Archangels Feathers, a "True Story" or "Fake News"?

Fargo Movie based on facts; the Fargo Series was all fake. 

In an era of "Fake News" and "Alternative Facts," it seems appropriate to talk about what is a factually true story and what is imaginative storytelling.  When a person reads a novel or watches a movie, they often are drawn into the story so completely that they can't tell fact from fiction. Producers use the vague line between reality and imagination to trick viewers into believing they are watching or reading something based on fact. Often television "documentary" programs are pure fabrication, offering speculations and ambiguous theories as facts. History Channel once used only factual documentaries, now they feature Ancient Aliens, Big Foot, and Egyptian fantasy. 

Some television series base their programs on supposed "true events". The perfect example is "Fargo". The 1996 movie was loosely based on actual events however the TV series is 100% fictional, yet they have the disclaimer that all events are based on actual events. It is all "make-believe" and people get angry when they find out they believe in fiction. Films, novels, and artworks are products of creative minds, they are not meant to be a history class. The screenwriters for "Fargo" actually said, laughingly "You don't have to have a true story to make a true story movie!" People take the "true Story" label literally.

just because this appears on the screen, doesn't make it true

  When I was in Alaska, I created my very own "True Story" I created an elaborate mythology revolving around a fictional character, Richard Handley. (the name of a grade school friend)

Richard Handley (left) with his perpetual motion machine

I wove an intricate tale about Handley. He was a prospector, inventor, writer, and artist who lived along the Yukon River and mysteriously vanished in the early 20^th century. I concocted an extensive story about this man’s life and backed it up with dozens of very believable artifacts. I exhibited these in an art exhibition titled "The Enigma of Richard Handley" I was invited to participate in a sculpture show in San Diego. Along with my sculptures were detailed narrations as well as a handwritten diary.

the fictional Richard Handley's enigmatic weekly calendar

I received a phone call from a history professor from the University of San Diego.  He was so excited by the artifacts but was confused because he had never heard of this man, nor had he heard of my "discovery". I explained that these were sculptures and that the whole story was an invention of mine, the stories and sculptures were all part of the artwork. At first, he was very angry and embarrassed, and then he started to laugh and said, "Well done, you had me fooled!" Yes, I fooled a history professor!!

 Inspirations for Archangel Feathers:
 I am a history nerd. I enjoy researching ancient peoples and religious belief systems. Body preservation tells us a lot about the religions and technology of various groups. I often try to use some of this in my own narration stories. One story that really captured my imagination was the discovery of a perfectly preserved 2200-year-old body in China.   The body was found within four rectangular pine constructs that sat inside one another which were buried beneath layers of charcoal and white clay. The corpse was wrapped in twenty layers of clothing bound with silk ribbons. Scientists believe the carbon plays a vital role in the near-perfect preservation. 

multi layered coffins with carbon and clay

I had been reading books about Grail Quests of the middle ages as well as the Hoax Relic Market which the Medieval Church profited from. One story I found was about swan feathers being sold as Angel feathers. Another story that I found involved a crucifixion nail being found in its own coffin. It was believed to be a fake relic destined to the Vatican, but it never made it. https://badarchaeology.wordpress.com/2010/03/07/did-the-knights-templar-leave-a-nail-from-the-crucifixion-in-madeira/

Archangel Feathers of Michael, Gabriel and Raphael:  

Narration

Remarkable Templar Relic Discovery! A relic hoard by the Templar Knights was discovered in a Syrian cave. Three Feathers believed to be from Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael were recovered in a Knights Templar stronghold. Next to the feathers were three skeletons and three swords with the religious order's cross on the blades. The feathers are remarkably reserved due to the carbon-lined miniature coffin they were buried in.  They were destined for the Pope but only made it as far as Northern Syria. According to Grail Lore, these Knights were believed to have hidden a holy cup for the last supper in this cave complex. No Holy Grail was found but Archaeologists did find a Holy Nail, a four-inch Roman relic, stored in an ornate box. Archaeologist Henry Jones Jr. said: "It dates from the 1st centuries. You'd expect the surface to be pitted and rough after so long, but this was smooth! Nothing shocks me. I'm a scientist."

   

My narration and artwork are fictional. To add to the illusion, I used Indiana Jones as the fictional archaeologist.  Despite this obvious clue, I did get inquisitions about the story and anger when they learned it wasn't true. 

Archangel Feathers of Michael, Gabriel and Raphael 

I later added a forth feather.. Lucifer's!
https://www.etsy.com/listing/79066087/angel-feather-raven-artwork-raven-crow?ref=shop_home_feat_2&frs=1

$138.50

the feather Lucifer cut away

ARCHANGEL FEATHER - LUCIFER
New Remarkable Templar Relic Discovered - This may be a wing feather from Archangel Lucifer!
A relic hoard of the Templar Knights was discovered in a Syrian cave in 2011. Initially Three Feathers believed to be from Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael were recovered in a Knights Templar stronghold. The feathers are remarkable reserved due to the carbon lined miniature coffin they were buried in. After months of excavation this fourth feather was discovered. This is now believed to be a feather from the archangel Lucifer!

Contrary to popular belief, Satan and Lucifer are two separate fallen angels. Lucifer was banished because of his ego -- his sin, pride. Lucifer, not Satan was the first angel to have sinned. Lucifer has been equated to Satan due to the misreading of the passage Isaiah 14:12. The actual name "Devil" was applied to Lucifer when early theologians identified him with the falling star in the passage from Isaiah, Satan and Lucifer started to become interchangeable. The feather relic shows clear signs that it was cut from a wing!! After falling from heaven both archangels cut away their feathered wings and replaced them with snake skin.

Archaeologist Henry Jones Jr. said: "snakes, why did it have to be snakes" Excavations are ongoing. 

Again, another obvious clue that this is fake..Indiana Jones hated snakes!

Three Archangel feathers with Lucifer's feather, which shows how it was cut from his wing.

The print plate is a soft ground etching, with acid etched lines, dry point lines and engraving lines on a zinc plate. It is hand printed onto archival printmaking paper.

to learn more about the process visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNKn4PORGBI

My Archangel Prints are used in a printmaking blog as an example of soft ground etching
http://e-gosney1215-dc.blogspot.com/2013/11/design-for-print-reseach.html