This book describes mythical, legendary, and divine women from all over the world that have become an iconic presence within the American culture. Their roles as spiritual archetypes, symbols, and mythical role models exert significant influences on American people. They also connect us to our matriarchal roots.
About the Author: Artist, author, mythologist, and art historian, Dr. Kyra Belán graduated from Arizona State University with a B.F.A. in fine arts, and from Florida State University with an M.F.A. in visual arts. Her Ed. D. from Florida International University, is in higher education and art history. Dr. Belán has had over 50 solo art exhibitions and has participated in over 90 group art exhibitions. She has received numerous awards, including Who's Who in American Art, 2000-14; the Florida Achievement Award in the Arts, Women's Caucus for Art Florida Chapter, 2008; the Southeastern Art Conference Outstanding Artistic Achievement Award, University of Arkansas at Little Rock 2005; Broward County's Women's Hall of Fame Outstanding Achievement in the Arts, 1994; and the Individual Artist Fellowship, State of Florida, Florida Arts Council.1982. Her artworks are found in public and private collections. Author of several articles published in journals, Dr. Belán has co-authored a book, Dorothy Gillespie, Radford University Press, 1998. She has written a novel, Lucid Future, CreateSpace, 2013, and a hardcover book titled Madonnas: From Medieval to Modern, Parkstone Press, 2001, 2007 (English, German, and French). Fifth edition of her book, Earth, Spirit, and Gender: Visual Language for the New Reality, was published by Thomson; latest edi-tion, titled Art, Myths, and Rituals, was published by Bent Tree Press, 2007-10. Also hardcover The Virgin in Art: From Medieval to Modern, Barnes & Noble Books, New York, 2006, and La Virgen en el Arte, Panamericana, 2007; hard cover book, Images of the Divine, Parkstone 2014. Belan is included in 100 Contemporary International Artists, Biblioteca de Artistas de las Comunidades Europeas, 2007. Dr. Belan is the Otto M. Burkhardt Endowed Chair and professor of art and art history emerita at Broward College, and was a founding art gallery director at Broward College, Pembroke Pines FL from 1991 to 2011, and coordinated the Seminole Arts and Culture Project (2007 - 2009). Frequent conference presenter, currently she is exhibiting her painting, drawing, installation, and digital art, and is represented by Arts for ACT, Fort Myers, FL, Xanadu Gallery, Scttsdale AZ and Fine Arts America, US; she released her latest book, Earth, Myths, and Ecofeminist Art, CreateSpace, 2015.