Translation: Charles Baudelaire Hymn to Beauty

Xavier Fabre, The Judgement of Paris, 1808

Do you rise from the deep sky or the abyss,

Oh Beauty? your gaze, infernal and divine,

Pours both of goodness and of crime,

And for that, we can compare it to wine.

In your eye you contain both dusk and dawn;

You cast your perfumes like a stormy eve;

Your kisses are a potion and your mouth an urn

That turn heroes cowardly and children brave.

Do you rise from the dark chasm or descend from the stars?

Charmed destiny chases after your skirts like a dog;

At random you sow joy and disasters,

And you rule over all and answer for nothing.

You walk over the dead, Beauty, whom you mock;

Of your jewels Horror is not the least charming,

And Murder, among your most dear trinkets,

On your proud belly dances amorously.

The ephemeral moth flies toward you, candle,

Crackles, blazes and says: Let us bless this flame!

The panting lover bent over his belle

Seems like a ghost caressing his tomb.

Whether you come from the sky or from hell, what does it matter,

Oh Beauty! enormous monster, frightening, naive!

If your eye, your smile, your foot open the door

To an Infinity I love and have never known?

From Satan or God, what does it matter? Angel or Siren,

What does it matter, if you make — fairy with velvet eyes,

Rhythm, perfume, sheen, oh my only queen! —

The universe less hideous and the moments lighter?

'Summer Burners' at Artists & Makers Studios: ChrisRWK

Apparently, love is not always the answer.

ChrisRWK (Robots Will Kill) is an artist who is inspired by his childhood comics from the 1980s, popular culture as presented on TV, movies and books, and by chance encounters. He takes the images produced in the media, processes and stores them in his mental "cache," and creates his own language out of them, expressed in his artwork. In 2001, Chris founded Robots Will Kill, a popular website that collects and presents the work of graffiti artists across the world. Chris will be presenting his work at "Summer Burners," opening June 3, 2016 at Artists & Makers Studios in Rockville, MD.

1. How would you describe your work?

My work can be described as a healthy mix of illustration, graffiti, layers and the raising of questions. The layers tell of the history and time that has passed. The content usually relates to the everyday person that you walk by each day. They are the people who have a story to tell, something to say, but you just don’t know it because the encounter is so brief. So, my aim is to make the viewer look at these people and start to wonder what their story is.

2. What is the function of street art?

For me, it's always been a way to invite anyone to enjoy art and not just the people who can afford to collect artwork. 

3. How do you think your work will translate to a gallery setting?

I've always liked that in a gallery setting, "street" work is put directly in front of people — the same people that would most likely walk past it on the street and not care to look at it. I feel that my work creates a discussion with the viewers and helps them to realize that what they've walked past a number of times could be considered art. 

Artists & Makers Studios is presenting two shows for the month of June 2016:
"Summer Burners" (Graffiti) and "Best of the Art Leagues" (Work by the Art League of Germantown)
Opening Reception (for both) 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM, Friday, June 3, 2016
Artists & Makers Studios is located at 11810 Parklawn Dr. Suite 210 Rockville, MD 20852