-: "And it is clear to me what you are doing."

Society is betting bolder with the occult, although perhaps not in huge increments, since this way of presenting the demonic underworld is ages old. But I think it's "mainstream" presence is bolder and less hidden now. The aim is to remove the "occult" from the occult, from darkness, and to integrate it into normal, ordinary, life.

Since the occult is direct manifestation AGAINST God, it is an existential condition. A contemporary society, such as ours, that is less likely to believe in God, is vulnerable to interjections and manifestations.

One example is Anne Hathaway's "children's" film The Witches, made into a film after long-time occult writer Roald Dahl's same titled piece. Hathaway, who plays the Grand High Witch, apologized for making the film, not because it is truly frightening, and digs into serious witchcraft (for a children's movie!), but because she "made fun" of "disabled" people in the film.

Anne Hathaway plays Grand High Witch in The Witches, with her spliced mouth, sore-festered forehead, and three-fingered hooked hands. Of no concern for this "children's" "fairy tale!"

Another example of the normalization of the occult in contemporary society is the work of "local" artist Michele Taras, from the Mississauga area - Dufferin County, who now has an exhibition in the Main Gallery of the Art Gallery of Mississauga.

Michele Taras Art Apparel - Evil Eyes

Here is my recent email interaction with her:

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From: Kidist Paulos Asrat <cameralucidas@...>

Date: Sunday, February 11, 2022 at 05:12 AM

To: michele@....

Subject: "Nunnery"

Dear Ms. Taras,

I read about your exhibition in the AGM. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to visit it yet. I have, though, viewed your works on various online sites, including yours.

I am curious about one of your pieces.

All you work save for Nunnery are very colourful. The subjects of these pieces also have fully formed faces, with eyes,

Your Nunnery piece, on the other hand, is the only (as far as I can find) that is in black and white, and looks like a pencil drawing - although the medium is described as "oil pen."

These nuns have only their distinct, and enlarged, noses. Their eyes and mouth are missing.

And although you place a cross on the building behind them, therefore clearly a church, there are none on the figures.

Nuns are distinguished both by their habits, and the visible, and often large, cross that they wear.

Could you explain your image choices, and specifically these anonymous, eyeless, figures, without their crosses?

Thank you,

Kidist Paulos Asrat

Art and Commentary by Kidist Paulos Asrat

Michele Taras

"Nunnery"

Oil pen on gallery-wrapped canvas 16"x 20"

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From: Michele Taras <michele@....>

Date: Sunday, February 13, 2022, 08:16 AM

To: Kidist Paulos Asrat <cameralucidas@...>

Subject: "Nunnery"

Hello Kidist Paulos,

Thank you so much for reaching out. I do hope you have the opportunity to visit the exhibition at the AGM. It is a very worthwhile exhibit to see with many talented artists exhibiting and I am sure you will enjoy it!

How interesting that of all my pieces, you stopped and noticed Nunnery! You are right, it is very distinct from the rest of my vivid, colourful pieces. (I do have other pieces with figures with no faces drawn at all, such as the piece "All you need is love" which you can see at the AGM.) Most of my pieces are designed to tell a story and to allow space for the viewer to create their own. Often, there is hidden symbolism in each piece and sometimes (but not always) a little hidden something for the viewer to uncover. Nunnery is oil pen on canvas and a very unique, conversation piece. You are very clever to have noticed the stark difference with my other very colourful pieces.

What story do you see in this artwork? What does "Nunnery" say to you?

"Nunnery" is still available for purchase.

Kind regards,
Michele

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From: Kidist Paulos Asrat <cameralucidas@...>

Date: Sunday, February 13, 2022 at 12:18 PM

To: michele@....>

Subject: "Nunnery"

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What I do see in your work is bondage/S&M with the "roped up" fashion models, and sexualized orifices/body parts, and multiple orgy-like fornication all done colorfully and cartoon-like pseudo-humans with multiple limbs. I understand what you're doing. My question was simply to ask you for your input.

Left: Frida Kahlo-inspired "back brace." Mexican artist Kahlo was in a street car accident, suffered severe damages, and lived her life with a back brace/corset

Middle: Roped-up traveler with double crossed (one up-side-down) luggage

Right: Frontal view of roped-up model with clear-glassy "inverted/blinded" eyes.

[Sources: Taras' web/twitter/Facebook pages]

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I continue with my email:

You clearly don't want to do so. But, that already tells me what I need to know. And I had already interpreted your "nuns" image. It was clear to me what it is.

And it is clear to me what you are doing.

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The Girl in Roots

Taras this "forest witch" - The Girl in Roots - with wild hair posted on her Pinterest posting, which is also posted at OneEyeLand - another (one eye) reference to the occult.

I have written about wild-haired forest witch women, also from another exhibit at the Art Gallery of Mississauga ....Satanic Imagery in the New Art Gallery of Mississauga Exhibit (May 2018) :

Here, a zombie witch (whose gender is nonetheless not clear) sits in a forest as she (it) genuflects its arms around its grey hair (casting spells?). Later in the video, this zombie witch joins other creatures as they run through the forest, two which are horned, and another a more "conventional" witch with a haggard grey face and decayed teeth.