of Ise greatly. The piece was originally created for the home of Chief Elefoshan of Akure. The piece showed the status of the chief and his community. The sculpture was usually found at the front doors of homes of the owner. Olowe was the mostly highly regarded Yoruba carver of the twentieth century, so him sculpting this piece of Chief Elefoshan showed how much he respected and cared for this man. (Zemanek)

The 1920’s decade is usually referred to as the “roaring twenties” by people of the American culture. In Nigeria the 1920’s was also a fierce time for someone to live. During the 1920’s in Nigeria they were going through modernization going from a pre-modern society where they had a specific ruler they had to follow to a modern society were they found a specific religion they would follow and would stick with that religion and the ruler. Women were gaining their independence from males, but were mysteriously missing. One of the main segregation factors in this part of Africa comes from the choice of religion. Many of the mask and sculptures that are now available worldwide comes from the carvers or artist choice of religion and how they depicted it. (Olukojo)

One of the major aspects of the African Art is music. Although there are many predispositions of Africans and their choice of music and music making the Denver Art Museum made sure to add this into this section. I found this to be phenomenal. The “Experience Africa Art with Music” section has headphones to listen to different forms of music the Africans made or were exposed to.

The Asian Art section in the Denver Art Museum is full of very intricate and detailed art pieces. Many of the art pieces are similar to what we see in books of Ancient China. Asia has commonly been said to be a place where men are superior to women. When I saw a very beautiful piece of a woman I was blown away. Prajnaparamita the Buddhist Goddess of Transcendent Wisdom was standing in front of me. Unfortunately the artist is unknown.

Prajnaparamita the Buddhist Goddess of Transcendent Wisdom is said to have been sculpted around the 1200s. This piece is originally from Cambodia, Asia. This particular piece is one of the last surviving representations of the mother of King Jayavarman VII who reigned 1181–1218. Queen Jayavarman died prematurely, and her sister commissioned statues of her to be made. (Sacred Wind) The sculpture stands at 51 inches (4’3”) made of grey sandstone. The woman’s eyes are closed and she has a very gentle smile with closed eyes; commonly associated with the Bayon temple. Although her arms are broken off, they were probably extended. Her body language shows her at a relaxed state, almost like she was meditating. (Denver Art Museum)

Buddhism is one of the most recognized religions in Asia. Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on the teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama. Buddhism is commonly known for the mediation state used to practice the religion. In the state the eyes are closed and the face seems very sincere while practicing. This practice help the people relax and move forward with their life. Siddhartha Gautama welcomed both men and women to join his monastic community. (Buddhist Studies) By taking this into perspective, the woman Prajnaparamita the Buddhist Goddess of Transcendent Wisdom would be taken as an equal to others in the Buddhist community.

The two pieces I have decided to compare and contrast is Housepost by Olowe of Ise and Prajnaparamita the Buddhist Goddess of Transcendent Wisdom by an unknown artist. I decided to use these two pieces because they seem very different but are closely alike. It can be viewed that they are both sculptures but the meanings behind them lie among the cultures of the artist and/or the era of the sculptures creation. Olowe sculpted a strong figure in his community and the unknown artist made a sculpture of a woman that had an impact on their community. People in the African population are usually taller than people in other locations, such as Asians. The sculpture can almost be said to be at scale of the people. Although The Housepost is made from wood and Prajnaparamita the Buddhist Goddess of Transcendent Wisdom is made from gray sandstone, they were both made from materials that were plentiful in their surroundings.

Both the warrior in the Housepost and Prajnaparamita the Buddhist Goddess of Transcendent Wisdom were displayed outside homes. They both symbolized the status quo of the occupants of the home they were outside of. Religion was a big factor in the lives of the artist of these sculptures. Although the religions were widely different from each other, they were both new to the location of the people. These sculptures have influenced the changes in future sculptures by them having significance not only to the artist but to people of their community as well. Many of the changes in modern art came long after Prajnaparamita the Buddhist Goddess of Transcendent Wisdom but shortly after The Housepost. The creativity in both pieces adds new light to what art is and what it can mean.

Merry Christmas

Although Thanksgiving is right around the corner, I am focused on Christmas. I love this time of the year because it is family oriented. Christmas is a holiday we use to celebrate the birth of Jesus and to give the kids something to look forward to.

As I have previously mentioned I am a grandmother to an awesome little boy. My grandson is four years old. Just recently we asked him what did he want Santa to bring to him this year and he just looked at us for a few minutes. He later came back and told my daughter and I that Santa is not real and that he knows we buy his presents. I was slightly devasted by this.

I have always viewed this little myth to be comical as the children aged. I would make cookies with them Christmas Eve night and when they went to bed my husband and I would eat them. I was expecting to have the same fun time with Aaron. I guess not.

One of the things that I enjoy about Christmas is seeing my grandmother. We call her Mamou. Every other year everyone gets together at Mamou's house and have a mini family reunion. We have family coming from Egypt, Iraq, China and other states just to see our old lady on the holiday. Mamou has five generations under her, all of which she has name. There is her, my mother, myself, my daughter and my grandson. Oddly enough myself, my daughter and her son have our name beginning with "A".

I feel like the Christmas this year will be bittersweet. Bitter because this is the last Christmas I will have my baby and grnadbaby at the house giving us entertainment. Sweet because I know this is what is best for her and her family. My daughter has hated Colorado since she moved here, so her going back to Louisiana is no suprise to me.

Happy Christmahanakwanzaka to you!

Louisiana State University

I am very proud to say that my daughter has been accepted to Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge,Louisiana. Although I am sadden by the though of her leaving and taking my grandson with her, I am glad she is going to continuing her journey of education somewhere more comfortable to her.

Baton Rouge is the capital of Louisiana. Baton Rouge is the second largest city in Louisiana after the infamous New Orleans. Baton Rouge has a booming indutrial and medical research institute following the devastation suffered after Hurrican Katrina. Baton Rouge has a population os 229,553 as of the 2010 census. The area where my daughter will be reisiding has three major colleges within a 50ft square radius.

I am so excited about my daughter going to Baton Rouge because that is where we are originally from. I had her in 1992, we moved to 2002, and they will eb moving back in 2012. (Something weird she pointed out to me)

Arielle will be going to school to become a Elementary School teacher. She thinks she wants to have an emphasis in English or Science. Arielle has always wanted to become a teacher but she was afraid of not enjoying the children. After having her own child she has found that she enjoys children much more than she expected. She will be changing her major from the Univeristy of Denver with an emphasis on Social Work to teaching. I think they correlate very well.

Did I mention that LSU is the number one NCAA team. Last Standing Undefeated. LSU. Lets geaux tigers.

Jimmy Graham

Let’s Go Saints.

The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They aremembers of the South Division of the National Football Conference (NFC) of the National Football League (NFL).The Saints were founded on November 1, 1966 as an expansion team and played their home games at Tulane Stadium through the 1974 season. Their early record was marked by a lack of success; they went more than a decade before they managed to finish a season with a .500 record, two decades before having a winning season, and over four decades before finally reaching the Super Bowl. The team's first successful stretch was from 1987–1992, when the team made the playoffs four times and had winning records in the non-playoff seasons. In the 2000 season, the Saints defeated the then-defending Super Bowl champion St. Louis Rams for the team's first playoff win. The Saints reached the NFC Championship Game in the 2006 season but lost 39–14 to the Chicago Bears. They repeated this feat in their most successful season in 2009, this time winning the game and their first conference championship to send them to their first Super Bowl appearance. At Super Bowl XLIV, the Saints won the city of New Orleans its first league championship, defeating the Indianapolis Colts 31–17.

As a New Orleans, Louisiana native I have enjoyed watching their games since I was a young girl. This past week I watched as the New Orleans Saints took on the Indianapolis Colts. Throughout this breathtaking game, in which we won 62-7, I saw the story of a marvelous young man Jimmy Graham. Jimmy Graham was born in Goldsboro, North Carolina and is now the tight end for the New Orleans Saints as number 80. Graham had a difficult upbringing; at age 11 he was placed in a group home where he was physically beaten by older children. Graham was placed in this home by his own mother that told him she was no longer able to take care of him and he was now on his own. In high school, with help from a church youth counselor who took him into her home, he improved his grades, became a basketball star as a senior at Community Christian in Wilson, North Carolina and at Charis Prep in Goldsboro, North Carolina, and earned a basketball scholarship to the University of Miami. Graham played basketball for the Miami Hurricanes men's basketball team from 2005 to 2009. Graham graduated from Miami in May 2009 with a double major in marketing and management, and
then stayed at Miami to take graduate classes while playing a season of football. He played tight end and finished the season with 17 receptions for 213 yards and five touchdowns. He was drafted a third round draft pick for the New Orleans Saints.

Asperger's Syndrome

In 2007 my son Kendall was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. I did not know anything about this! I will give some basic information on he symptoms and diagnoses of this.

Asperger's Syndrome, also called Asperger's disorder, is a type of pervasive development disorder (PDD). PDDs are a group of conditions that involve delays in the development of the many basic skills, most notably the ability to socialize with others, to communicate, and to use imagination.

Although Asperger's syndrome is similar in some ways to autism--another, more severe type of PDD -- there are some important differences. Children with Asperger's syndrome typically function better than those with autism. In addition, children with Asperger's generally have normal or high intelligence, they may develop problems communicating .

The symptoms of Asperger's vary can range from mild to severe. Common symptoms include:

*Problems with social skills: Children with Asperger's generally have difficulty interacting with others and often are awkward in social situations. They generally do not make friends easily.

*Eccentric or repetitive behaviors: Children with the condition may develop odd, repetitive movements, such as hand wringing or repeating themselves.

*Unusual preoccupations or rituals: A child may develop rituals that he or she refuses to alter, such as getting dressed in a specific order.

*Communication difficulties: Children may not may eye contact when speaking with someone. They also tend to have problems understanding language in context.

*Interests: Children may develop an intense, almost obsessive, interest in a few areas, such as maps, solar systems, movies and states/countries.

*Skilled or talented: Many children are exceptionally talented or skilled in a particular area, such as music or math.

What Causes Asperger's Syndrome?

The exact cause of Asperger's syndrome is not known. However, the fact that it tends to run in families suggests that a tendency to develop the disorder may be inherited (passed on from parent to child).

How Common is Asperger's Syndrome?

Asperger's syndrome has only recently been recognized as a unique disorder. It is more common in males than in females, and usually is first diagnosed in children between the age of 2 and 6 years.

How Is Asperger's Treated?

There currently is no cure for Asperger's, but treatment may improve functioning and reduce undesirable behaviors. Treatment may not be needed, however, treatment may include a combination of the following:

*Special education: education structure

*Behavior modification: strategies for supporting behavior

*Speech, physical, or occupational therapy: designed to increase the child's functional abilities.

*Medication: drugs maybe used to treat specific symptoms, such a anxiety, depression, hyperactivity and obsessive-compulsive behavior.

What is the Outlook for People With Asperger'd Syndrome?

Because the level of intelligence often is average or higher than average, many people with Asperger's are able to function very well. They may, however, continue to have a problem socializing with others through adulthood.

Can Asperger's be Prevented?Asperger's cannot be prevented or cured. However, early diagnosis and treatment can improve function and quality of life.

The Theory of Natural Law

Each religion, theory or worldview has strengths and weaknesses. The way these strengths and weaknesses are viewed depend on what we feel is best for our own well being. The theory of Natural Law is something that is almost extinct with mainly the Catholic Church believing in it. I will discuss three reasons why this theory has been rejected by many others.

The first reason why is because of the idea that “what’s natural is good.” This is something that can easily be countered since we do not find that disease is something that is good, it is arguably bad. This can also prove to be true since when we put pesticides on fruits and vegetable to make them grow faster, they have an alarming effect on our own body. This shows that having the natural fruits and vegetables are good, and anything other than that can be bad.

The second reason is the confusion between “is” and “ought.” This is a common discretion in many aspects of Philosophy. “Is” can be used in many dialects and it is easily understandable. The word “ought” has many definitions and is usually used in a negative aspect. “Ought” is seen more a value, whereas “is” is seen more as a fact.

The third reason addresses the question of moral knowledge. Moral knowledge is something that is usually taught from generation to generation then changes as the person is able to make up their own ideas on their lifestyle. With this meaning it shows that the believer has no special access to moral truth. This is arguably the same reason why it is usually not a theory that is believable. Many believe that religious beliefs should not be the reason why people believe what is right and what is wrong.

This theory is attractive to myself and others because it poses a different stance on why things are the way they are. It proves that everything does happen for a reason. We have a fate but sometimes that path is not always followed. The natural law theory gives a reason for why we should follow what we feel is right. Everything has its own purpose and it does not need to be specified at that given time.

The Theory of Natural Law fits well with the Biblical Baptist worldview because, for the naturalist, the world has a rational order, with values and purposes built into its nature. The main topic I will be focusing on the ideology that everything has its own purpose. I will be using the Bible, and the Elements of Moral Philosophy as a guide to help prove why this is correct in many aspects of life.

In the Christian, Biblical Baptist, worldview people are placed onto Earth so they can worship God. With these same values instilled in them the purpose is to live a good life so they can in turn go to Heaven, after death, to be with this same God. By using the four questions from Aristotle we can prove this.

1. What is it? People

2. What is it made of? Flesh and bones

3. How did it become to exist? God created all people

4. What is it made for? To worship God and live a good life following his rules.

The separation between the church and the state in this instance is redundant. Many of the rules listed on the Ten Commandments are also listed in many of our Constitutional laws. Morality and religion are almost inseparable. We commonly gain our moral thinking from the teachings of our parents and/or guardians and the teachings of the Bible. We want to believe that God created a loving and peaceful environment for us. We are human and we make mistakes. Some people become corrupted and do not stick to their morals and therefore we must double think everything going on.

Aaron Thunder Coleman

As I play with my delighted grandson, I can only think about how I found out he was on his way to turning my world upside down. It is a pleasure to smile at him now, but just a few years ago I could only cry and worry about him. It was such a different world and we had no idea how he would end up today. After two and half years, I have found peace with my decisions and myself since finding out the shocking and upsetting news July 5, 2007.

I decided to let my three children visit with their dad, their grandmother and their great-grandmother in the summer of 2007. The visit seemed normal during the month they stayed there. I received regular phone calls from everybody and the kids called me every night before they went to bed. I was anticipating their return the night before they were due to come back. I received an odd phone call from my grandmother; my life has never been the same.

“Adrienne,” my grandmother began say on the other side of my cell phone, “Arielle is bigged.”

“Mamou, what does ‘bigged’ mean?” I asked with complete confusion.

“Baby,” she paused, “Arielle is pregnant!” Those words hit my heart like a ton of bricks. I could not believe it. My baby is only 14 years old how could this be? I thought about the previous months and the last time I had seen her. She showed no signs of being pregnant. The pictures they sent me of what they were doing showed nothing.

That was probably one of the most difficult night sleep I have ever gotten. By the time I went to get them from the airport, it was the only thing that was on my mind. How could my 14-year-old daughter be pregnant? When she stepped off the plane, I saw exactly what my grandmother was talking about. The plumped face and the slight baby bump was a for-sure sign. How could this be, Lord?

All of the clinics were closed due to the July 4^th holiday. Therefore, I went to Walgreens and purchased two tests hoping they would come back negative, at the time. I was still in disbelief when they came back positive. I called my best friend, Arielle’s godmother, and vented to her about everything. She told me to pull myself together and stop crying because Arielle needed me now.

The next day I took her to Planned Parenthood, and again, the test was positive. We were sent to a gynecologist where they administered an ultrasound. The doctor verified, what I think was, our worst dreams.

“Yes ma’am, this young lady is definitely pregnant.” the doctor in blue jeans scrubs told us as he began to clean up the equipment. “Are you her mom?”

“Yes.” I answered as I looked down and saw my daughter crying. Little did she know, I wanted to cry myself."

She is term."

“Term? I know what term is, but what do you mean term?” I was not fully coherent of what was going on at this time. How did I let her walk by me and play with me for nine full months without noticing! I had to sit down. I use work with pregnant people and I could not spot it out in my own daughter.

Ma’am, I will send you and your daughter to the University Hospital because this baby is due any day.”

The nurse walked out of the room and with her went all of my tears. I started to think a little harder about my daughter’s activities. She ran track, played volleyball and basketball, and--oh Lord--the medication she had taken for back pain. She took a lot of harmful medications, when she had the flu and her strong gastroindegestion medication--Tamiflu, 600 mg of Ibuprofen, Theraflu, Pepcid AC, all of the medicines you are to avoid taking when bearing a child-- and her illnesses goes on for days. My poor grandchild.

Just weeks later, literally, my daughter had a caesarean section and gave birth to a healthy baby boy (that was announced to be a girl during later ultrasounds). He was 8 lbs 10 oz and 20 ¼ inches long at birth. Between my grandmother and I, we named him Aaron Thunder Coleman. I was still in disbelief during all of the commotion associated with a new birth, but I have overcome it all and so has my daughter.

Arielle has graduated from Rangeview High School, and she is attending the University of Denver. I was at a loss for words when we were told she was pregnant at 14 and at an even greater loss for words when she was accepted to DU on Christmas Eve. Aaron will be starting His pre Pre-K school as well. Through it all, I have slept in my own room peacefully every night as she took care of her “little monster” alone.

Arielle is a normal seventeen-year old girl with much high priorities. Aaron keeps her busy and she keeps him with her everywhere. She has lugged him to her school when she had to take finals and he had Scarlet Fever. She has kept higher than a 3.5 grade average since having him. Many girls would have given up if they went through what she has endured in the past three years, but my daughter has kept her head held high and has overcome everything.

At almost three years old, my grandson is the light of everybody’s eye, as well as mine. He is so advanced and active in so many ways. I just hold him and look at his button nose as he sleeps, after being hidden away from me for almost nine months he has surely made up for the lost time. I am his “Nana Girl” and that is my “Thunder Pie.”