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About Heritage Trails |
CELTIC DESIGN - THE ORIGINAL ABSTRACT Winter 1984 Written by Otto Krumbach Just how modern is the "modern" art of today? For an answer a searcher must travel back in time some five thousand years. In the remarkable city-state Sumerian civilization created on the treeless delta ove the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers in the southeastern portion of the original Caucasian homelands, abstract and impressionistic designs were already visable! 
Abstract designs of rare beauty were also widely used in the ancient European Celtic societies during the Bronze Age. It was obviously the aim of even these early artistic efforts to envision abstract concepts and attempt to make them visable to all. Courses which cover the basics of Celtic design are being offered at various art schools around the country. These courses include Celtic interlace, spiral, keyboard, and other techniques. The greatest obsticle to the pursuit of knowledge about early artistic expression seems to be limited to publicity available about serious studies of the subject. Local schools may be contacted for information and local publications may be read for notice of activity but these are somewhat sketchy information sources. The field of interest is growing so the communication limitations as today may be eased in the future. The enrichment which is provided in the lives of those who become knowledgable about their artistic heritage is extremely rewarding. Not only are artistic horizons widened but ancient cultural ties become clearer. |
