What do Winston Churchill, Mark Twain, King Farouk, and Dave and Margret Short all have in common? We all sailed down the Nile while visiting the magnificent antiquities of Egypt......in a felucca! This graceful sailing vessel is motor-less and relies on the Egyptian southerly winds to push it upstream. These winds build during the day and … [Read more...] about Felucca
From Cairo to My Easel
Detail of the final painting, Festival of Opet, for the Pharaoh Part ll Exhibit, featuring the Oud. This instrument is also known as the ud. Copyright Margret E. Short, 2011 … [Read more...] about From Cairo to My Easel
Songs for the Pharaoh
While departing Egypt in 2009, I found this splendid lute-like oudat an airport shop. I purchased it with the intention of using it as a prop in a painting because of the beautiful shades and shapes in the design. Literally, the 'ud means twig', 'flexible rod' or 'aromatic stick'. It is an instrument that remains popular in Egypt and dates as … [Read more...] about Songs for the Pharaoh
One and a Half Billion and Counting
In a television interview on February 5, 2011,Farouk Okdah, Egypt's Central Bank Governor, said Egypt's tourism industry has lost $1.5 billion since the protests to oust Hosni Mubarak began on January 25. This was according to the state-run Middle East News Agency, which ran excerpts of his interview. Having traveled to Egypt in 2009, I saw … [Read more...] about One and a Half Billion and Counting
Current Events
Because of my involvement with this Ancient Egyptian Part Two pigment project, I feel a connection and fascination with the current events in Egypt. It is both horrifying and mesmerizing to watch things unfold from day to day. During my two years of research and studies since traveling there and seeing so many sacred places, I have become … [Read more...] about Current Events
Vandalism Along the Nile
This stunning figure depicts King Tut on the back of a leopard. It is one of the priceless artifacts damaged by vandals in the recent unrest in Egypt. The figure seems to have been connected with incidents of the passage of the king through the underworld. The leopard is black, the color of darkness, but it would have been inappropriate to depict … [Read more...] about Vandalism Along the Nile