Liss Family Talent

This is our place to share and celebrate family talent; be it art, photography, poetry, writing, etc.

Please share with us, and celebrate your gift. Send prose, short stories, art, or news of your artistic accomplishments to Jackie. Art may be scanned in JPEG format, but please do not send zip files.

Mom Wins Honorable Mention

Category: Human Images

Title of Painting: Tradition

Congradulations Mom!

"Home by Moonlight"

An original painting by Connie Liss

More of Connies' paintings can be viewed online at ART EASEL.COM.

UPDATE: ARTEASEL.COM WEBSITE NO LONGER ONLINE. Three of Mom's most recent paintings are entered in AE's Second Annual Juried Art Contest.

Some of mom's work at the Batso Art Expo (L to R) Jackie, Angela, and Mom

Russell has directed, produced, and adapted many fine theater productions for the Monroe County Civic Theater. His most recent, Dracula, was a success. A man of many talents, he also created the poster(shown below)for the play.

Please visit the LIST OF PLAYS for the 2006 season, to find some of the other plays that Russell has directed/produced/edited. Jennifer has also worked on some of these plays as administrative assistant and costume construction.

Learn more about Russell at BLOOMINGPEDIA.

Above image from photo taken in St. Martin, 1984

I took this photo (above a PSP image) during a trip to the Island of St. Martin. The weather beaten craft spoke to me as if a kindred spirit, and inspired the following poem...

Jacqueline

With a freshly hewn frame painted in colors of sea and clouds, I was named Jacqueline, and christened with a half bottle of rum. The hot sand brushed along the bottom of my pristine hull, As warm, sticky hands gripped my bow and pushed me closer To my purpose. Gradually I slipped into the buoyant blue world of my life Its' frothy edges awakening my skin and pulling me in Away from the safe harbor of white beaches, warm and certain. Closer to the vast unknown, unsteady place, cold and unforgiving I was seduced by the promise Many years I did navigate her treachery to remain afloat Keeping those in my custody safe and prosperous. I have drifted atop the calm, detached from the abyss; A murky dark where countless crafts have come to rest Their final act of acquiescence. Now I rest my declining shell braced upright by jagged mortar, Left to the hot sun, dry sand, and impish sprite of children. My faded exterior and rotting wood a reminder to the seaworthy Whose younger, stronger hulls still dance to the rhythm of the sea, They may not deny their destiny. Jacqueline Mercurio, Copyright 2002

This poem is dedicated to all those who would use the Internet with selfish and deceiptful intent, and a total lack of regard to the victims of such "cyber-betrayal."

The End Continues

It is the end that continues, the death that lives on The darkness in the middle of day The loud silence of the voice in your head Each step moving neither forward nor back Alone without purpose; the true hell here on earth, Forgotten, discarded, breathing is a curse. Only death may break the spell. Jacqueline Liss 2005

A Gift in the Painted Sky

As I grow older I acquire a more intimate understanding of Dad's passion for photography. Photography allows you to capture, savor, ponder, and rediscover all that life too briefly brings us. Photography finds the art in nature, the truth in what surrounds us, and the beauty in ordinary. This beautiful sky presented itself at the very end of one unseasonably warm and spectacular autumn day. Nature had filled it's canvas with colors that could fill you with a giddy euphoria, but the treetops seem to harbor a sobering message.

Evergreen Moist air wraps ‘round limb and blade of busy flora as the Emerald cradle sways with her breeze, whispering secrets of sweet honeysuckle. The sky draws tight a cumulous canopy to defend this grey cocoon, Resisting the sun’s command of day; freeing thoughts t’ward yesterday. As the birds sing of innocence, graceful arms of errant oak and evergreen Ride the breath of spring; beckoning toward a time hidden in her shadows - Where I am young again, and the earth lays on tender skin; Between fingers and toes; finding course through ragged patches to delicate knees; Yielding to small hands as they plow dreams through terra firma. Close to her cheek, the gritty scent draws a familiar bath of delight Inviting laughter to roll in a bed of dandelions and clover; The praying mantis finds me as the grass, though I am still At the tickle of each step, and the wonder of it’s game. Fickle brace moves joy into a summer’s pale blue sky, and it is captured By the ballet; soft sheets of whimsy sweeping Pas de Chat behind angel wings. And the silver birch cheers the graceful gift of heaven's sublime recital Stirring a brisk spirit in the concert of it's grand finale One kiss followed by another, I catch them and they taste fresh and cool. Heavier, they move to a mercurial cadence, tapping open palms of thirsty leaves; They become teardrops; remnants of this sorrow that mournes time's passage; The secret held still within the shadow of the evergreen.

Recently I picked up a pencil and sketch pad and began to endulge in time spent away from worry and strife. I discovered that I really enjoy this creative outlet, and while I feel quite old to be teaching myself a new skill, I thoroughly love the process. It requires the kind of focus that completely shuts out my troubles. One of my first sketches; This sketch doesn't do the charecter of Captain Jack Sparrow justice, but it will do under the category of "experimentation."