Week 11

1. Explain why you selected each of the FOUR videos you choose from the selection listed above.

I Chose these four videos because I wanted to expand my knowledge on topics that were mentioned in the text but that would now be further explained.

2. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.

Matisse & Picasso:

·      By 1905 both Matisse and Picasso were finally recognized for their amazing art works.

·      Matisse was known to be deliberate, French, and rational.

·      Picasso was impulsive, a hard worker, and immersed himself into his work.

·      Picasso invented collage and cubism.

·      Matisse was very much inspired by Paris.

·      When he moved to NYC in 1930 he won the Carnegie Prize.

·      Then goes to Tahiti and stayed for a couple months.

·      Picasso never traveled.

·      Matisse was afraid of painting season he thought he wouldn’t have inspiration.  He made painting a job where Picasso didn’t stop until his art was finished.

·      Matisse and Picasso used each other for techniques.

·      In WWII they both lived in Paris, darkness and violence are prevalent in Matisse’s work.

·      They moved to South France where Picasso at age 70 fathers 2 kids.

Dance at the Moulin de la Galette:

·      Renoir's "Dance at the Moulin de la Galette" stands for pleasure and transports the viewer back in time to Paris.

·      "Dance at the Moulin de la Galette" depicts a sunny Sunday afternoon at one of Renoir's favorite Montmartre haunts, with its dance hall and windmills. Renoir painted two copies of the scene, which became the epitome of Impressionism.   

·      He engaged local people as models for "Dance at the Moulin de la Galette," which represented two worlds: bohemian and fashionable men and lower class women.     

·      Although you may not know Renoir was aware of the poverty and organized charity balls.

·      Renoir's "Dance at the Moulin de la Galette" was conceived and created during a time of political oppression, with Montmartre in the forefront of the troubles. The state built the Basilica of Sacré Coeur in Montmartre to atone for the crimes during the siege.    

·      Other artists, such as Federico Zandomeneghi, Toulouse-Lautrec, Picasso, and Van Gogh, did not share Renoir's romantic vision of life at the Moulin de la Galette. Their paintings of the dance hall depict sinister, somber, and dark versions.   

·      Renoir's smaller version of "Dance at the Moulin de la Galette" has remained in private collections. In 1990, it sold for a $78.1 million at Sotheby's to Ryoei Saito, a Japanese paper tycoon. Art critics claim its commodity aspect superseded its aesthetic aspect

·      Renoir wanted to spread beauty and happiness.

A Sunday on La Grande Jatte:

·      Georges Seurat's enigmatic "La Grande Jatte" hangs in the Art Institute of Chicago. The artist is often described as unfathomable, a description that is apt for his famous painting as well.    

·      In Seurat's day, the island of la Grande Jatte was a place where prostitutes plied their trade. The riverbanks were often covered with couples making love.

·      “La Grande Jatte" portrays a great array of bourgeoisie in their stiff in the evolution of "La Grande Jatte" Seurat did not execute his pointillism technique until Ascension Day, 1884.

·      In a series of studies for the final painting, Seurat experimented with different characters, character placements, and light.    

·      The little girl in the center of "La Grande Jatte" is dressed in white, looks directly out to the viewer, and is the only subject not covered with dots. Seurat's depiction of fashion emphasizes bustles and corsets, and he paints the figures like the popular fashion plates of his day.    

Expressionism:

·      An 1892 Berlin exhibition of Munch's work caused such outrage it was closed. His uncompromising portrayal of emotion caused deep offense to the bourgeois mentality but won him acclaim. He often translated his work into other media like lithography.    

·      Munch shared his pessimistic view of sexual relationships with Swedish dramatist August Strindberg and German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. "Melancholy" and "Ashes" belong to "Frieze of Life - A Poem about Life, Love and Death."    

·      Munch never painted a picture cycle as such but most of his works can be loosely related to each other.

·      In Marc's "Tiger" there may be intimations that a terrible war is not far away.

·      Between 1913 and 1915 Ernst Ludwig Kirchner painted a series of works featuring "tarts" on the streets of a busy city. They appear to be hurried and seem to turn the viewer into a voyeur

·      The "Women in the Street" series seems to contain premonitions of the approaching disaster. Kirchner sensed the coming world war and his anxiety eventually led to a nervous break down.    

·      The figures in Baselitz's "The Great Friends" appear to be standing on a wasteland perhaps as the last survivors of a battle, which would explain many things about the painting. Upon closer inspection the setting becomes more confusing.    

2. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?

The film topics were all mentioned in the reading but now could be further explained in more detail. Also from the videos you get another opinion on the topics and artists which always makes them more interesting.

3. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the readings and art concepts?

I feel that the films always expand my knowledge and I always walk away learning more now then I did from the text. Watching the videos an viewing more art always helps. I enjoy these weekly. 

Week #10 Mask

Inspirations

African Igala Mask

This mask drew my attention becuase of the beautiful color and organic flow. The crown and war paint show royalty and importance. This mask may have been worn by an African warrior or prince.  The detail is amazing and the colors they were able to make are outstanding.  

Native American Hiada Mask

This mask made my laugh. His mustache captured my eye, as well as the bright blue paint. This mask is very symmetrical which is traditional for native American art. This mask depicts a Native American and does an awesome job because of the colors and his tan skin. This mask looks like it would be a western Native American Mask, maybe found in Arizona or New Mexico. Once again the colors are what attached me to this mask. 

Bolivian Diablo Mask

This mask is my favorite. The bright colors and detail are breath taking. This mask looks very asian inspired so i chose this because of its flow and bright colors. This mask has a sense of chaos and harmony at the same time. This may have been warn in war or for ceremonial purposes. 

I chose these three masks instantly because of their amazing bright colors. The brighter the colors the more beautiful the mask in my opinion. 

Some ideas:

FINAL MASK

For my mask i wanted there to be an element of symmetrical art as well as bright colors and a sense of flow. I used the tree masks above as inspiration. However if i were to do the mask again i would have left it white because i think the color would have popped more. Overall i am happy with my mask!! The websites definitely helped my find an inspiration. I chose traditional colors, red blue yellow green orange and purple. I wanted to used colors such as teal and fucia but i know these colors cant be made naturally and if i were to really make a mask i would use natural colors made from berries and such. 

Week #10 Video Blog

1. Explain why you selected each of the FOUR videos you choose from the selection listed above.

I chose African Art, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Chinese art because I wanted to learn more about them. They were all explained in the book but I am interested in finding out more about the pieces and inspirations, and how these cultures inspired other arts.

2. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.

African Art

·      Art is apart of everyday life in villages of sub Sahara were the traditions are still strong.

·      In sub sahara African aesthetic sense is shows in dress, hair styles and ornamentation rituals and art performance.

·      Egyptian and sahara art and architecture both show influences of agriculture. They show bronze castings that date back to the 15^th century.

·      In Zimbabwee A royal area in south east African shows how symbolic art and architecture is.

·      African art influences Picasso and othr painters

·      Supernatual powers are controlled in art objects. Magic and religion play a role in African art.

·      Masks are stylized and embellished. They are used to dances around fire.

Buddhism

·      Buddhist fact and legend intertwine in Bodha Gaya.

·      Tanha is the key to teaching and it’s the extinguishing of all desires and all things that feed the ego and enlightenment.

·      After his death Buddhism broke away into two parts Hinayana and mahanyana

·      In Carmel NY the Chuan Yen Monastery is a building complex dedicated to Buddhism.

·      The largest statue of Buddha is here.

·      Buddhism started off by repudiating rituals, questions, prayer and the idea of a period god. Buddhism is now a symbol of these.

Hinduism

·      Varanasi is the holiest city in India and there is the River Ganges which is the symbol of life death and rebirth.

·      God and Goddess function are similar to Christian saints.

·      Their architecture it full of sculptures.

·      Shrines in Mamallapuram are carved from single boulders and are decorated.

·      Brahma meaning the Great Breath. Hinduism teaches that there are many ways to God and many gods symbolize them.

Chinese Art

·      Narcissus pot with rich lustrous glaze

·      We view a chicken bowl, and tea bowls from the Zhou dynasty and a Qing cylindrical curio cabinet. All in which are beautifully crafted.

·      Jade plays a big role in Chinese art

·      We view a perfumer decorated with dragon motifs

·      A wine warming vessel.

·      Floral prints also play a major role in Chinese art. We view a teapot with a landscape design.

·      Buddha- a golden Buddha in a lotus positions on a throne.

·      Chinese penmen ship is impeccable. We see calligraphy depicting a way scene. The Tang Dynasty court ladies play their music.

2. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?

Each of these videos elaborates more on the readings. They show more interesting pieces of art and explain the background of the culture more. These videos help me to understand the material more clearly.

3. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the readings and art concepts?

The films add depth to my understanding of the reading and art concepts because it is also good to hear or watch another view of the topic. I enjoyed seeing more pieces of art in these videos and learning about the different culture or Hinduism and Buddhism. These videos explain the overall concept of the text more clearly. Sometimes hard to understand, but overall I find them helpful.