19 Dec: The new website is open.
20 Nov: The new website is under development.




Creative Space


The English words "museum", "mosaic" and "music" all come from the same Greek root - the nine muses, or inspiring goddesses of the liberal arts: Calliope, Clio, Erato, Euterpe, Melpomene, Polyhymnia, Terpsichore, Thalia, and Urania, representing: epic poetry, history, love poetry, music, tragedy, sacred lyrics, dancing, comedy and astronomy (respectively). Before these nine there were three: Aoide (song), Melete (meditation) and Mneme (memory). Before that there was only one, female, symbol of creative imagination: She's due back any day now. But "to muse", meaning to contemplate or meditate on, comes from the Old French muse, meaning an animal's mouth or snout (related to the first meaning since when a dog loses the scent it muses about trying to regain inspiration?). "Amuse" derives from this meaning. So, MUSE nicely combines inspiration and expression with the bodies of animals - as in the individual human condition, made bearable with a sense of humour (amused?).