Gargoyle An illustrated album based on the author's conscious and unconscious experiences with people that have surrounded her since childhood. We are comprised of imaginations, thoughts and feelings based on the words or actions used by of people whether they were influential or not in our childhood. The author uses the figure of a Gargoyle, due to their grotesque made of stone appearance always an imposing figure looking down upon us from buildings or old houses. The name Gargoyle deriving from the French gargouille, gargouiller, produces a noise similar to the gurgling sound of a liquid in a tube, and this derives from the Latin gargarizo, which in turn derives from the Greek gargle. The Gargoyle's main function is to act as a draining mechanism for the building's or house's roof emitting a gurgling sound and dirty liquid as it cleans the rooftops spilling the dirt on to the streets or upon us. Gargoyles were designed as aesthetic and decorative art pieces, and according to old lores as figures and elements that would scare away demons and evil spirits. This illustrated album, points to the resemblance between the functionality of gargoyles, with people whose personality development has been or are influenced on the development as a child and or young adult. The book demonstrates the frivolities of life and the transmission of worries and unrealistic fears that paralyze each individual's knowledge and the potential of each individual to reach their goals according to their true potential and not the negativity that has been instilled by past experiences or negative communication. Disqualifying statements such as you can't or I don't want to see the same thing that happened to me happen to you, to name a few. Just the same the silence of these statues, is just as destructive as the words that gurgle out of their mouths. From the authors point of view they ignore achievements, disqualify a child's potential and from her experience simply remain silent while allowing for violence and abuses as to not lose control or save face, in cases of violence or family abuse. Like a Gargoyle people that surround us can pretend that they are "cleaning" the roof with some form of a benefit and expectantly hover above others with the expectation of seeing their errors and failures to then shed them upon them. The water pouring or the gurgling sound emitted by the Gargoyle simulates arrows, or darts, destructive words that simulate that what they do and say for the welfare and benefit of others. When the Gargoyles are not draining that dirty water sewage, they remain immobile, simulating the appearance of not doing nothing, sitting in wait, looking to "release" the famous "I told you so" with their eyes fixed on you, in order to frame in others their paradigms and social patterns, in turn "freezing" the dreams and desires in children. Being an illustrated book there are not many words as the images are left to the interpretation of the reader and observer. To the author's astonishment there are images that can bring out feelings associated with mistreatment or abuse that at the end expedite feelings of frustration or social pressures. In closing the author's final message through this illustrated book is best described by her following quote: I constantly move forward despite the insanity of those who have told me: you can't do it Carmen Ramos
About the Author: I am Clinical Psychologist, and it is such a blessing to have been given the ability to write and illustrate. In addition I am thankful that I had the great privilege to have been able to reinforce that blessing at the world famous Writing Laboratory in Barcelona, Spain (http: //laboratoriodeescritura.com/) under the tutelage or world renowned artist Lola Roig (http: //lolaroig.com/). The fascinating thing about having the ability to express your feelings, thoughts, emotions through drawing and writings is that you enjoy the freedom which allows you to be an eternal child in a world that is torn between anxieties and frustrations. I love the ability to transmit what I have learned, directing my message to help others overcome obstacles, defeat mediocrity and to challenge the mind. We wage and defeat the most arrogant battles with the mind. Therefore, I settled in the pursuit of my goals and objectives with the universe's most economical tool; our dreams. Carmen Ramos Carmucha