Noli Me Tangere

UPDATE: Sold! The day before I am to pick up the painting, the night of The Masquerade Ball, this painting has sold.

I am thrilled to have my painting “Noli Me Tangere” included in the 112th Gilda Snowden Memorial exhibition at The Scarab Club in Detroit. My whole family went up for the opening and we had a great time. Had a snack at The DIA. (Thanks to the kind lady who let us in without a cover charge.)

Besides dropping off the piece some days earlier, it was a first-time experience for all of us. What a cool night. It was packed with art people of all kinds. Really an honor to be selected.

In all four of the canonical Christian gospels, Mary Magdalene is present at Jesus' crucifixion and - either alone or in a group - the first to witness an empty tomb. She was also one of women who financed the ministry out of their own pocket (Luke 8).

Though nothing in canonized scripture backs it up, Mary is often characterized as a prostitute thanks to Pope Gregory I identifying her as such in 591. On the other hand, Pope John Paul declared Mary "apostle to the apostles" in 2016.

The words "Noli Me Tangere" are most often translated as "Touch Me Not", but I feel the message is much more nuanced than that. How could anyone argue against Mary being one of Jesus closest and most trusted friends?