There's a story today in the newspaper about a coming exhibit about muses. It's in the Guardian, under the culture section. Of course, being a 21st century muse this certainly piqued my interest.

Kate Moss as an artist's muse? Give me a break. The article shows a picture of a gold statue of Kate Moss, which supposedly makes her a muse. Hmmm. I'm reminded of that saying, don't get mad, get even The Artist's Muse as a gold portrait. How's that for musing?

Here's what Shakespeare wrote about muses.

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How can my Muse want subject to invent,
While thou dost breathe, that pour'st into my verse
Thine own sweet argument, too excellent
For every vulgar paper to rehearse?
O, give thyself the thanks, if aught in me
Worthy perusal stand against thy sight;
For who's so dumb that cannot write to thee,
When thou thyself dost give invention light?
Be thou the tenth Muse, ten times more in worth
Than those old nine which rhymers invocate;
And he that calls on thee, let him bring forth
Eternal numbers to outlive long date.
If my slight Muse do please these curious days,
The pain be mine, but thine shall be the praise.

This 21st century muse seeks to inspire, to encourage, to nurture, to love. Not to be the story but to help write the artist's story. To show the world what a modern muse is. To be technically savvy, to use one's brains to further the artist's reputation. To invent new ways of bringing fame to her artist. Fame that will in turn inspire him to greater artistic heights.

If I sound incensed I am. Kate Moss is model period the end. Muses of the world unite.

Tony Karp's work represents the future. This muse represents the future for how artists will become known. In this economy the real world galleries are in trouble. People aren't buying anything these days, let alone art.

The future of galleries is on-line. Tony's recent exhibit in a brick and mortar gallery lasted 30 days and could only be seen by people who lived in Richmond who had to go to a physical location at a specific time.

This same exhibit Seamless Integration can still be seen by people all over the world anytime of day or night and only requires use of a computer with access to the web.

I could go on but I’ll stop while I am ahead.