Mona Youssef Gallery

04/18/2026

A Historical Day in my Life!

On April 17, 1982, was a defining and monumental moment in Canadian history took place. 44 years ago, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II signed the Canada Act 1982, granting Canada full control over its Constitution and enshrining the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The Constitution Act, 1982, included the patriation of the Constitution and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms came into force on that day. Alongside Queen Elizabeth II, Pierre Trudeau, Jean Chrétien, and André Ouellet signed the Proclamation that brought the Act into effect.

This historic legislation completed Canada’s journey to full independence by allowing Canadians to amend their own Constitution without requiring approval from Britain. It also formally ended the United Kingdom’s role in Canada’s domestic affairs and established a clear framework for federal-provincial relations. Most importantly, it outlined and protected the fundamental rights and freedoms enjoyed by all Canadians.
Having mentioned the above, didn’t mean personal engagement in politics. However, I felt deeply honored to witness this significant occasion in Canadian history. As I was assigned to create an oil painting capturing the entire event which made the experience especially meaningful. You may read the full story on the Canadian Culture’s website: https://www.canadianculture.com/constitution-act/. There, you will find a link to my website where you will also find several testimonials, for which I am grateful to receive, on this link: https://www.monayoussefgallery.com/testimonials-mona-received

Having shared a story in my life, but who truly I am? Do our stories make who we are, or we make our stories! Obviously, it’s a continuous dialogue. We interpret our experiences (our “stories”), and those interpretations shape how we see ourselves. At the same time, who we are, our values, sensitivities, and awareness shape how those stories are told, remembered, and even created moving forward. So yes, they move together, constantly influencing each other.

Aside from being a highly sensitive artist, as individual, I am a compassionate, reflective soul, contemplator, empathetic person with openness of mind to all cultures and attuned to them altogether. In General, being selectively introverted at my core while you may notice me, at times, stepping outward as expressive-extroverted when a call is on. Obviously, I am passionately drawn to nature as my fresh oxygen of life where can easily spend a complete day alone yet fully feel satisfied with no actual nourishment. Seeking transparency and integrity in all my relationships including business communications. Observing, reading and writing are my young-age companions and up to date. It severely distresses me when nearsighted or farsighted oppression, hatred, racism, injustice, prejudice, unauthentic behaviours, hurtful jealousy, sufferings and abuse of all its forms. Lastly but most importantly, treasuring family’s bond and loyal friends is one of my very core labels. Perceiving and sensing art in everything, you may say I am a contemplative empath with an artistic lens on life yet at times, must face conflicting and agonising realities!

My dear followers, beyond what you do or have achieved—who are you at your core? What values, mindsets, beliefs or ways of seeing the world shape you the most?

I’d love to hear how you experience being you!

©Mona Youssef

12/19/2025

Illusions of Historical dates and extravagant celebrations!

Millions of people of all nationalities, cultures and religions celebrate Christmas! Regardless of the accuracy of the many assumptions of Jesus’s date of birth, reasons vary. Whilst all people enjoy partying, the glamourous time, the surprise gifts, the showing off displays, the well-prepared meals, the spirit of giving and the warmth of families and friends gathering despite the intense and anxieties of preparations. However, the fact remains, Christmas infuses the worlds of excessive commerce and irresistible entertainments, even in non-Christian lands.

Irrespective of the good time some people momentarily experience, former Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry, December 23, 2008, said “It’s easy to get caught up in the hubbubs of the season. Holiday traditions become tasks to check off a list, time with family and friends can be cut short by busy schedules. The joy we should experience is sometimes obscured by the stress we do experience.”

Obviously, the distractions overload eliminates and reduce the commitment of Christ’s birth. Since Christmas was unknown to the early Christian writers, it must have been introduced after 300 A.D. This post card below, captures Bethlehem in December, a city of unbearably cold and snowing season. How then, could the Astrologers have walked, at nights in such severe weather? How did they follow the star to know where the new baby was born as were instructed by Herod? Many assumptions introduced different dates of Christ’s birth, while some Biblical scriptures indicate that Christ was born sometime in October! Something to rethink it and explore!

Most religions encourage to be kind and generous to others at any time. Some versus in the Bible incite us to be givers more than receivers, to be peaceable to all and spend meaningful time with our families and loyal friends to build and incite one another. The question now is, why some people celebrate Christmas and other don’t.

Let us together consider some points:

More than two billion people around the world celebrate Christmas each December 25, while at least 200 million others celebrate the birthday of Jesus Christ on January 7. However, there are also millions of people who choose not to celebrate Christmas and reasons are varied. They may be Jewish, Hindu, or of Shinto’s faith, to name just a few. Others, such as atheists, agnostics, freethinkers, or secular humanists, view the Christmas’s story as a myth. And others prioritize purity of origin.

Surprisingly, though, a sizable number of people who believe in Jesus reject the Yuletide traditions. Why? They point to at least four reasons:

1-They do not believe that Jesus was born in either December or in January. The Bible does not provide a specific date. It simply states: “There were also in that same country, shepherds living out of doors and kept watching in the night over their flocks. And suddenly God’s angel stood by them, and the angel said to them: “There was born to you today a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”—Luke 2:8-11.

2-Some facts point that Jesus’s birth was approximately at the beginning to mid of October. The time when shepherds, with their flocks, could still spend the night in the fields. The countryside around Bethlehem, back then, experienced the coldest weather during the months of December and January. Thus, it couldn’t have been in those months. Hence, to keep them warm at night, flocks are herded into protective shelters. It is written that Herod secretly, summed the Astrologers and carefully ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearing. He requested of them to follow a star to Bethlehem and report back to him where the new baby was born as the king of the Jews. As Bible stated that they walked long way at nights to find Jesus’s place of birth and they brought him gifts.

3-The only event Jesus specifically instructed his followers to commemorate was his death, not his birth. This celebration was to be done as a simple communion meal. In Luke 22:19, 20 reads” Also, he took a loaf, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to them, saying: “This means my body, which is to be given in your behalf. Keep doing this in remembrance of me.” Also, he did the same with the cup after they had the evening meal, saying: “This cup means the new covenant by virtue of my blood, which is to be poured out in your behalf.

4-There is no historical evidence that the early Christians celebrated the birth of the Christ. But they did memorialize his death. It was not until more than 300 years after Jesus’s birth that Christendom officially began to observe Christmas on December 25. Interestingly, in the mid-17th century, an act of parliament banned Christmas celebrations in England. In the United States, the Massachusetts General Court did the same. Why? The book The Battle for Christmas, says: “There is no biblical or historical reason to place the birth of Jesus on December 25.” It adds that to the Puritans, “Christmas was nothing, but a pagan festival covered with a Christian veneer.” That brings us to another reason.

5- The roots of Christmas can be traced back to pagan Rome with its mixture of festivals for honoring the agricultural god Saturn and the sun god Sol Invictus, or Mithra. Anthropologists Christian Rätsch and Claudia Müller-Ebeling, coauthors of the book Pagan Christmas, write: “Like many pre-Christian customs and beliefs, the old feast commemorating the yearly return of the sun was rededicated to the birth of Christ.”

And there is the myth of Santa Claus! The modern-day jolly, white-bearded, rosy-cheeked, red-suited Santa is known to have been a successful Christmas advertisement created for a North American beverage company in 1931. During the 1950’s, some Brazilians tried to replace Santa Claus with a native legendary figure—Grandpa Indian. What was the result? “Santa Claus not only defeated Grandpa Indian but even defeated the child Jesus and became the official representative of the feast of December 25,” says Professor Carlos E. Fantinati. But myths such as Santa Claus are the only problem with Christmas? Let us go back to early Christianity. “During the first two centuries of Christianity there was strong opposition to recognizing birthdays of martyrs or, for that matter, of Jesus,” states the Encyclopedia Britannica.

In the 3rd century, the date of Jesus’s birth was the subject of both great interest and great uncertainty. Around AD 200, Clement of Alexandria documented that early Christians proposed various dates for Jesus' birth, but he didn’t mention December 25th.
“There are those who have determined not only the year of our Lord's birth, but also the day; and they say that it took place in the 28th year of Augustus, and in the 25th day of the Egyptian month, Pachon (May 20). Further, others say that Jesus was born on the 24th or 25th of Pharmuthi (April 20 or 21).

In 1647 Cromwell’s Parliament, England, decreed that Christmas be a day of amends and then banned it outright in 1652. In 1660, Christmas was restored as a legal holiday but remained disreputable. Associating Christmas with drunkenness and other misbehavior, the Puritans banned Christmas in the 17th century. In the fourth century C.E., despite the stand taken by the early Christians against the custom of celebrating birthdays, the Catholic Church instituted Christmas. The church wanted to strengthen its position by removing one of the main obstacles in its way—the popularity of the pagan Roman religions and their winter solstice festivals. Each year, from December 17 through January 1, “most Romans feasted, gamed, reveled, paraded, and joined in other festivities as they paid homage to their deities,” says Christmas in America, by Penne L. Restad. And on December 25, the Romans celebrated the birth of the Invincible Sun. Instituting Christmas on that day, the church cajoled many Romans into celebrating the birth of Jesus instead of the birth of the sun. Romans “were still able to enjoy the trappings of these midwinter festivals,” says Santa Claus, a Biography, by Gerry Bowler “They Continued to mark the new days with old ways.” In the early 19th century, Christmas was revived with the start of the Oxford Movement in the Anglican Church.

We read in different writings that May 20th, April 18 or 19, March 25, January 2, November 17, and November 20 were all suggested as possible dates of Jesus’s birth! However, various factors contributed to the selection of December 25 as a date of celebration. It was the date of the winter solstice on the Roman calendar; it was about nine months after March 25, the date of the vernal equinox and a date linked to the conception of Jesus.

How about Christmas tree? Church’s leaders likely chose December 25 to coincide with pagan festivals held on or around the winter solstice. The evergreen holly was worshiped as a promise of the sun’s return. The Encyclopedia Americana, Christmas tree: “Tree worship, was common among the pagan Europeans, survived after their conversion to Christianity.” One of the ways in which tree worship survived is in the custom of “placing a Yule tree at an entrance or inside the house in the midwinter holidays.” Encyclopedia Britannica. What about the Christmas customs? Many of the customs used in this celebration, however, make us wonder how they came to be associated with Jesus’s birth in the first place!

In view of the foregoing, we see why some Christians do not celebrate Christmas. Afterall, then, the main problem with Christmas celebrations lies in their unsavory origins. In his book The Battle for Christmas, Stephen Nissenbaum refers to Christmas as “nothing but a pagan festival covered with a Christian veneer.” Christmas, therefore, dishonors God and his Son, Jesus Christ. Is this just a trivial matter? Can a trunk of a tree that has grown crooked, be straightened? So are the meaning and extravagant celebrations of Christmas has been twisted that it cannot be made straight.

With respect to all different beliefs, let us think of those who have no families or friends but have financial difficulties to even live a decent or simple daily life. The season can intensify loneliness and hardship for the poor, isolated, and suffering ones—precisely those Jesus came to help. How can we show empathy accompanied by compassion? How can we empathize to reduce their sufferings and add hope to them? Are we present for the lonely ones all year-round? Are we consistent in helping, not only seasonally but also contra-seasonal?

Please stay safe and sound.

The above information is a self-researched. Your comments are welcome.

Mona

10/28/2025

“Dance of Life" https://youtu.be/c_omwte1phI
Who does not like to dance?

Dance is an expression of various emotions happy or otherwise. It is an art, the blending of different perspectives, feelings, aspirations, and explorations of multiple sensations practiced in all cultures. When we dance, it balances the brain’s frequencies by increasing alpha and beta frequencies that communicate isolated and distanced souls and profoundly connect them. Whether we are leading or being led, or even watching, dance strengthens neural networks, particularly areas like the premotor cortex.

Through repetition, we learn to balance steps in our lifetime journey that commands embracing constant changes and active movements, slow or fast steps, still dance. As we practice dance, it improves brain connectivity and strengthens the neural pathways which involve coordination and focus. There is no need for comparison or competition. Changes may mean the ending of matters to a new beginning! And when constantly moving forward, we implement acceptance or sometimes even surrender to grasp greater rhymes and reach a dream destination!

Likewise, during dancing the journey of our lives, we face many challenges. At times of facing new encounters or learning new steps, many times, we stumble, but we learn to (twist again or rock and roll) and get up to reflexively move effortlessly with the rhymes. Repeating the steps or applying previous experiences successfully incites us to embrace its encounters along with its joyful process. During such process, we also experience a sense of flow and the importance of adaptability to new steps or situations. Next time we join the dance floor, we will be familiar with stimulant movements leading to individual and collective growth.

While dancing our lives journey, some may have clear ideas where they’re walking and capable of mastering their steps with striking refinement. And others might be only following the footsteps of the crowd. What matters is listening to the rhymes or sound of the universe, sound of the unconsciousness to move flawlessly and effortlessly, even when not knowing the steps or the next one.

In such crowd of the dancing floor, what matters is to make sure we are leading our dance of life’s journey, not someone else’s. But how that possible? Can we totally lead our lives independently? Do we always need a leader? Who would that be to fully trust and is forever unmistaken? Or the exemplary leadership we often speak of is an illusion?
What are your thoughts?

Omar Akram music ”Last Dance” and "Dance of life" poem written by Mona Youssef. Dance of Life is an art in itself; it’s the blending of different perspective...

10/22/2025

Why Human Need Mirrors?

From the still waters of ancient streams to today’s silver-coated glass, human's relationship with mirrors has evolved yet, the underlying desire remains the same which is the need to see ourselves, to reflect, and to understand ourselves, people surrounding us and all facts of life.

Before mirrors were invented, people relied on nature’s own tools such as pools of water, calm rivers, or liquid collected in vessels to catch a glimpse of their reflection. These were human’s first mirrors. The earliest man-made mirrors, dating back to around 6000 BC, were crafted from polished volcanic glass like obsidian, with examples found in Anatolia (modern-day Turkey).

Historical Developments were found in:
• Egyptians used polished copper.
• Mesopotamians created metal and stone mirrors.
• In Central and South America, polished stone mirrors were in use by 2000 BC.
• China developed mirrors from a tin-copper alloy called speculum metal.
• The Romans experimented with blown glass backed by lead.
• In the first century, Lebanon is believed to have produced the first metal-backed glass mirrors.
• A major leap came in 1835, when German chemist Justus von Liebig invented the silvered-glass mirror, the kind we still use today.

Mirrors are more than tools for grooming. They were used symbolically and functionally to reflect light to brighten spaces, concentrate sunlight for heat (solar furnaces), and to serve in scientific and decorative applications. Some artists use mirrors to look at their artworks and see them from different perspectives for improvement. More profoundly, mirrors, whether literal or symbolic (as in self-meditation), reflect identities.

We don’t just look into mirrors; we look for ourselves in them. Mirrors help us to self-recognize and understand how others might perceive us. Psychologically, they are tools for self-awareness, metacognition, and personal growth. Even without a literal mirror, we seek reflection through feedback from others as a form of social mirroring. Early childhood development supports this. We begin to know ourselves by how others respond to us. This is echoed in developmental psychology, particularly in mirror self-recognition tests, where a person or animal shows awareness that the reflection is themselves, not another.

But why we need mirrors and each other? To live without mirrors, whether literal or symbolic mirrors, is like to live without self-awareness. We need interaction and honest reflections from both physical mirrors and human relationships. Why? To see different perspectives, to improve and grow, and better understand our roles in the world.

We need to honestly ask ourselves, who of us can live without a mirror, or without receiving feedback from others? The answer likely, none of us. Just as we need food and shelter, we need reflection to see, to be seen, and to become as oneself and as a part of the whole vast universe.

https://www.monayoussefgallery.com/articles-for-artists/human-and-the-need-for-a-mirror

Your thoughts are welcome.

©Mona Youssef

The above image is my oil painting inspired by my visit to Florence Biennale in 2007 and was painted at later date. Details of the painting are available to serious collector with Authenticated certificate.

10/06/2025

“Spoken Silence”!

Let us tap into something very human: the quiet turbulence beneath the surface that many of us carry but rarely articulate.

While we may all live distanced and apart, we often face the same or similar life challenges. Some struggles can be eased with time, while others require us to let go—or perhaps find a stronger umbrella to shield ourselves from further harmful rain.

How often words fail to fully contain our emotions, especially the complex ones: grief, longing, quiet despair, even unexpected joy. When that happens, we turn to silence, music, art, prayer, movement, or connection—things that speak without needing grammar.

As for facing challenges, what helps me—or what I’ve seen help people—is a mix of:

Perspective – remembering that emotions are like weather; they come, and they pass. Naming the storm doesn’t stop it, but it does stop us from drowning silently.

Connection – not always in the form of people fixing things but simply being with us. A friend who sits with you in silence can be a lifeboat.

Routine and grounding – small rituals: listening to soft music, morning tea, a walk in woods or at shore/exercise, writing in a notebook. They’re not cures, but anchors.

Letting go of the need for constant "victory" – sometimes peace isn’t in overcoming, but in accepting what is, without resistance. That alone can be freeing.

Meaning – finding something in the struggle that teaches or transforms us, not always happens immediately. Sometimes, it's only much later that we see how the challenge shaped us.

Embracing solitude can be a space to refresh our souls. That’s often where we find what truly sustains us—beneath the noise, beneath the pressure to always “bounce back” quickly.

What about you—what helps you face things with peace or courage, when life gets heavy?

The Video illustrates moments of despair and seconds of hope. Thank you for watching and hope you will find meaning in this video!I would like to welcome to ...

09/08/2025

The Silent Strength of Sensitivity: Defending the Creative Spirit.

Sensitive and creative people, especially artists, have often been misunderstood and underestimated throughout history. Yet, it is these individuals who have shaped culture, illuminated history, and given expression to the most profound aspects of the human experience. Their spontaneous and heartfelt reactions to the world around them have often set them apart. It’s time we challenge the misconceptions held by those who may not share the same level of emotional depth or creative sensitivity.

What Is Sensitivity? It is the ability to fully perceive and swiftly respond to external stimuli. It is the emotional vulnerability to the attitudes, feelings, or circumstances of others. It is also the degree to which someone or something can be affected directly or indirectly, by external forces. This reaction can be likened to the rods and cones in the retina of the eye, or the photo-reactive elements in photography that respond instantly to light. Just as photographic film is altered by exposure to light, artists are deeply affected by their surroundings, circumstances, and the emotional climate around them.

Creativity and Its Challenges: While creativity is essential to an artist’s productivity and thrives when nurtured, many factors can obstruct its expression:
• Environmental challenges such as toxic relationships, unsupportive environments, financial stress, or lack of love and trust.
• Cultural pressures that discourage mistakes, demand perfection, or require constant external validation.
• Emotional burdens like insecurity, fear, and instability, which sabotage the artist's inner world.
These obstacles can dull the senses and block the spontaneous flow of inspiration. Creativity should not be stifled by human limitations, it is governed by the rhythms of nature, and flourishes best in freedom.

How Can We Protect Our Sensitivity and Stay Creative in an Unbalanced World?

Here are Ten Commandments for nurturing your creative spirit and safeguarding your sensitivity:
Seek feedback from those who understand your journey, find support among those sailing in the same boat.
Build meaningful connections with fellow artists, shared experiences create empathy and understanding.
Keep your sense of humour alive, laughter is a powerful defense and a great equalizer.

Receive criticism with an open mind. It may not always be correct, but every viewpoint holds some value.
Learn from others’ experiences, listen deeply, stay humble, and be open to growth.

Develop emotional boundaries, protect your inner world from those who might drain or harm it.

Accept reality as a path to wisdom, growth is hard work, but it builds strength and character.
Celebrate small wins, even the tiniest light can pierce the darkest night.

Live authentically, stay true to the person you were meant to be.
Embrace life fully, let go of the fear of judgment and trust in something higher than yourself.

My Final Thoughts: Creativity is not just a skill; it’s a way of being a form of spiritual and emotional sensitivity that brings beauty, truth, and meaning into the world. It must be protected, nurtured, and respected.

As we honour our creative sensitivities, read more at https:/www.monayoussefgallery.com/articles-for-artists/sensitive-people-in-insensitive-world

Mona Youssef

07/17/2025

Doug Caplan is a Canadian fine art photographer whose distinctive work explores the tension between order and chaos in urban environments. With a background in construction and a lifelong interest in architecture, his photographs artistically capture evocative moments, revealing patterns, rhythms, and subtle narratives embedded in the built world.
Through a dynamic interplay of geometry, movement, and the quiet poetry of infrastructure, Doug’s body of work invites viewers into a contemplative space where structure, light, and form converge in unexpected harmony. His images uncover the emotional undercurrents of space and structure, moving beyond surface appearances. Favoring restraint and clarity over spectacle, Doug's mesmerizing work emphasizes precision and thoughtfulness.
Finding the balance between artistic interpretation and ideal lighting—even in challenging environments—Doug creates evolving compositions that reflect both intellectual depth and creative vision. His ability to translate architectural forms into compelling imagery has earned him numerous accolades, including the Gold Star Award, Bronze Awards, Honorable Mentions, People’s Choice Award, Chromatic Photography Award, and International Photography Award.
His work has been widely published, appearing in notable magazines and journals such as Artwire, Art Muse Express, Artworld Daily, The Art Insight, The Artworld Post, Inspired Eye, Travelglobe, Silvershotz, Dodho, Practical Photography, ND Magazine, PhotoED, POSI+TIVE, Noice, F-Stop, Float, and The Modern Day Explorer. His limited-edition prints, available on Giclée, bring a sense of refined tranquility to both private and corporate spaces.
Doug lives and works in Langley, British Columbia, and his work has been exhibited in various cities across Canada.

05/03/2025

Do Artists have to publicly share dates of their artwork? Why yes or not, when and with whom to reveal them? You may read the full article on this link: https://www.monayoussefgallery.com/articles-for-artists/do-artists-publicly-share-dates-of-artwork

03/19/2025

Pleased to introduce Stephen Spartana, the fine art photographer. Sharing over 4o years of artistic career and gifting viewers with his mesmerizing artwork that reveals the hidden beauty of the surroundings.

You are invited to watch the presentation video on https://youtu.be/4N7kwHW1VxU and get acquainted with this creative journey.

We hope that you will enjoy watching the videos and your comments are welcome.

Stephen Spartana Mona Youssef Gallery

Welcome to watching a presentation video of the Fine Art Photographer: Stephen Spartana's artwork. Sharing over 4o years of artistic career and gifting viewe...