Tag Archives: mythology

The Mythology and Meaning Behind Opalite Jewelry and Why People Love It

bracelet and leaf
Photo by Galiya Tenisheva on Pexels.com

What makes a piece of jewelry feel almost otherworldly even when the wearer knows exactly what it is made of? With opalite, the answer lives largely in the light itself. Its milky surface can shift from cool blue to soft white to warm amber depending on what surrounds it, creating a visual effect that feels far more mysterious than an ordinary piece of colored glass.

That changing glow is a big part of why opalite has developed a symbolic identity of its own. Its appearance naturally evokes ideas of moonlight, calm, transformation, and intuition, giving the jewelry an emotional quality that goes beyond its visual appeal.

Opalite Is Not the Same Thing as Natural Opal

The name creates understandable confusion, and it’s worth clearing up directly. In modern jewelry, opalite almost always refers to manufactured opalescent glass rather than a naturally formed gemstone, even though the term has historically also been applied to genuine common opal in some markets.
Continue reading The Mythology and Meaning Behind Opalite Jewelry and Why People Love It →

Modern Art Monday Presents: Carol Bove, Sweet Charity

sweet charity bove installation view photo by gail worley
All Photos By Gail

These seven totemic forms entitled Sweet Charity (2026) represent the culmination of Carol Bove’s “collage sculptures,“ a body of work that has occupied a central place in her practice for the past decade. Conceived for this double-height gallery, the soaring sculptures entwine steel construction tubing with elongated shards of industrial steel plate.

sweet charity bove hello and orange photo by gail worley
Continue reading Modern Art Monday Presents: Carol Bove, Sweet Charity →

Fantasy Ring Styles for Fans of Myth, Adventure, and Alternative Fashion

foreverings amethyst crown ring

Fantasy rings have moved from the margins of costume culture into a serious corner of the jewelry market. What was once reserved for Renaissance fairs, gaming conventions, and film-inspired accessories now appears in engagement collections, wedding bands, and everyday statement pieces. The shift reflects a broader change in how buyers think about jewelry. Many consumers no longer want a ring that only signals wealth, status, or adherence to tradition. They want a piece that tells a story, carries symbolic weight, and feels personal enough to belong to their own mythology.
Continue reading Fantasy Ring Styles for Fans of Myth, Adventure, and Alternative Fashion →

Jeff Koons’ Porcelain Series at Gagosian Gallery

aphrodite by jeff koons detail photo by gail worley
Aphrodite Sculpture Detail (Photo By Gail)

In the two decades I’ve been writing this website, Jeff Koons is probably the living artist I’ve covered the most — and that’s because I genuinely love his work. I know he gets a lot of criticism, and not all of it is undeserved, but even when I have my own reservations, I still give him a pass. His work is unique, beautiful, monumental, and often very funny. I’m not about to apologize for the fact that he’s one of my two favorite living artists. So when he has a show in New York, I’m there — every time — ready to experience that particular spark of genius he brings.

aphrodite by jeff koons front photo by gail worley

Braving some truly unfriendly winter weather, I recently made my way to Gagosian Gallery to see The Porcelain Series, Koons’ latest exhibition. Any time I’m in the presence of his mirror-finished sculptures, I swoon a little, so this was not something I was going to miss. The show brings together new and recent sculptures alongside a selection of abstract paintings, all centered around his ongoing Porcelain Series.
Continue reading Jeff Koons’ Porcelain Series at Gagosian Gallery →

Greek Mythology in Modern Casino Entertainment and Game Design

Greek Gods
Image Source: Canva Editor

Greek mythology keeps slipping into online casino entertainment, sometimes quietly and sometimes with a thunderclap. Ancient gods, strange monsters, messy heroics, they land on the reels and feel familiar enough to click. Visuals do plenty of heavy lifting too, with thunderbolts, marble columns, and hazy dreamscapes setting a mood that feels bigger than a spin.
Continue reading Greek Mythology in Modern Casino Entertainment and Game Design →