Barnsdall Art Park is vital part of Los Angeles — and municipal art gallery and park that the LA City Council now wants to privatize, citing budget issues. To do so would limit citizens’ access to enjoy and create art and go against the goals of the land’s donor. Sadly, the privatization seems to be steamrolling ahead with minimal community outrage input as a way to keep Barnsdall open.

Madame de Loynes was a real person with a fascinating story. That is the fun part of portraits.

Knights in shining armor, pretty maidens: the ingredients of two stories.

African Elephants by Charles Emile de Tournemine gave the French people an image of their colonial empire.

Peter Stichbury paints Estelle. What kind of portrait is it?

Weekend Art of the Economic Collapse: Racoon sings Dumpster Diver: Garbology 101 — posted by NormanB (“Deviations from the Norm”)

Alfred Kubin on the death penalty.

Weekend Art: Greek Mythology: Melampus — by NormanB (“Deviations from the Norm”)

Weekend Art: How Local Hero Sam Lovejoy (& his Lawyer Howard Zinn) Toppled the Nuke Plant — by NormanB (“Deviations from the Norm”)

Weekend Art: Art of the Economic Collapse: Prophet of Doom vs. Triumph Over the Banking Blues — by NormanB (“Deviations from the Norm”)