++ THE ART OF THE UNICORN

The saintly hermit, midway through his prayers

stopped suddenly, and raised his eyes to witness

the unbelievable: for there before him stood

the legendary creature, startling white, that

had approached, soundlessly, pleading with his eyes.

The legs, so delicately shaped, balanced a

body wrought of finest ivory. And as

he moved, his coat shone like reflected moonlight.

High on his forehead rose the magic horn, the sign

of his uniqueness: a tower held upright

by his alert, yet gentle, timid gait.

The mouth of softest tints of rose and grey, when

opened slightly, revealed his gleaming teeth,

whiter than snow. The nostrils quivered faintly:

he sought to quench his thirst, to rest and find repose.

His eyes looked far beyond the saint’s enclosure,

reflecting vistas and events long vanished,

and closed the circle of this ancient mystic legend.

-Rainer Maria Rilke

The world is wading through a dark, violent, confusing time, and sometimes it feels like we have no recourse other than to slip into despair. I believe, though, with all my heart, that hope springs eternal. In keeping with that, we present BPAL’s first unicorn series as a symbolic representation of our kinder, brighter selves, the return to wild innocence, and of the possibility of true compassion winning the day.

We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory will swell when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.

This series consists of three parts, the second of which will be set free next month. Black Phoenix Trading Post will be releasing their Unicorn series in August.

Live until Dec, 16.