Art Lovers discussion
Questions from the Met
Linda, I went to the VA Governor's School as well. Your granddaughter is going to love it!
Yes, I agree that it is a fabulous experience for talented students, Kelley. Were you a visual arts student, too? My granddaughter is a senior and residential student at South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities. The College of Wooster, a tiny liberal arts college in Ohio that attracts a diverse student population, has offered her a substantial scholarship, but she wants to remain closer to home. I suspect she'll major in art (graphics) at Clemson where the small art department has a grand total of 100 students.
Yes, I did the visual arts program. Ended up getting my undergrad in art history though. (Not sure that's the way I'd go if I had it to do again.) Sounds like both schools have great advantages. She'll probably have more department options at Clemson if she ends changing majors down the road.
Art history major -- that's tough. I know people who work at art museums. They are functioning with a skeleton staff, overworked, small salaries (even their parking is directly withdrawn from their paycheck). Tough times.Linda, maybe your granddaughter could look into medical illustration? I had one friend who changed careers mid-life (from photography) and went back to school for medical illustration because when she researched it (about 5 years ago), it was a good way to make money. Just a thought.
Or she could go get a job at a non-profit. I worked for many, always had a full time job, got to wear many different hats so I learned a lot, but made the tiniest salaries. But it's a good place to start for young people.
It is tough. I have a MA in museology as well and I am working as a research consultant, but I really want to be on staff permanently in a museum. So funny you mention medical illustration...growing up I really wanted to be a medical illustrator! I was always so bad at science and math in school that I figured no one would take me. I was just reading about a degree program in botany illustration that sounded fantastic also.
Kelley are you temporarily on staff as a research consultant? I know the 2 interns at the museum got their permanent positions as other people moved on (due to a better job in another museum or left due to personal reasons.)
I wish you the best.
Thanks Carol! I'm working with some people writing a book on museums for an association, but I was doing curatorial/exhibition research for a small museum prior to that.
Interesting discussion between you, Carol and Kelley, and definitely food for thought! We've discussed museology. One of my brilliant undergrad friends is the Asian curator at Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, but it has been such a long haul. Medical or botanical illustration or illustrating children's books could be options. I see her potential and want my granddaughter to be successful. I wish you could meet this charming, witty, creative, adventurous, verbal/linguistic, visual/spatial Asian American girl!
One of my friends left her career as a lawyer to became an author of children's books. The publisher selected an illustrator for her books. At times the illustrator has been committed elsewhere, so it delays the process of her books. I guess it's ideal if you can write and illustrate.
Ruth wrote: "You don't have to go to Russia to see the Dance, Ed. Matisse painted 2 versions of The Dance. One is in The Hermitage, but the other is in the Museum of Modern Art, NYC. I've seen both, prefer t..."I think I'd prefer the one in Russia. Here's an article comparing the two: The Dance
Thanks for the article Ed. Which reminds me, did you end up going to NY, Carol?
That's interesting. I didn't know the MOMA one was a study.
Thanks Ed, that article about The Dance was indeed very interesting.
I really liked that article,too, Ed. I especially liked the link because it referenced other articles of interest!
I love all the commentary!So, I see The Met is celebrating Spring,too! Here's the next question:
Curator of nineteenth-century painting Rebecca Rabinow finds a way to get a taste of the outdoors inside the galleries.
[There are paintings that] brim with depictions of flowers and foliage. Which ones most capture your attention?
When I think of the outdoors, I always think of Jean Fragonard. Many of his paintings seem to take place in the open air and the foliage and flowers are so lovely.
The Swing
The Pond
The See-Saw
The Shepherdess
Heather, for me, although the Fragonard images are of the outdoors, they don't feel like outdoors. They feel like paintings to be hung on walls indoors -- if I sensed an aroma, it would be of a stuffy room. On the other hand, the impressionists (and others) do give me the feeling of outdoors.
Hmmm. That is a very good point, Dvora.I can see that. I guess I was looking at the perspective of being 'in' the painting instead of just looking at it. Does that make sense? I think I need more realistic portrayals of the outdoors than Impressionism can give me, but I'm sure there are other works of art that would evoke the same feeling of being outdoors.
Well, who can argue with Vincent, right? Until I saw his paintings in person, I didn't realize the depth and intense color and texture his paintings have.
"Irises" 1889
Pollard Willows with Setting Sun, Vincent van Gogh, 1888
Lorie and I think along the same lines. A reproduction of this one hangs over my bed at home.
I agree. Vincent makes me feel I am outdoors and I can almost smell the flowers.
Like minds Dvora! I love the piece you posted.
Monica wrote: "Thanks for the article Ed. Which reminds me, did you end up going to NY, Carol?"I went yesterday but I didn't get to the MET . . . not enough time.
At Sotheby's I saw the Indian works on paper early in the am and later went to the auction. Really interesting, the highest price paid was 2 million. I think at least ½ of their staff are young beautiful, women between the ages of 20-30, and the rest are older men.
In the afternoon went to the Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum and saw a wonderful exhibit called “Color Moves – Art and Fashion by Sonia Delaunay, 1885-1979 (March 18 through June 5, 2011). It’s her first major U.S. exhibition in 30 years. There was everything from sketches, to materials, to hats, to swimsuits, to dresses, to rugs, to furniture. Most impressive was the Gloria Swanson coat. It looked much better than this image because it was on a mannequin, had a high color and the pattern on the body was amazing.
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coat for Gloria Swanson, 1923-24
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Dress, 1925–28
Beginning with Delaunay’s “poem dresses” of the 1910s, synthesizing word, body and movement, and moving into the Simultaneous Boutique (1925) where driving caps, bathing suits and coats from this period are displayed, the garments are “pure geometric forms in rhythmic patterns and brilliant colors.”
Bathing suit (tunic), 1924–25, silk embroidery on wool jersey, Musée de l’Impression sur Étoffes, Mulhouse, 980.629.1 © L & M SERVICES B.V. The Hague 20100623
wool swimsuit
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of three fabric samples, Design 198, 1927
The second part of the exhibition surveys Delaunay’s textile work for the Metz Co department store in Amsterdam and includes initial sketches, process design and finished products.
“Rythme Coloré (Colored Rhythm),” oil on canvas work from 1946 by Sonia Delaunay.
Wonderful fashion design. Thanks Carol.
Thanks Dvora. I believe she was about 15 years older than Anni Albers. Her designs IMO influenced Anni Albers.
Lovely. Thank you again. Sonia Delaunay's work is much more interesting than finding out whether or not The Dance is in the stairway of the MOMA.
Oh, I was going to go to the MET to take a closer look at a Pollock painting. Last time I went to MoMA The Dance was in the stairway.
NY really has such an abundance of culture. What a great place. Problem is it's 30 degrees there now!
It was beautiful Thursday -- sunny, about 45 degrees and no wind!Are you still in sunny Florida?
Theres a blizzard happening in Detroit. Yes I'm in Miami. Paradise.
Do you find that works of art that have been reduced to basic forms and lines are more powerful, visually and emotionally? Curator of Korean art Soyoung Lee reflects on the appeal of abstraction.
Are you drawn to abstract art? Do you prefer more "realistic" depictions?
Pardon my short answer but no, no and yes:)
Short and sweet, Monica...I like it!
I'll echo Monica's short and sweet response. Abstract art does nothing for me; I prefer more realistic representations.
I didn't have much appreciation for abstract art where it's just lines and forms. However when docenting a Wexner Center exhibit of Mark Bradford's abstract art last year, I found that his style of abstract painting was very appealing.
A few of his abstract paintings were unbelievably beautiful and were a combination of abstract and realistic styles.
Also Katy Moran's abstract works were exhbited this year and many of her abstract paintings had a realistic aspect to them and were great to view.
Interesting, I've liked some, not connected with others.. here's a very appealing abstract artist.[image error]
Mary Ann Wakeley http://www.maryannwakeley.com/
and
Jeane Meyer's work is lovely. I can't get an image of her's to upload, but here's her website. Very evocative art work.
http://www.jeanemyers.com/large-view/...
Matthew Harris's work is very appealing to me as well.
http://www.matthewharriscloth.co.uk/c...
I'm not saying I wouldn't mind a Mark Rothko or Ellsworth Kelly, but given the choice I'd take a Parmigianino any day.
I haven't heard of Jeane Myers work, but I think I like it. Thanks for introducing her to me, Lorie!
Heather wrote: "Do you find that works of art that have been reduced to basic forms and lines are more powerful, visually and emotionally? Are you drawn to abstract art? Do you prefer more "realistic" depictions?"I love so many different artworks. I believe that no matter what period of art, I am always drawn to artwork that is innovative in some way.
Whether it's using ordinary objects and creating a new environment like Tara Donovan; exploring material/medium (wood/wire) to create non-conventional items like Martin Puryear; or things that totally surprise you & require more of your attention like Lee Bontecou's work. I like a variety of mediums (not just paint) like the glass work of Josef Albers or Anni Alber's cloth work or Maya Lin's earth project. I'm a big fan of texture.
Tara Donovan (she received the MacArthur "Genius" Grant.)
Martin Puryear,
Lee Bontecou
Josef Albers
Anni Albers, City
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Maya Lin
I also love still life of the 17th century which I would say was innovative by depicting objects in a still life that could remind viewers of worldly vanity or temperance. And their painting skills were amazing.
Willem Claesz Heda
I suppose I find some abstract art attractive or interesting, but I don't think it ever moves me like more representation art can.
I really like that Tara Donovan above. What is that made of?I can appreciate some abstract art and it can move me according to my mood and the emotions it evokes. When talking about abstract art, I keep in mind that every century movement has 'abstract' art during that time. For example, Matisse could be considered Abstract.
"Henri Matisse (1869 to 1954) was one of the most famous of abstract artists working during the twentieth century".
Read more: What Is Abstract Artwork? | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/facts_4911752_wha...
Matisse is one of my favorite artists anyway.
I love that Tara Donovan work, too. it looks like sheets/fabric. amazing! Well done!
I think my reading, and therefore my attraction to or repulsion of realism is more instantaneous, while abstract works take more work and more time to take in an form an opinion of (be it positive or negative.)
I like both abstraction and realism. Agree, Tara Donovan is great. Mostly she makes her stuff out of surprising components, like styrofoam cups and such.
Martin Puryear is a genius.
Here's another image --
Donovan's medium is transparent polyester film. "For a piece she made especially for the ICA Boston show (above), Donovan simply looped and folded translucent plastic sheeting inside a long rectangular slot cut into a wall of the museum. It forms a kind of deep, fluid window that people on either side can look through." -- Time magazine
Currently, The Pace Gallery in New York is presenting a Large-Scale Installation by Tara Donovan -- her mylar artwork.
video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUn0TO...
And her straight pin drawings at at 510 West 25th Street, NYC. There is a great video (which I can't find) shows much more than the image below.
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detail
Ruth, have you seen any recent work by Puryear? He exhibited at MoMA in 2007; SFMOMA in Jan. 2009 and I have not seen any other exhibits. Only this work --
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Untitled bronze, 2010
http://www.donaldyoung.com/puryear/ma...
Don't think so, Carol. I spent a great deal of time at his show at the Los Angeles Mus of Contemp Art, back in the '90s sometime. It was wonderful.Not sure I like the bronze you found. Looks too much like mid 20th century stuff. His earlier work was unique.
I completely agree. I really like his wood, wicker & wire work. But since he does it by hand, it might be too much. He turns 70 in May.
Damn! After highlighting the Picasso exhibit for you that I saw yesterday in Richmond, I must have touched a key on my netbook that deleted the whole thing. Let me quickly try again since this is about abstract art.Displayed in the galleries of the VMFA's new contemporary wing, this is the only East Coast venue for Picasso's masterpieces from the Musee National, Paris. And what an exhibit!
Representing his academic style, the stunnng 1917 portrait of his wife Olga, the Russian ballerina and mother of their son Paulo, is a personal favorite. This is exacty the way in which Picasso was painting at age 14 when his father realized what extraordinary ablity his son possessed.
I can't say I've ever been particularly enamoured of abstract art but this exhibit was an eye-opener! Abstract portraits of Picasso's lovers exemplify both his mastery of cubism and his rapacious sexual appetite. Picasso admitted that his love of particular females accounts for much of his creativity. Then, I'm dumbfounded by his mesmerizing 1954 abstract depiction of Jacqueline, Picasso's second wife, that reduces her to a series of intense lines and planes.
I could go on indefinitely, but suffice it to say that this exhibit changed my mind about abstract art. If you live othe East Coast, make an effort to see this.
Art Lovers
Books mentioned in this topic
Leaving Van Gogh (other topics)Point and Line to Plane (other topics)
Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling (other topics)
Yes indeed, I traveled to Florence to see an exhibit by Caravaggio and I would go back again in a heartbeat. Also a few years back there was a wonderful Monet exhibit in the Bellagio, Las vegas. I tried to win enough money to purchase one but only fell short by about fifty million.