Tag Archives: Storytelling

Culture

The Visual History Of Tarot Cards

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Conventional, creative, and centering uses of the cards to help you get inspired and come home to yourself.

Tarot imagery has inspired artists for centuries and continues to do so today. The iconography, the storytelling element, and, of course, the mystery of the unknown have a huge pull for any creative.

I personally came to this field later in life, or you could say that it found me.

As a kid, I wasn’t allowed to dabble in such tools. Growing up in the church, these kinds of practices were considered ungodly, and I ended up with a complicated relationship to magic, metaphysical, and occult items, even in a strictly artistic sense. On one hand,, they fascinated me and drew me in; on the other, they felt wrong and uncomfortable due to past programming. As I explored the cards more, they showed me a few interesting paths that surprised me, inspired me, and helped me see them in a whole new way.

I ordered a deck during COVID, when many of us were naturally drawn to healing tools and modalities. To be honest, the cards felt intimidating and even scary, especially when confronting some of the more intense ones like the Tower, Death, the Devil, and others. I set it aside, unsure of how to engage.

A few years later an amazing author and fellow Substacker, Chelsey đź”® Tarot for Creativity, found me through our commn publisher Chronicle Books. I recorded an episode about her book Tarot for Creativity, and her framework for journaling and self-reflection rather than divination took me in a new direction that was gentle, curious, and non-condemning. I still use her brilliant book today, and it opened doors to even more resources and creatives that inspire me.

Chelsey Pippin (Mizzi)

My friend Sarah Potter Sarah Potter , a celebrity tarot reader, changed my life. Her book Sober Magic uses the tarot journey combined with the 12 steps to help individuals (myself included) move away from drinking and into more presence, self-awareness, and healing. Thanks to Sarah and her tarot guidance, it has been 10 months since I had my last drink.

In terms of navigating the scary cards, I have to shout out Tarot for the Wild Soul Lindsay Mack. The “bad cards” no longer intimidate me, and I found compassion, curiosity, and a deeper, less obvious meaning when interacting with certain images and messages. There are no doubt millions of amazing creators, experts, and readers who can guide you on how to use this tool, but I appreciate pracitioners who bring a gentle, trauma-informed angle.

Tarot for the Wild Soul

Today I want to share a snippet of visual art history of this practice based on a beautiful exhibition I visited at the Morgan Library.

Artist and Writer Ekaterina Popova at the Morgan Library

Morgan Library

Pamela Colman Smith (1878–1951) and Arthur Edward Waite (1857–1942). The Fool, from the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot (Deck “C”). London: William Rider & Son, ca. 1921–31 (first published in 1909). Chromolithograph. New York, The Morgan Library & Museum, PML 199373.

The show consists of two parts. The first explores the origins of tarot in Renaissance Italy, and the second its contemporary interpretations by artists of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Among these creators are familiar names like Pamela Colman Smith (1878 to 1951), Leonora Carrington, and Chris Ofili.

According to the museum, “Created as a courtly game of skill, tarot was not associated with occult secrets, divination, or the power of fate until centuries later. By the twentieth century, the cards came to serve as a source of inspiration for artists, offering an alternative to the strictures of modernist aesthetics and allowing them to explore other universes and imaginative possibilities.”

As I got more interested in the world of Tarot, I started to notice the influence of the cards on artists. At a surrealism exhibition at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the gift shop featured a deck by Dalí. And it wasn’t until I visited a Leonora Carrington exhibition at L Space in NYC earlier this year that I realized the artist herself had made a stunning deck.

Remedios Varo, Leonora’s best friend, is featured at the Morgan Library as well.

The inspiration for this exhibition was the Morgan’s Visconti-Sforza Tarot cards, the most famous deck to survive from the Renaissance.

Below, I am sharing a few of my favorites from the show.

I am curious. Do you use Tarot in your creative practice? If so, how?

Bonifacio Bembo, Death from the ViscontiSforza Tarot Cards. Italy, Milan or Cremona, ca. 1456-58. The Morgan Library & Museum

Chris Ofili (b. 1968). Midnight Conjurer, 2026. Ink, watercolor, staples, and paper collage on paper © Chris Ofili. Courtesy the artist and David Zwirner.

Remedios Varo (1908–1963) The Other Clock (El otro reloj), 1957 © 2026 Remedios Varo, Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / VEGAP, Madrid. Courtesy of Wendi Norris Gallery

Leonora Carrington at the Morgan Library

For The Silo, Create! Magazine and Ekaterina Popova.

Reviews

Book Spotlight- Women Of Architecture

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Women of Architecture: a collective of unique voices

Throughout history, architecture has spoken — shaping society, holding memory, imagining the future. Yet too often, the female voice behind that speech has been softened, its echoes diminished. Women of Architecture: a collective of unique voices, a special edition of the New View series, seeks not to shout, but to speak — clearly, boldly, and with grace. This landmark volume honors twenty-five leading women architects whose work is as deeply intelligent as it is beautifully human. Their projects reveal not only where we live, but how we live — and why it matters.

Designed with museum-quality elegance and presented with curatorial care, the book invites readers into a gallery of real spaces that are not about grandeur or pretense, but purpose and poetry. With 12-page dedicated spreads, each architect’s story is captured in imagery and narrative that reflect the integrity of her vision.

This is not a collection of extravagance — it is a tribute to homes that breathe, spaces that embrace, and ideas that endure.

Beth Buckley is the Founder and Creative Director of benton buckley books ― an independent publishing house born from a lifelong love affair with beauty, culture, artistry, and the belief that extraordinary creative voices deserve to be seen widely, not selectively confined by inherited systems of exclusivity and cultural hierarchy.

With a career steeped in publishing, visual storytelling, curation, and cultural dialogue, Beth has become known for her rare instinct for authenticity, romantic sense of purpose, and ability to recognize meaningful creative work in a world increasingly shaped by repetition, algorithms, and manufactured relevance. Her work is guided less by trend than by instinct ― an instinct toward originality, emotional resonance, daring perspectives, and the artists whose work lingers long after the moment has passed.

Part publisher, part curator, part cultural provocateur, Beth founded benton buckley books in quiet rebellion against an industry that too often mistakes control for stewardship. She believes beautiful work should move through the world freely ― discussed, discovered, shared generously, and allowed to become part of a larger cultural conversation. The role of thoughtful publishing should not be to narrow the room. It should be to widen it.

Her philosophy is simple: the public deserves exposure not only to the familiar names endlessly repeated into relevance, but also to the extraordinary creatives still waiting to be discovered.

Over the years, Beth has collaborated with celebrated and emerging voices alike across architecture, interior design, travel, culinary arts, fashion, and visual culture ― always with the same conviction: the art comes first.

Like a curator assembling a living gallery of dreams, Beth approaches publishing not merely as production, but as preservation ― creating museum-quality books that invite beauty to linger well beyond the fleeting pace of modern media. She believes books are among the last truly permanent cultural objects we leave behind; vessels of imagination, dialogue, humanity, and memory.

And perhaps that is precisely why she continues making them.  Smiling at the thought and enchanted by the notion that beauty (and a book) can outlive the moment. 

In these pages, you will meet Lauren Adams, Amy Alper, Julia Arria, Maura Fernández Abernethy, Laura Juarez Baggett, Kristen Becker, Katherine Chia, Lise de Vito, Bibiana Dykema, Gale Goff, Laura Huylebroeck, Sussan Lari, Rebecca Lazenby, Annie Lo, Antonina Markoff, Marica McKeel, Kelly Murdock Solon, Joyce Owens, Anik Pearson, Julia Sanford, Mary Ann Gabriele Schicketanz, Ashley Sullivan, Andrea Swan, Michele Thackrah, and Nancy S. Weinman — women who, with every line and light-filled space, reveal a new vernacular of beauty. Women of Architecture shares the influences of the women featured in it — and the unique perspectives of women in architecture.

For the Silo, Jarrod Barker.

Pre-order on Amazon

Pre-order on Bookshop.org

Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Title: Women of Architecture: a collective of unique voices

Publication Date: ‎
Language: ‎ English
Hardcover: ‎ 376 pages
ISBN-13: ‎ 979-8-9873391-4-5
Dimensions: ‎ 9.625 x 13 inches

Comics

New Comic Books From Tidalwave Include SpaceForce

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Space Force #11

Writer: Michael Frizell

Artist: Daniel Pedrosa

FINAL ISSUE! The attempted assassination of President Quinn during peace talks with the Red Queen pushes Earth towards a galactic war with an alien enemy. But when the assassin’s identity is revealed as Stormy Daniels, Agent Aela Grant and the crew of the Helix II must choose sides. Will they join Space Force in their hunt for one of their own, or will they become criminals? The first season of Space Force ends in this explosive and game-changing issue!

Polka Spot: The World According to Llama #3

Writer: Michael Frizell

Artist: Yehia Mohran

In this fun, all-ages, action-adventure comedy, Polka Spot, everyone’s favorite drama llama, is on location filming her next movie, “The Princess and the Beast.” What she doesn’t know is that the film’s location is famous for sightings of the Hairy Man, a monster that haunts the woods. Meanwhile, someone plots behind the scenes to steal her necklace and crown! Can Polka Spot and her companion, the plucky cat, Jolene, solve the mystery of the hairy man, prevent the theft, and save the movie?

Black History Leaders: Volume 4: Mariah Carey, Donna Summer, Whitney Houston and Lil Nas X

Writers: Darren G. Davis, Michael Frizell, Raphael Moran

Artists: Victor Moura, Kirk Feretzanis, Pablo Martinena

From the hit “Fame” and “Female Force” imprints by TidalWave comics, this volume explores the musicians who have made an indelible mark on our culture, including: LaDonna Adrian Gaines, better known as Donna Summer, the Queen of Disco. Lil Nas X, the multi-award-winning rapper who breaks glass ceilings as a gay man in hip-hop. Whitney Houston, an idol to millions with the voice of an angel whose meteoric career defined a generation, couldn’t keep her demons at bay. Often called the Queen of Christmas and the Songbird Supreme, Mariah Carey’s rise to stardom was not without pitfalls – something she isn’t shy to explore with her five-octave range.

Bold and the Brave #15

Writer: Darren G. Davis

Artist: Breed

There is a new minotaur in town and what are his ties to the villainess Medusa. Will the 10th Muse has to join forces with her in order to save a family that is in chaos. Also the relationship between Emma and Zak heats up. Homage cover by Marvel Comics artist Yonami

Wrath of the Titans: Argos #1

Writer: Chad Jones

Artist: Marcelo Henrique Santana

Perseus is back to face off once again with the titans of myth. Set immediately after the defeat of the mighty Kraken, Perseus plans to rebuild the city of Argos. But his wife-to-be Andromeda is kidnapped by one of Medusa’s gorgon sisters out for her ultimate revenge.

TidalWave Comics Presents Volume 2

Writers: Andrew Shayde, Scott Davis, Adam David Gragg, Chad Rebman

Artists: Carlos Furuzono, Diego Garavano, Addullah, Esdras Cristobel

A new unique team-up ongoing series! The TidalVerse is here! The members of the series, teams up with the TidalWave Universe’s vast array of colorful, costumed adventurers for a series that hearkens back to the Bronze Age of comics when team-ups were something special! This homage series together for the first time features Camelot, Zeus, Orion the Hunter, Venus, Sigma, The Muse, Monsters Among Us and Dorian Gray.

10th Muse: New Beginnings #1

Writer: Darren G Davis and Michael Frizell

Artist: Igor Cicarini

The world met Emma Sonnet, the 10th Muse, 22 years ago when she debuted in the 6th highest-selling comic book of all time. After a personal tragedy, Emma relocates to NYC, hoping for a new start. But Hades, the king of hell, has other plans. TidalWave’s latest ongoing series starts here! Greek mythology has documented the nine Muses, the inspirational daughters of the almighty god Zeus. But history forgot one-the 10th Muse. Emma Sonnet mysteriously disappeared five years ago during a summer trip to Greece celebrating her graduation from law school. Yesterday, she resurfaced just as mysteriously as the newly appointed District Attorney, with a unique take on the law. Battling evil in the courtroom by day, and in the shadows at night, Emma Sonnet is tipping the scales of justice her way, as The 10th Muse.

TidalWave Comics Presents #9: Camelot and Zeus

Writer: Scott Davis

Artist: Abdullah

Resistance! Not all heroes are blessed with understanding or even control of their powers. And not all heroes, given powers to rival the Greek gods, are given Olympus’ blessing. So it’s no wonder that former legal assistant and current hero-in-training Camelot is having a bad day, only it’s about to get worse! His rent is late, the gods are gunning for him, and to top it all off, the nefarious Captain Steel is creating havoc of epic proportions. What’s a hero to do? The Odyssey returns with a story that shows it takes more than a cape and a cool name to be a hero. Guest starring Zeus, God of Thunder.

Where to Find TidalWave Comics

TidalWave Comics’ vast catalog of titles can also be downloaded digitally from Kindle, iTunes, EPIC!, Madefire, Izneo, ComiXology, Global Comics, DriveThru Comics, Google Play, Overdrive, Library Pass, Biblioboard, Nook, Kobo and wherever eBooks are sold.

Comics

New TREADWATER Graphic Novel Will Have Augmented Reality Cover

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Last year’s indie best-selling graphic novel set to release the next installment in the breakthrough series. The second novel features an augmented reality app and introduces the character of actor Chad L. Coleman.

When TREADWATER Vol. 1 was released in comic book stores in July 2015, it was just another self-published indie title among many others. At the end of the month, this was no longer the case.

When the sales figures came in a month after its debut, TREADWATER found itself on equal footing with the likes of The Walking Dead when they first started out. According to Diamond Comic Distributors TREADWATER managed to achieve 90% of Walking Dead’s sales, while outperforming other popular franchises like Dark Matter in their respective opening months.

Explore the TREADWATER Interactive PDF…click here.

TREADWATER is best described as a dark and mature sci-fi action drama. It is a pre-apocalyptic story that takes place in a plausible dystopian future, where a global economic crisis splinters political alliances and plunges the world’s nations into crime and disorder. As the dual forces of anarchy and totalitarianism sweep over the world, six antiheroes are recruited into a privately funded special operative program in an attempt to keep the world from tearing itself apart.

treadwater part2 page previewPart of the ugly charm of TREADWATER lies within its ability to predict current events. The isolationist politics of the world’s leading nations, as exemplified by the rise of Trump in the US and BREXIT in the UK; the attempted coup in Turkey, along with its backlash in the form of a dictatorial powergrab; the increasing civil unrest in the US and the terrorist attacks in Europe – all these developments find their parallels in the world of TREADWATER.

Yet Morgan Rosenblum and Nat Prinzi, the creative minds behind the TREADWATER franchise, take no pride in the accuracy of their grim predictions. Their primary goal is to create an engaging and believable superhero story, which avoids the pitfalls of the genre, while staying true to its roots. This is why the story of Treadwater is driven by its larger-than-life, yet deeply imperfect characters, rather than merely a clever premise or unlikely plot twists.

The new installment of the graphic novel, TREADWATER Vol. 2, will be released in late 2016. Along with the novel, the TREADWATER team will debut its own augmented reality app for smartphones. When pointed at the comic book, the app will immerse the readers into the world of TREADWATER by bringing its characters to life in front of their eyes.

The AR app is not the first step that Rosenblum and Prinzi have taken in the direction of interactive storytelling. The TREADWATER franchise already consists of a motion comic, a video game and an interactive website, which lets its users “hack” into Treadwater’s secret database, allowing them to explore their coveted network.

The ability of the creative duo to inspire and impress their audience has led to the inclusion of TREADWATER Vol. 1 into the curriculum of West Aurora High School in IL. It is now being taught in their creative writing class alongside of Orson Welles.

The appeal of the TREADWATER franchise goes beyond high school students, as actor Chad L. Coleman has become a character and a partner in the TREADWATER franchise. Best known for his roles as Tyreese in The Walking Dead, Dennis “Cutty” Wise in The Wire and now Tobias Church in Arrow, Mr. Coleman’s character will see significant development in the second volume of the graphic novel. The new installment will also introduce the character of Holly Wolf, a celebrity cosplayer and 2015 Geek Fantasy Woman of the Year, who also joined the TREADWATER franchise as a supporting character.

Key Dates in 2016:

October 6-9: Come visit us at New York Comic Con. You’ll find us at booth 2314, where you’ll be able to interview the creators of TREADWATER, actor Chad L. Coleman and cosplayer Holly Wolf among others. You’ll also be able to experience the entirety of the TREADWATER franchise, including the Beta Version of our very own PS4 video game.

October 1-21: Special pre-order promo period for TREADWATER Vol 2. Each pre-order will come with a digital copy of the bestselling graphic novel TREADWATER Vol 1 to help the new readers get caught up to speed with the story. Additionally our readers will get a limited edition single issue, signed by its writers, creators and artist. Thirdly, they will also receive a digital collector’s edition of the “Treadwater Dossiers” Character Art Book.