The expression of Christianity in South Italy (Magna Graecia) is Byzantine, not Roman.

The Byzantine Breath Prayer: confession on the exhale; acceptance of forgiveness on the inhale.

A mother’s worries about how much time her son is spending on the internet. "Is he doing his homework?”

The son announces he has over a 2.1 billion followers and uses the hashtags #awesome and #love.

Her elaborate earrings and jewelry indicate she came from a wealthy family.

Cats wearing slippers can't climb the Tree of Life.

Transporting fragments oif antiquity from the past to wherever the viewer might be standing --in this case, a gallery--is the action in the story of my Christian Icons.

Here I am next to a13th Century fresco. The fresco is located in an underground crypt/chapel used by Crusaders centuries ago. The entry to the carved-out-of-rock chapel is located in a field that's on the side of a rural road. The exposed outside building, where you enter, looks like a farmer’s storage shed. The devotional space is accessible through a barrel-vaulted staircase.

Once you’ve made your way down the steep steps, you can't help but to admire the low ceiling. It's covered with paintings of Crusaders’ shields–alternating the patterns of the black cross symbol of the Teutonic Knights and the red cross symbol of the Templars. Also painted on the ceilings are stars, plants, and real and imaginary animals, such as a Gryphon and a large Hydra from Greek mythology.

There are four areas of frescos. Some are more damaged by moisture and time than others. Visits to the Cripta are by reservation, which isn’t that difficult but speaking Italian helps. Contact the Ugento Archeological Museum a day before you would like to see the wall paintings.

(Records indicate human presence in the surrounding area from at least the fourth century B.C. Cripta del Crocefisso is located on the Via Sallentina, a route of the Messapian and Roman ages that connected Otranto to Taranto.)

Another underground Byzantine crypt in Salento is located in the ceramicist town of Grottaglie. Mimmo Vestita discovered the treasure under his property while remodeling his garage. In order to see these remarkably intact wall paintings, you call Mimmo. I believe he shows the discovery to visitors June through August.

Inside the Grottaglie crypt we saw a beautiful Saint Barbara, similar but perhaps a bit more animated than the Saint Barbara in Casaranello.

For the past handful of years, I have been tracking down Byzantine frescoes and Crusader hideaways in the Salento region of Italy, with the intention of making monotypes inspired by the imagery and the journey. The Saint Barbara (who appears everywhere in Puglia) in the marvelous Church of Santa Maria della Croce is perhaps my favorite. Her bindi, extravagant jewelry, nose ring and countenance are simply gorgeous.

After researching the pigments and technique used by Byzantine traveling fresco artists, I worked in the MASS MoCA print shop to realize the monotypes.

In the center of the exquisite starry vault is a cross made of gold tiles. I often use this clean color scheme when printing and painting.

(Church of Santa Maria della Croce boasts very ancient origins and probably dates back to the 5th-6th century.)