this was a good week

So.

Here in the United States, there was (yet another) mass shooting, and the thought of putting together a list of happy links on the internet seemed ... I dunno ... inappropriate.  Instead, I decided I needed to go on a mission to find something -- anything -- beautiful, both to inspire some hope in myself, and share with you here, in case you needed to see something beautiful as well.

I'm happy to say that I found something mindblowingly beautiful that fits the bill.

The Rice University Gallery currently has this amazing exhibit, called Intersections.  Created by Pakistani-American artist Anila Quayyum Agha, the exhibit is a single, bright light suspended from the ceiling through an intricately laser-cut box made from wood, and painted black.  Each side of the cube is the same, inspired by a pattern that Agha saw while visiting the Alhambra, a palace and fortress in Granada, Spain.  I saw a video about the exhibit a couple of weeks ago, and I had been thinking about visiting;  yesterday seemed like the perfect time to make it happen.

I planned on walking into the exhibit, taking a few photographs and leaving, but once I arrived, I couldn't leave (in fact, I tried leaving at least 4 times, and each time, I turned back around to take a few more photographs and walk the space).  This place is positively spiritual.  The light and shadow is so breathtaking, made even more so by the fact that as you walk around the box, the light casts shadows on you, making you part of the exhibit as well.  I was absolutely overcome with awe.  It's amazing.

Naturally, I took a few photographs to share with you.

This video also captures some sense of what it's like to walk through the exhibit; but more importantly, the motivation of the artist:  how she saw the Alhambra as a metaphor of union, since Muslim, Christian and Jewish artisans all contributed to the creation of that sacred space. Her art installation pays homage to that union, that intersection. 

Amazing.   If you're in Houston, I'd strongly recommend visiting.  It's up through Sunday, December 6th.

With that, have a beautiful, light-filled weekend, friends.