When I visited Florence, Italy’s Palazzo Vecchio last spring, its’ walls seemed to hold a whiff of mystery. I lingered in the grand hall meeting hall, Il Salone dei Cinquecento, soaking up the sort of spooky ambiance, picturing the De Medicis holding court with foreign potentates and generals returning from battle. It’s the kind of […]
Culture
Mythic Messenger: Encountering the Legacy of Bill Reid
Stepping off the busy streets of downtown Vancouver, B.C. on a recent chilly afternoon, a hush fell over me as I entered the gallery, where I’m introduced to a man of many names. . . lihljiwaas Kihlguulins Or simply, Bill Reid. The first is the Haida name he received at his grandfather’s funeral in Skidegate, […]
Visiting a Sikh Temple: How to Step Inside Respectfully
When traveling in India, I had the opportunity to visit a lively Sikh temple in New Delhi. It was a completely new and amazing experience. Sikhism is a monotheistic religion founded in India’s Punjab region and based on the teachings of Guru Nanak and his successors. The Sikh philosophy focuses on the equality of all […]