Mexican Art: Frida Kahlo

Frida Kahlo born 1907 was one of four daughters in a family raised in a Mexico City suburb.  She had no intentions on becoming an artist but after a bus accident that put her in the hospital for a year, she began to paint with oils.  Her pieces are mostly self-portraits and still lives, combined with the Mexican folk art she loved.  She married the famous Mexican artist, Diego Rivera, who later took her to U.S. and France where she met other artists.  She did not become famous until after her death and after the publication of many books about her.

This piece, Autorretarto con Collre de Espinas y Colibri in 1940 has Frida Kahlo with things from nature around her.  She filled this piece with symbols of Christian martyrdom, the Resurrection, bad luck, death, love and the anguish of her divorce.  This includes an image of her pet monkey, a gift from Rivera, to represent the devil.  She planned on giving this painting to a lover, but instead sold it to pay her lawyer for her divorce.  When I first saw the piece I just liked it for the odd animals and such that were combined into this painting.  After research I realized the were symbols of her life.  I find this piece interesting and unique.  I like the butterflies they seem uplifting but then you look down and you see a black cat, black monkey and black bird, all which seem mean and evil.  That was the message, I think she was wanting to portray.

http://www.allposters.com/-sp/Autorretrato-con-Collar-de-Espinas-y-Colibri-c-1940-Posters_i1248608_.htm

African Art

Rigobert Nimi is an artist bon in Tshiela, Bas-Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo.  He brings engineer idealism into his to the commitment to better the world.    He uses his imagination and creativity as tools to relieve suffering and difficulties of life.  Since 2000 he has constructed many space ships and robot factories, each he calculates and sketches every step of the construction in advance. He tries to use recycled materials such as plastic, sheet metal, aluminum, etc.  These pieces can take more than 15 months to complete.

Ville Intergalactique created in 2005 was made from metal, aluminum, light bulbs, and electrical materials.  This piece probably of a robot factory reminds me of a big city, the lights that are seen when flying over head.  Also each section with the circles in front reminds me of slot machines in a casino.  What I really like is the combination of materials along with the colors.  The bright, intense colors that are awakening.

http://www.caacart.com/pigozzi-artist.php?i=Nimi-Rigobert&m=34&s=144

A Contemporary Virtual Exhibit

I have also had a strong interest in photography that includes nature, more particularly ones that involve water and sunsets or sunrises.  My theme I have chosen is going to be about the relaxation and calming, yet pleasurable feeling with view photography of nature.  I enjoy the combination of colors that can be mixed in photographs, such as purples and blues with reds during sunsets or sunrises.  I have chosen several different photos but most are from the photographer Stephen W. Oachs.  I found him on the internet and became fascinated with his work.

This one is by Troy Lily and is titled Magical Elakala Waterfall created I believe in 2008.  I was unable to find exactly where this was taken.  But, what I do enjoy about this picture was the bright colors.  The secluded feel, with the swirling water, small waterfalls, makes it seem right there.  I enjoy the feeling of being alone with this waterfall.

This is titled Scenery Wildlife Refuge in Michigan by Kevin Moss taken in April 2008.  All I know about this one is that it was taken on a refuge somewhere in Michigan.  What I like about this one is the color combination from the sky, that then reflects in the water.  I also like that little bit of trees and land in the center of the water, it seems to break up the line between the water and the sky.

This one is by Stephen W. Oachs and called Fire in the Hole.  It is on Pfeiffer Beach in Big Sur, California.  This is the light at the end of a day during Autumn.  I love the beam of light that enters through the rock wall, it brings out the spray of the water that much more.  This photo captures that sunset on water effect that I enjoy.

Also by Stephen W. Oachs, titled Sapphirine Horizon.  Taken at Pyramid lake on the Paiute Reservation north of Reno, Nevada.  This captures the sunset with an oncoming desert storm.  I like the placing of the rocks in the bottom of the photo.  I also like how you can see the sun setting, along with the desert storm approaching.

Another by Stephen W Oachs called Rodeo Beach Sunset.  Just north of the Golden Gate bridge at the Marin Headlands.  This piece is a favorite.  The coloring of the horizon is amazing.  I love how the color changes gradually but not making it seemed striped.  I also like the three rocks, it gives character to the photo.

The last, also by Stephen W. Oachs called Jurassic Discovery.  This photo was taken along the Columbia Gorge.  This gives a calming, relaxed feel, as if it is you and the waterfall.  This makes me feel like I am right there hearing the water fall.  I love how simple it is with just the color of water and rocks, with some moss.

So all these photos, even though taken from different photographers, all have the feel of one with nature.  All also have water present, most with a sunset involved.  The all have their own coloring, but all can give a relaxed feeling.

Cites used:

www.lighttheexpedition.com

http://www.betterphoto.com/gallery/dynoGallDetail.asp?photoID=5961928

http://www.forestwander.com/news/2008/08/28/troy-lilly-wv-nature-photographer/

Italian Renaissance

I chose Primavera by Sandro Botticelli, painted in 1480/1482.  I particularly like this piece for its coloring, I really enjoy the different red shades along with the brown and greens of the forest.  It creates a very calming picture but at the same time allows for many characters and many actions to be happening wihout that overwhelming feel.

The Medici family hired on Botticelli to create pieces of art to their liking.  It is also said that many of his paintings were for the Medici family and he most often based his paintings on mythology and the requests of the family.  They also bought many other paintings from artists to help support their work, along with keeping and creating new artistic styles.

This painting was hung in a bedroom of a bride to a member of the Medici family.  This painting, which represents Venus, the woman in the center, along with other gods and goddesses.  The central theme of Primavera is said to be of love and marriage, which could bring forth sensuality and fertility.  To me could be the reason as to why this theme was creating considering the use was to be to a woman, who they more likely than not, wanted to bring in more members.

The man on the left is Mercury, who is separating the clouds so spring can come through the winter clouds.  Cupid is above Venus, known for his attempts at taking apart marriages.  Venus is surrounded y the Three Graces, which portrays chastity, beauty and love.  The representation of the fruit and flowers is that of fertility which is expected in marriages.  There is also the orange grove growing in the back, which the Medici family also had on their estate.

There are also many other details that could be brought out from this painting and contribute to the theme of love and marriage.  It brings to my attention though, that everyone could look at this painting and receive different meanings or different details.  I particularly enjoy how much meaning can be found in this painting, that are more so hidden throughout the painting.

Information from: 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

Early Modern

The City Rises by Umberto Boccioni created in 1910, depicts buildings under construction in the background, while men and horses are merged together in efforts of rebuilding.  This painting portrays the new construction of a city with modern technologies and necessities. This painting is considered the first real futurism painting by Umberto Boccioni.

This art technique was before World War 1 and could have possibly been to depicted the new inventions in technology.  This could have represented a time were cities were coming together to rebuild and include those new technologies.  These cities could have been trying to improve their way of living.

While this painting was before World War 1 and the Great Depression happened after that, looking at this you could see that maybe these were the employees hired by the Works Progress Administration.  I understand that painting the future is a little irrational, but without knowing when this was painted and some history behind, it could be suggested that this was painted to represent that program.

“The City Rises (Boccioni).” 15 January 2010. Wikipedia. 6 April 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_City_Rises_(Boccioni)>

Impressionism

I feel as though, I’m sure like many others that Impressionist art varied drastically from one artist to another.  It seemed as though some artist used the technique of dabs of color that blend together and loose brush strokes, while other artists used less amounts of color and used more lines as formations of objects.  But all impressionist artists did contain an impression of some sort, whether it be of family or objects, every piece of art had an impression that was meant for the viewer.  I have not quite figured out if I like Impressionism, I think I fit in the undetermined category.  It seems as though when I very art from either Impressionist or Post-Impressionist, I only like some of the art and the other pieces of art do not put any impression on me when I view it.

For instance, a piece of art I enjoy is Starry, Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh created in Saint Remy in 1889.  I enjoy the beam of light surrounding the moon and stars with the contrast of the blues of the sky.  I also enjoy the swirling of the sky; it draws the viewer in to catch a better look.

Another piece from this time I enjoy is The Cradle by Berthe Morisot painted in Paris in 1872.  I enjoy the combination of paint used for the drapery and how it looks as though it was mixed right on the canvas itself.  I also like how there is fine detail in the faces but the hair and clothing is of loose brush strokes, I feel as though it adds to the piece.

Whereas with Untitled (The Child’s Bath) by Mary Cassatt created in 1893, does not seem to have loose brush strokes and dabs of color.  There seems to be a lot of attention to detail, which with my understanding, Impressionists used loose brush strokes.  I feel as though all painting can have an impression, I just do not see the techniques for Impressionists described, used in the piece.

As I mentioned above, I feel as though every piece is meant to have an impression on the audience.  I feel that not all of the pieces and artists mentioned in the Impressionist time, did not use the techniques that were described to be of artists during the Impressionist era.

Classical Era: Surprise Symphony

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJDWh9F3Vig

The Surprise Symphony by Franz Joseph Haydn was created in 1791 in London.  Haydn’s music contained many jokes, the Surprise Symphony containing the most famous: a fortissimo chord at the end of a piano opening theme.  As I listened to this symphony, it was rather awakening the sudden, intense fortissimo chord.  I felt that this symphony did it more than just once.  It would allow for the audience to be calm and relaxed, but then out of nowhere become loud and awakened. I think that when I listened to this symphony it made me think of the rise of the middle class.  During the calm and relaxed pieces it made me think of the middle class considering ideas to rise.  While during the loud and awakening parts, the middle class was rising.  This “rollercoaster” effect is a way of showing how it was for the middle class to rise.  It did not just come to them, it was a gradual change.

I also enjoyed this to listen while relaxing or doing something else.  I enjoyed the changes in the music throughout the whole piece.  It was very drastic, from one end of the spectrum to the other.  I enjoyed that while listening you never knew what would come next, you had to wait and see.  It was very relaxing in some parts, made me visualize being outdoors with birds singing.  This would probably have to be one of my favorite pieces.

Baroque Era: Girl With A Pearl Earring

Girl With A Pearl Earring, oil on canvas, painted during the time of 1665-1667 Johannes Vermeer in Delft.  This painting is a great representation of the rise of the merchant class in Holland and Europe.  The pearl earring represents the trade that flourished and the money that went into the pockets of the merchant public.  The Eastern products became popular to Holland and all over Europe.  Popularity in silks and Eastern fashions grew.  In the painting, the girl is wearing a turban, which is an Eastern style matched with her Dutch dress.  This mixing of cultural styles was made possible by the rise of the merchant class.

I find this piece of art amazing.  The contrast of a dark background mixed with the focus of the painting being lighter is great.  It makes the girl pop out of the picture that much more and allows for the purpose of the painting to be more recognized.  I feel that Vermeer did a great job representing the rise of the merchant class with this painting.  While it is very simple, it makes it more captivating.  The look on the girls face as she is turning and looking at the viewer, allows for the viewer to feel captured towards the painting.  I also like the color choices.  While I do not like the yellow cape, I do like how he added the blue to make the picture seem more awakening.  Also, the technique of how her face is painted makes it look realistic.  From the tone of her eyes and face to the tone of her lips.  This piece, to me, shows the rise of the merchant class, with a great representation.

Hello world!

Hello,  I am doing this blog due to requirements in my art class.  I am going to admit that I am usually not very good with keeping up on my blogs.  I feel as though I tend to ramble on and on.  I will try to keep up with this blog.  So let’s beginning and see how it goes.