THE LOWBROW TAROT PROJECT

5: The Hierophant

It is appropriate that a teacher should be a leader - presuming the teacher is not corrupt. Here is The Hierophant: Teacher, leader; in position to educate, or brainwash. The Hierophant, tasked with this: To bring the spiritual down to Earth to deal with worldly problems. A noble endeavor, yes. But under the auspice of nobility can come manipulation. A leader may lead, or mislead. Therein lies the dichotomy of the Hierophant: To teach, but what? To steer, but heading where? The Hierophant, once denoting Taurus, The Earthly Bull, then called The Teacher. But as the church infused so many pagan rites, this fixed sign, this educator, comes to be known as The Pope. What is the role of myth relative to education? Is it the duty of education to recognize it, or perpetuate it? This is my Hierophant: With a red robe of knowledge, acceptance and intuition. The numeral five denotes the senses, physical vehicles of passion. On the forehead the numeral three: Justice, Strength and Temperance. Instruments of science survive the ancient popes who sought to stifle them. A student breathes these in, curious, or exhales them, having learned. Dogma best serves man when it serves the values of peace.

Chris Mars is a “self-taught” artist who lives and works in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His works are included permanently in The Erie Art Museum, Fredrick R. Weisman Art Museum, Tweed Museum of Art, Longview Museum of Fine Arts, The Minnesota History Center, American Visionary Art Museum, Mesa Contemporary Arts and The Minneapolis Institute of Art. In addition to these museums, Mars’ work has been featured at Steensland Art Museum, The Laguna Museum of Art, Art Center South Florida, Grand Central Art Center, Ruby Green Contemporary Art Space, and Phipps Center for the Arts, as well as numerous universities and galleries throughout North America. His debut monograph, Tolerance, was published in 2008.