Divine Muse

The Bible passage that inspired the 1960s folk song written by Pete Seeger also inspired Los Angeles artist John August Swanson, left, to create his own version of the Ecclesiastes. It was a work that, in turn, moved Joan Chittister to put her thoughts to paper in “There Is a Season” (Orbis Books), which features the prints, at right, of the self-trained artist. “The telling and retelling of sacred stories by visual means--by art--puts people in contact with their culture, educates, and brings them the wisdom, strength and comfort of their ancestors,” explains Swanson, above and below, preparing work for a silk-screen edition.