Non-Western Art November 21, 2009

The Suicide of Dorothy Hale (1939) is an interesting painting. I like how the painting tells a story. The image is straight forward and simple. I like how the painting continues onto the frame. Even though it is depicting a tragedy, I still think that it is beautiful. I selected a work by Frida Kahlo because she was a very influencial person of her time, while also being a famous non-western artist. I decided to pick a piece that was non-political while still having a deeper meaning.

Kahlo was commissioned to complete this piece by Clare Booth Luce who was a good friend of Dorothy Hale. Luce wanted to Kahlo to create a piece that would pay homage to their friend after her suicide. Hale was married to a well to do painter, Gardiner Hale, who was killed in a crash in the 1930s. After her husband’s passing, Dorothy ran into financial troubles and on October 21, 1938 she jumped from her suite in Hampshire House building. When Luce saw the painting, she was shocked and considered destroying the painting. She was, however, persuaded by friends to keep the painting.

Ephemeral Art- Street Art November 14, 2009

Ephemeral art is art that is not meant to be permanent. An example of ephemeral art is street art. Postmodern artists believed in non traditional approaches to art. Street art is a fine art style of grafitti.

Julian Beever is a well known street art artist. His work was ephemeral because he did all of this drawings in chalk. Beever’s artwork is preserved through photographs. His creations, when viewed from the right angle, create an illusion of depth. Since the 1990s, Beever has created many astounding images on sidewalks and streets as a freelance artist. His genious has been employed by many corporations for promotional purposes.

Make Poverty History (July 2005, Edinburgh) I like not only how this creation looks, but also the meaning behind it. This piece is ephemeral because it can be easily removed or worn away.

Politicians Meeting Their End (England, 1997) This piece is humorous but also has a serious meaning behind it. It looks so realistic, like there is really a hole in the sidewalk. Because this piece is not in a permanent state, it is ephemeral.

Meeting Madame Butterfly (Mexico City) This is one of my favorites of Beever’s. The first time that I looked at this piece, I really thought that it was some kind of butterfly suspended in the air. It took me a second to realize that it is completely flat. Gorgeous and very believable. It is almost unfortunate that this ephemeral piece cannot stay.

Queen Elizabeth I (London, 1999)

Queen Elizabeth I is one of several portraits done by Beever. I like the detail and in this piece. It looks like it was painted and not done with chalk. This image does not create the depth of some other works by Beevers, but there is a slightly elevated look to it.

Chinese New Year Celebration (2006, Birmingham, Arcadia Centre)

This piece took three days to complete. I like the light heartedness of it, and the fact that Beevers just happened to do it without really planning to. This work was only meant to be there for the Chinese New Year which makes an ephemeral approach very appropriate.

Another artist who specializes in ephemeral art is Kurt Wenner. Wenner began his street painting career in 1982 in Rome. Like Beever, Wenner is influenced by a techqnique called anamorphism. Anamorphism is the technique used to create the illusion of height.

The Giant. I was unable to find the time or place this work was created. It is unbelievable. The size and detail are breath taking. This piece follows the technique of anamorphism as well as being ephemeral.

Harlem Renaissance November 3, 2009

Beginning in the 1920s, the African American artists of the time began to challenge the traditional European art forms. This new style of art set in motion the Harlem Renaissance or New Negro Movement. African American artists began to create works that depicted African American culture and history with dignity and creativity. The Harlem Renaissance involved the evolution of visual arts, music, and literature. A new social group of middle class African Americans emerged. This allowed for African American artists to express themselves with their new found freedoms.

One artist of the Harlem Renaissance was Jacob Lawrence. Lawrence was one of the best known artists of the Harlem Renaissance. His Migration Series (completed 1941) made him nationally famous. The series was based on the migration of African Americans from the southern part of the United States to the Union states of the North during and after WWI. Each of the sixty panels included a caption to explain the history of the migration.

This image depicts children embracing their education. It is meant to show how African American children were able to receive the education that their parents were denied. This painting, along with most of the sixty paintings, is very simple. It may not be immediately obvious as to what the meaning behind this is. I appreciate the simplicity of the paintings, but even more I apprecuate what this series represents. I like all of the colors of Harlem that are incorporated in this series.

Impressionism October 23, 2009

I would say that I am a fan of Impressionism.  While it is not my favorite, I do see its beauty. Water-Lilies 1914, (Paris) is one of my favorite paintings. I like all of the colors in Impressionist artwork. Bright pastels are very nice to look at and make the paintings seem lighthearted  and joyous. It is interesting how the paintings are blurred but your mind is able to put the image together. While I do like Impressionism, I prefer Baroque era artwork. I like small details and appreciate all of the time, vision, and effort that went into these masterpieces. One of the best examples of the detailed work that I prefer is Fresco with trompe l’œil dome by Andre Pozzo, Vienna 1703.

I am also a fan of light and dark contrasts. I didn’t notice a lot of that in Impressionism. Another thing that I like about the Baroque era artwork is that every time I look at the same picture, I notice something different or another element of the painting. Impressionism seems to me to have a simplicity and straight forwardness.

Beethoven’s 5th Symphony October 13, 2009

Early in the Classical era, music was was a gallant style meant for entertaining aristocrats. Later, music began to be played for the entertainment of the middle class. During the Classical era, the simplicity of music came into favor. The complex polyphonic pieces of the Baroque era were not as appealing to the middle class. The simpler style of music made listening easier and more enjoyable for more people. Composers of this era, such as Ludwig von Beethoven, began composing music for the middle class instead of just the affluent. Because this style of music focused on the melody it was easier to follow. Public concerts were also a result of composers shift to a more public audience. Music was available to everyone to everyone’s enjoyment.

Ludwig Von Beethoven’s 5th Symphony (1804-1808, Vienna) is one of the most recognizable and widely used pieces of music from the Classical era. From the first movement, the piece is engaging and very easy to follow. I like the severity of the song. The first movement sounds very intense, while the Andante of the song is lighter.

Follow this link to hear Beethoven’s 5th Symphony

The Taking of Christ October 2, 2009

The Catholic Counter Reformation had a profound effect on visual artwork. The Council of Trent was convened to make decisions on how to improve the image of the Catholic Church and what should be done to counter the Protestant Reformation. One of the decisions that the Council made was that art should depict stories from the Bible and promote Catholicism.

The Council of Trent realized that paintings had a strong impact on individuals. Paintings were able to show more than words could say. The church realized that paintings were able to inspire devotion in its followers (NGA). The ideas that the Council had about the images that should be depicted, were that they should set an example of how people should live their lives. The Church encouraged artists to show religious scenes that were easy to understand so that the viewers were engaged directly.

In Caravaggio’s The Taking of Christ (1602, Rome), the religious reference it obvious. This painting is meant to evoke the memory of Christ’s sacrifice. Judas is kissing Christ to show who he is, as He being taken to be crucified. The people in this painting are only shown from the waist up. There is no back ground, which causes the viewer to focus completely on what the subject of the image is. Christ’s face is solemn, his hands together in faith. The soldier’s face is harsh, almost angry. Christ’s demeanor shows viewers that forgiveness is above revenge. Caravaggio does a perfect job of painting according to the Council’s standards. While the painting is direct, it maintains its beauty. What I like about this painting is not only its meaning, but how Christ’s and Judas’ faces seem to be highlighted against the red behind them. I believe that this painting would make followers of the Catholic Church take pause, and remember their beliefs, which was exactly the purpose.

References: National Gallery of Art USA  http://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/caravbr-4.shtm

Botticelli’s Primavera September 21, 2009

Botticelli’s Primavera (1482, Florence) is heavily inspired by the Medici Family. Not only was the painting done per the request of the Medici’s, but what the painting depicts enforces the open mindedness of the time period. This painting was the largest of creation of mythology scenery (203 X 314 cm). The younger generation of Medici’s believed that artwork did not have to centered around religion,but more so on Humanism and the idea that personal point-of-view should be encouraged. Primavera is based on the mythology that marriage, when done in a proper fashion, should produce fertility and sensuality. Primavera hung in the bedroom of a bride of the Medici’s.

During this time period, the Medici family and many others of the Renaissance began to have open minds. What was now becoming acceptable, 100 years prior would have been rejected by the church. Primavera is one example of the enormous influence the Medici family had during the Renaissance. The mythological story the painting tells is very interesting. The symbology suggests that Venus represents that marriage is when sexuality to experienced. The three graces represent chastity, beauty, and love. Chloris (far right) becomes Flora when she marries Zephyr. Chloris did not choose to marry Zephyr which shows that during that time, women had little, if any say in their husbands.

I find this painting not only beautiful, but interesting. I love how the picture tells a story and the meanings behind all of the symbols. As opposed to the artist of the High Renaissance, Botticelli chose to paint these figures without creating contrasts with light and dark, or creating deep space. Their features are not especially intricate, but rather, the figures are flowing with long lines.

References: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primavera_(painting)

https://classes.uaf.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_id=_2_1&url=%2fwebapps%2fblackboard%2fexecute%2flauncher%3ftype%3dCourse%26id%3d_60839_1%26url%3d

Hello world! September 12, 2009

First blog ever! I’m not a blogger