Implied in the title "Take the Cannoli," rendered in Italian in the mosaic, is the directive "Leave the Gun."  The Godfather got it right in this era of too many weapons and not enough sweetness.

An authentic 11th Century bronze Byzantine cross from Asia Minor dominates this osaic alluding to the Biblical story of the Betrayal of Jesus.  Thirty 4th and 5th Century Roman coins spill from the rocks below the cross.  

Ravenna, Italy is the center for the most exqusite Byzantine mosaics.  My series of cloud mosaics reflects my experiences at Luciana Notturni's Ravenna Mosaic Art School and immersion in that beautiful city's wealth of mosaic art. Luciana says "Some people travel to see works of art, others to make them." What a delight to do both in Ravenna.

Tanit was the principle deity of 5th Century B.C. Carthage, in what is now Tunisia in North Africa. This Punic image represented the sky goddess, a mother and fertility symbol, a goddess of war and a deity who watched over and protected her worshipers.

Sands of Time is my response to the terrible sacking of the National Archaeological Museum in Baghdad, Iraq. The oldest examples of mosaics found to date, from 3500 B.C., were found at Warka in what is now Iraq.