March 14 is the birthday of British Pre-Raphaelite artist FREDERIC SHIELDS (1833-1911).

"Influenced by Rossetti and Ford Madox Brown, Shields was sensitive to the artistic legacy of William Blake who was admired by the Pre-Raphaelites ...

Frederic Shields was deeply religious man. His faith influenced his artistic manner which was gradually becoming more mannered and mystical in theme. " (Wikipedia)

To see examples of Shields’ art, CLICK HERE.

March 14 is the birthday of English author of "weird" fiction ALGERNON BLACKWOOD (1869-1951).

“Fairy things, like stars and tenderness, are always small.”

Blackwood probably wrote more ghost stories than any other writer in history. He is also known for other works of horror, weird stories and fantasy and fairy tales, like A PRISONER OF FAIRYLAND, which was turned into the play "Starlight Express" (not the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical) for which Sir Edward Elgar wrote the incidental music. (It's some of Elgar's most delightful music and has a strong Christmassy vibe. Check it out. You won't be disappointed.)

(Blackwood with Sir Edgar Elgar, 1915)

March 14 is the birthday of ALBERT EINSTEIN (1879-1975).

"The fairest thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion that stands at the cradle of true art and true science."

“I want to know how God created this world. I am not interested in this or that phenomenon, in the spectrum of this or that element. I want to know His thoughts; the rest are details.”

"The release of atom power has changed everything except our way of thinking... the solution to this problem lies in the heart of mankind. If only I had known, I should have become a watchmaker."

Einstein "was a German-born theoretical physicist who is best known for developing the theory of relativity. Einstein also made important contributions to quantum mechanics. His mass–energy equivalence formula E = mc2, which arises from special relativity, has been called 'the world's most famous equation.' He received the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics for his services to theoretical physics, and especially for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect." (Wikipedia)

March 14 is the birthday of origami master AKIRA YOSHIZAWA (1911-2005).

“My origami creations, in accordance with the laws of nature, require the use of geometry, science, and physics. They also encompass religion, philosophy, and biochemistry. Overall, I want you to discover the joy of creation by your own hand. The possibility of creation from paper is infinite.”

Yoshizawa "was a Japanese origamist, considered to be the grandmaster of origami. He is credited with raising origami from a craft to a living art. According to his own estimation made in 1989, he created more than 50,000 models, of which only a few hundred designs were presented as diagrams in his 18 books. Yoshizawa acted as an international cultural ambassador for Japan throughout his career. In 1983, Emperor Hirohito awarded him the Order of the Rising Sun, 5th class, one of the highest honors bestowed in Japan." (Wikipedia)

To see examples of Yoshizawa’s origami, CLICK HERE.

March 14 is the birthday of exotica pioneer LES BAXTER (1922-1996).

"I'm not an intellectual composer. I write emotional music."

"In his 1996 appreciation for Wired magazine, writer David Toop wrote that Baxter 'offered package tours in sound, selling tickets to sedentary tourists who wanted to stroll around some taboo emotions before lunch, view a pagan ceremony, go wild in the sun or conjure a demon, all without leaving home stereo comforts in the whitebread suburbs.'" (Wikipedia)

THIS DAY IN HISTORY: On March 14, 1885, THE MIKADO, a light opera by W. S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan, received its first public performance at the Savoy Theatre in London.