Nonwestern #2

untitled Wen Zhengming

When I think of chinese art I think of paintings like this. It’s simple, it’s beautiful, and has a certain elegance to it. It combines the beauty of painting and adds the art of calligraphy. I can’t really help it, I just like this painting.

Wen Zhengming was an artist and calligrapher of the Ming Dynasty. His teacher, Shen Zhou, and himself are considered the founders of the Wu School. An art school that taught literati painting. He was said to have excelled in poetry, calligraphy, and painting. All of which were considered part of the literati “3 perfections”.  In another piece by Wen, it is said that in the calligraphy he states what he was feeling and how the painting relates with what was going on in his life. I assume that maybe something similar is written in the calligraphy of this painting.

While I like the other painting, I prefer the simplicity of this one.

Here is the link to the other painting: http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/asia/w/wen_zhengming,_wintry_trees,_a.aspx

http://www.answers.com/topic/wen-zhengming

Nonwestern #1

Dance to the Rhythm 36×48″ James Cudjoe

I chose this piece for two reasons. 1) it was so similar to the impressionist pieces we have  seen earlier in the semester. 2) the image seems to be alive. As odd as that may sound, what I mean is that the way the colors are blurred, it gives off the impression that the woman is dancing. It looks as though she is moving to some drum beat that we don’t hear. I find this piece to be beautiful and enchanting. The title fits it perfectly.

The artist James Cudjoe was born in Takoradi, Ghana. He graduated from Ghannata in 1996 (after attending for 3 years). Then attended Accra for 2 more years. He has participated in 7 very successful national and solo exhibits. Many of his work depicts landscapes, cityscapes, people at work and at leisure. These are said to be common themes for Ghanaian artists.

Why Blend in When You Can Stand Out?

I chose the Theme “Why Blend in When You Can Stand Out?” for my exhibit. It includes works by Jeff Koons, David Salle, Anna Joelsdottir, and Julian Schnabel. All of whom have a work that just one part or another stands out above the rest. I hope you enjoy!

Julian Schnabel, Pink House, 2007

This is actually an image of a high rise building that Julian Schnabel had constructed in West Village, New York. I doubt anyone would really be able to explain the color choice other than Julian himself. But it is speculated that he chose the color to annoy some of the people who opposed his building permit. Nice way to show them! If something stands out more than a hot pink building I’d be impressed and for that reason it is included in this exhibit. Nobody said buildings aren’t art.

Julian Schnabel, Untitled (Indian Painting) 2007

I thought this work belonged because the main image is almost the background. Its the headress (?) that really stands out in this image. It’s all beautiful, but the contrast and one part standing out more is why this image belongs in this exhibit.

David Salle, Big Umbrella, 1993

I thought that this image was funny. It looked as though a person just doodled on an old magazine clipping. But I really liked how the umbrella stood out, and while its standing out it is also doesn’t look too out of place in the image. For the ability to belong and yet stand out, I feel as if its an image worth mentioning.

David Salle, Angels in the Rain, 1998. Oil and acrylic on canvas (244 x 335 cm)

I was drawn to this painting because of the split focus. I felt that my eye should have been immediately drawn to the bears…on bicycles, and to a certain degree it is. But its the Angels on the top that stand out more for me. For this reason I chose this piece.

Jeff Koons, Balloon Dog (Yellow), a ten-foot-tall.1994–2000 High chromium stainless steel with transparent color coating; 121 x 143 x 45 in. (307.3 x 363.2 x 114.3 cm) On the roof of the Metropolitan Museum.

What stands out more than a giant balloon dog? It is a just a fun piece and stands out enough that I thought my “collection” would be incomplete without it.

Anna Joelsdottir, “Space/time #11, 2005″, Acrylic, Ink and Colored Pencil on Canvas, 6” x 6”

I chose this piece because the yellow line drew my eye. It really doesn’t seem as if it would normally belong on/in this painting. But it sort of does, to me it kind of finishes the design, and it would almost feel incomplete with out it. That being said this yellow line does stand out from the rest of the painting.

Jeff Koons

Born in York, Pennsylvania 1955. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Maryland Institute College of Arts in 1976. He lives and works in New York City and York, Pennsylvania. He has recieved numerous awards including an honorary Doctorate from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2008. That same year he also received the Wollaston Award, from the Royal Academy of Arts, London, U.K. He also has been doing talks and lectures around the globe since 1983 and continuing on until 2008.

Julian Schnabel

Born in 1951 Brooklyn, New York. He graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Houston. After this he traveled throughout Europe before returning to New York. His first solo exhibit was in 1980 at the Mary Boone Gallery, New York. This was said to have “launched” him into the New York art scene. Though he was considered fully established by 1981 during which time he exhibited his art in a show jointly organized by Boone and Leo Castelli. His following grew because his work was considered  emotion-filled and unusual. While continuing his art, Julian also has directed films, and tried his hand at writing.

David Salle

Born in Norman, OK in 1952. David received both his Bachelors and Masters of Fine Arts from the California Institute of Arts (in 1973 and 1975). His first solo exhibit took place in the  Mary Boone Gallery, NYC, NY, during 1981. He has since participated in many solo and group galleries until the year 2005. Many of his pieces have a collage feel, they are various images that seem to have been pasted together, and yet aesthetically work.

Anna Joelsdottir

Born in Iceland. Anna received her B. Ed., in 1978 from University of Teachers College of Iceland. Then in 1985 a M.A. from University of East Anglia, England. In 1999 She received her post baccalaureate certificate from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. While finally ending her academic career by receiving her Masters of Fine Arts from the same school in 2002.  Her first solo exhibit was in 2000, entitled  Hafnarborg, at the Institute of Culture and Fine Arts, Iceland. And has since exhibited her work in galleries both in the U.S. and Iceland. Anna has also won various awards including the Bryan Lathrop Fellowship; The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, in 1999.

http://www.leninimports.com/julian_schnabel.html

http://www.annajoelsdottir.com/

http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/artists/david_salle_articles.htm

http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/artists/david_salle_biography.htm

http://www.metmuseum.org/special/koons_roof/more.asp

http://www.thevillager.com/villager_215/notsopretty.html

Classical ~ music

The rise of the middle class greatly influenced the composers of the classical era. As they grew in status they wanted some of the luxuries the upper class was allowed. This meant having more accessible music. As well as having the music language more recognizable to the less elite and getting rid of the more complex patterns of music from the baroque era. Thus the symphony was born.

The middle class wanted recognizable music language,well  all symphonies have a basic 4 movement form. The first is generally fast and dramatic, not unlike a sonata allegro. The second movement is recognized by being contemplative and slow, many times the mood could be described as reflective. Then comes the third movement, it is faster than the second movement, and is often based on the popular dances of the time. (such as the minuet.) Finally there is the fourth movement. It is fast, spirited, often light and happy.

One of my favorite pieces from this era is Surprise Symphony (1971-1972, london) by composer Franz Joseph Haydn.

Haydn was one of the more well known composers. He worked as a court musician to Prince Esterhazy in Hungary until after the Prince’s death. He then went freelance and had a successful career there as well. Haydn is often called Papa Haydn, or father of the symphony. He is called that because of his many contributions and refinements to the symphony, string quartet and sonata.

I like this symphony because I was fascinated with how easy it was for me to identify what movement I was listening to. To feel the power of the music, and just get caught up in the moment. It is really easy for me to see how it would be popular.

Renaissance Art

Primavera, 1482, tempera on panel, Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence.

Primavera is one of the two best known art pieces created by Sandro Botticelli. A famous artist from the Italian Renaissance.  This particular piece by Botticelli was commissioned by Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco de’ Medici. One of the infamous Medici family, who commissioned and supported many art works through out the renaissance.

Botticelli was said to have believed in Neoplatonism. Neoplatonism was the interest in reviving the Platonic ideals into the “current” culture. Lorenzo was said to be an avid supporter of this idea and so aspects of this idea are incorporated into this piece.

The Primavera like Botticelli’s other famous work features Venus as the centerpiece. Though her size remains the same as the others depicted in the image, her coloring and image is what the eye immediately jumps to when first glancing at the painting. On the right of her is the goddess Flora, littering the ground with flowers. Then comes Chloris and her husband Zephyrus the god of wind. On the left of Venus is 3 of Zeus’ daughters dancing around, possibly celebrating spring. Farther to the left of them is Mercury the messenger god. All the while in the air above Venus is Cupid. Aiming his arrow for his next target.

Many have said that this painting represents love and marriage and fertility. It is very easy to see what aspects of this painting would lead people to this conclusion. Zephyrus and Chloris are married. Flora is pregnant. As well as Venus is the goddess of love. Cupid is also aiming his arrow, possibly at one of Zeus’ daughters. As there are no other males in the area aside from Mercury it could be assumed that he is the intended man for the girl hit with the arrow to fall for.

That is a big assumption, but one of the reasons I like this piece is that it gives me the opportunity to day dream an ending as to who will end up with who and such. the detail and meanings or imagined meanings behind this is amazing. It is also a love painting and as it is almost Valentine’s day it seems appropriate.

http://www.historylink101.com/art/Sandro_Botticelli/pages/09_Primavera_jpg.htm

Benton, Janetta Rebold, and Robert DiYanni. Arts and Culture, Volume I (3rd Edition). Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 2007. Print.

Hello world!

Hello All!

I thought I should start this blog off honestly. I have no idea on how to write a blog … at least not a very good one. So my apologies in advance.

This is me.