Jose Clement Orozco was a politically active Mexican muralist that lived from 1883-1949. He studied at the San Carlos Academy for Fine Arts in Mexico City. Orozco was very realistic and precise in his paintings, he was dedicated to painting the truth in both subject matter and detail. His murals always have symbolic meaning, which usually pertained to politics and the sorrows of the time. His murals are not known for being cheerful and happy-go-lucky, but rather for depicting reality: cold, harsh, and brutal.
I chose his mural The Trench. This piece is sobering, there is little guess work needed to understand what Orozco wanted to portray. War is a desolate thing, leaving irreplaceable loved ones dead. This piece strikes a chord with me because I just finished two weekend showings of our Community Theatre’s production of Les Miserables and this painting reminded me of the barricade scene. History truly does repeat itself, doesn’t it? Sorrow and loss do not change over time, and blunt depictions of them whether on the stage, or frozen in the frame of a mural, still stir our hearts. In addition the harsh shadowing and red-hued paints add to the theme, emphasizing the bold truth.
The Trench. Jose Clemente Orozco. 1926.National Preparatory School, Mexico City. Mural. Retrieved from: https://classes.uaf.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_97252_1%26url%3D
Solitude. Hama Goro. natural paint on texitile
(2.50/1.40m) 1996.
Hama Goro is an African painter born in Dinangourou. He studied art at the Institute National des Arts in Bamako. He uses a technique called the Bolgolan technique, where he makes his paintings as naturally and as much from nature as possible, including making his own paints. Most of his paintings include social and political tones. In the piece I chose: Solitude Goro’s emphasis was on the stillness and tranquility that the African people enjoy. Often in American life silence and tranquility are things feared, but in many eastern cultures they are something sought. I love how this painting catches the look of dedicated concentration in the seated man so well, as it appears sky scrapers tower over the gentleman on both sides. The emphasis between light and dark is also very striking. The hues from the natural paints also help to set the mood of the entire piece.
Hama Goro. Solitude. 1996. natural paint on textile 2.5 cm x 1.40 m. Retrieved from:http://www.africaserver.nl/virtual/exhibitions/hama/eng/hama8.htm
Environmental Art
This exhibit is dedicated to those who created art that has not been preserved across the ages. As you wander through this exhibit you will notice that there are no original works, but rather photographs of the art. This is due to the fact that these pieces were not made to last, but to bedazzle for only a short time. Unlike the Mona Lisa few remember The Gates by Christo and Jean-Claude. This is because where the Mona Lisa is preserved in Musée du Louvre in Paris, The Gates is no longer in existence, and lives on only by photo documentation at exhibits such as this.
Our first featured Environmental artists are Christo and Jean-Claude. Christo and Jean- Claude where a married couple who inspired each other. They had international careers. Christo was born in Bulgaria 06/13/1935 and Jean-Claude was born in Casablanca on 06/13/1935. Christos studies fine arts in Bulgaria and Austria, as Jean Claude studied at the University of Tunis.
Christo
Wrapped Trees
(Project for the Fondation Beyeler and Berower Park, Riehen, Switzerland)
Collage 1998
17 x 22″ (43.2 x 55.9 cm)
Photo: Wolfgang Volz
© 1998 Christo Retrieved from:
179 trees were wrapped at a park around the Fondation Beyeler from 11/22/1998- 12/14/1998. Though this extraordinary art lasted only a brief time, many pictures were taken, capturing the beauty.
Christo
The Umbrellas
(Joint Project for Japan and USA)
Drawing 1989 in two parts
15 x 96″ and 42 x 96″ (38 x 244 cm and 106.6 x 244 cm)
Photo: Wolfgang Volz
© 1989 Christo
Ref. # 48 Retrieved from:
Numerous umbrella were installed and viewed by the public from 10/9/1991- 10/27/1991 in both California and Japan. The whole project cost 26 million dollars, but was only appreciated for 20 days.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude
The Wall – 13,000 Oil Barrels, Gasometer, Oberhausen, Germany, 1998-99
Photo: Wolfgang Volz
© 1999 Christo
These barrel wall was available to be views from 04/06/1999 to 10/1999. Though the colors of the barrels seem random, the design was pre-determined. Though the cost and size of this display was impressive, everything was dismantled after its short viewing and returned to its normal use.
Our second featured environmental artist is Julian Beever. Julian Beever is a British chalk artist who uses anamorphosis to create the illusion of three dimensions in his drawings when viewed from a certain angle. In addition to chalk drawings, Julian Beever also makes fine art painting and has done several murals.
Feeding the Fish by Julian Beever, Date created unknown, location unknown, chalk on pavement.
For this chalk drawing Julian Beever used the different tiles of the location and optical illusion to creat a realistic depiction of a pond. Due to this drawing’s materials it would have only lasted a few days and only been appreciated by those who happened to pass by it.
The Rescue by Julian Beever, Date created unknown, location unknown, chalk on pavement.
Julian Beever used extra skill to create this piece, as it was meant to be vied in an inverted mirror in order to truly appreciate the scene. It would have made a perfect trick food April fool’s day, but probably lasted only a few days based on the foot traffic and weather.
Times Square in Times Square by Julian Beever. Date created unknown. Time Square New York City, New York.
How neat would it be to be gawking at the views of Time Square above and glancing at your feet and seeing the same grandeur beneath your feet? One of the difficulties that probably hampered Julian Beever with this piece was the high foot traffic of the location, but that would also give the bonus of a greater audience, and more publicity. Still despite the masses that pass through Time Square, this piece is probably still very little known around the world.
In parting, I hope that you have found a better appreciation for fleeting art. It doesn’t take a marble sculpture, or paint and canvas to make art. A sunset, a wrapped tree, or a chalk drawing can all be art as well, and are just as worthy of our notice and appreciation.
Gray Tree
The Gray Tree
When learning about the numerous art movements that took place in the early modern era, it was Piet Mondrian’s Gray Tree that really stood out to me. Though Mondrian is known for his contribution of De Stijl art, he dabbled in naturalism, impressionism, and cubism as well. Gray Tree was painted in 1912 when Mondrian was influenced by the cubism movement. The cubism movement was one of the four styles of the avant-garde movement, which took place before WWI. Avant-garde with all its styles was the complete departure from tradition and strict form; it was born out of impressionism, but shocked the world further with its outrageous colors, and complete abstract form. This movement was greatly influenced by the world wars. Many artists wanted to portray the horrors of war, others wanted to provided a diversion from them, but all wanted to make art that showed the world from different views.
What I liked about Piet Mondrian’s Gray Tree was that fact that I could still identify what it was, but could still obviously see the contrasting angles and multi-views that the cubists pioneered. I also love the misty, early-morning feel of the painting. I could easily imagine such a tree being seen through a fog with the first rays of dawn filtering through. It also reminds me of a cobweb, in a way, with all the interlocking dark strokes, rather fitting for this time of year.
Piet Mondrian. Gray Tree, 1912. Oil on canvas 78.5 × 107.5 cm
Impressionism
When first introduced to the art world impressionism was met with very mixed reviews. In fact the origin the style was derived from a snide comment by an art critic. To me, impressionism is to art what incidentals and dissonance were to music. It shook things up, it rubbed people the wrong way, but still managed to be beautiful.
Claude Monet is an excellent example of impressionism, he painted outdoor scenes with the invention of the metal paint tube, and would paint the same scene over and over, mixing the hues of paint together on the spot, instead layering like the days of old. One of the reasons impressionists painted so loosely, was do to the need for speed. Their subject matter was often fleeting moments outdoors, which could rapidly change in light texture and in the movements of the subjects themselves. An example of this would be the numerous paintings Claude Monet did of the Japanese foot-bridge over the water lilly pond in Giverny.
The leap from impressionism to post impressionism is extensive. The loose brush strokes and out door scenes continued, but now, for some, almost all sense of form was thrown out the window. Paul Gauguin kept pretty close to the impressionist themes, but artists like George Seurat produced something completely different with pointillism. A Sunday on La Grande Jatte, by Seurat is something entirely different from Vincent van Gogh’s, A Starry Night. Where one is so meticulously formed to the point of falling flat, the other is nearly without form as colors are swirled around, literally, in some semblance of trees, houses, and mountains.
Refrences:
Claude Monet. The Japanese Footbridge, 1988. Oil on canvas. 81.3cm x 101.6cm
Georges Seurot. A Sunday on La Grande Jatte, 1884. Oil on canvas 207.5 x 308.1 cm
Vincent van Gogh. Starry Night, 1889. Oil on canvas 73.7cm x 92.1cm
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart composed The Magic Flute in 1791. This opera of two acts was considered a singspiel because it had both sung and spoken lines, instead of straight arias and recitatives. Of all his opera’s this is one of the two most well-known and most performed, the Marriage of Figaro also being high amongst his famous works.
The general synopsis of the story is that Tamino, a young, handsome prince sets off with Papageno, I bird catcher, on a quest to find their true loves. Tamino has fallen in love with the Queen of the night’s daughter, Pamina, who is being held prisoner by the queen’s enemy, Sarastro. In order to free Pamino, Tamino has to successfully complete three challanges put forth by the priests of Isis and Osiris. Tamino is assisted on this quest by the gift of a magic flute, and Papageno by the gift of magic bells. After completing these challenges, Tamino is united with Pamina and along the way Papageno finds his true love in Papagena.
This opera is well-known, having been featured in movies like Amadeus, and performed by troupes world round. What is interesting about this opera is that it is a mixture of simplicity and complexity. Some roles’ singing parts are more like spoken lyrics, and others, like the famous aria The Queen of the Night are known for their technicality and challenging runs and intervals. The story, though a generic love quest, is beautiful and made fresh by characters like Papageno, who brings a lot of comic relief to the tale.
Since it premiered, The Magic Flute has been popular among the masses. This may have been because it was written in German, or because it was also performed for “common” audiences, or perhaps because of the fame of the composer. Whatever the appeals of The Magic Flute, they are lasting, for this is an Opera still performed widely today.
Here are the lyrics for The Queen of the Night, the famous aria sung by Pamina’s mother, there is aslo an English translation included.
QUEEN OF THE NIGHT
Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen, Hells Revenge cooks in my heart,
Tot und Verzweiflung flammet um mich her! Death and despair flame about me!
Fühlt nicht durch dich Sarastro If Sarastro does not through you feel
Todesschmerzen, The pain of death,
So bist du meine Tochter nimmermehr. Then you will be my daughter nevermore.
Verstoßen sei auf ewig, Disowned may you be forever,
Verlassen sei auf ewig, Abandoned may you be forever,
Zertrümmert sei’n auf ewig Destroyed be forever
Alle Bande der Natur All the bonds of nature,
Wenn nicht durch dich If not through you
Sarastro wird erblassen! Sarastro becomes pale! (as death)
Hört, Rachegötter, Hear, Gods of Revenge,
Hoert der Mutter Schwur! Hear a mother’s oath!
One of my favorite Baroque musical pieces, and also one of my favorite all-time instrumental pieces is Antonio Vivaldi’s Winter, part of his Four Seasons, composed in 1723. Antonio Vivaldi had an interesting set of patrons, some were foreign royalty, like King Louis XV, and others, though noble were a little more circumvented. Vivaldi remained the Maestro di concerti for Ospedale della Pietà for most of his career, the Ospedale della Pietà was an orphanage of sorts for the daughters of noblemen begotten of assignations and dalliance.
What I love about Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and especially Winter is that it perfectly captures the essence of winter in sound. Vivaldi wrote his Four Seasons to accompanied verse which were reportedly written by him. If one reads these verses while listening to the music one can hear the chattering of teeth, the rushing of the skis of a sleigh over the packed snow, and the blowing of the wind. The music paints a mental picture that even the most uneducated listener can understand and discern.
Sorry I am not very tech savvy but above is a link to a youtube video and below are the verses Antonio Vivaldi had accompany Winter.
Winter – Concerto in f-minor
Allegro non molto
Shivering, frozen mid the frosty snow in biting, stinging winds;
running to and fro to stamp one’s icy feet, teeth chattering in the bitter chill.
Largo
To rest contentedly beside the hearth, while those outside are drenched by pouring rain.
Allegro
We tread the icy path slowly and cautiously, for fear of tripping and falling.
Then turn abruptly, slip, crash on the ground and, rising, hasten on across the ice lest it cracks up.
We feel the chill north winds coarse through the home despite the locked and bolted doors…
this is winter, which nonetheless brings its own delights.
Lydia Anderson
Aesthetic Appreciation: Interrelation of Art Drama and Music
Lisa Kljaich
Blog #1
The Birth of Venus
The Birth of Venus
Sandra Boticelli created The Birth of Venus in Florence, Italy in 1490. This tempera painting depicts the mythical goddess Venus as she is blown to the island of Cyprus by the wind god Zypher and his wife Chloris after having just been born from the sea foam. Also in the painting is the goddess of summer, Hora who welcomes Venus to land and offers her a cloak to wear. This painting contains a lot of symbolism. The orange trees in the background serve to represent the coming spring and the fact that the Medici family commissioned the piece (The Medici’s had an orange tree growing in their garden). What was unusual about this piece is the fact that it is of a mythical goddess, when most paintings of the time were of Christian subjects, and on top of that this pagan goddess is painted as a chaste, virtuous nude (Hill). I appreciated the beauty of Venus and the way Boticelli effectively portrayed a story in this one painting, where other artists of his era used triptychs and diptychs to help tell a story. What I love most is Venus’s face and hair. Boticelli was able to capture innocence and purity in her expression, and to use her long, blonde tresses to show that she is being blown, and also to help keep her modest.
Suzanne Hill. Meaning in “The Birth of Venus”. Classic Art History @ Suite 101. Mar. 31, 2007. Web Sept. 19, 2011. http://suzannehill.suite101.com/meaning_in_the_birth_of_venus-a17743
I believe that universities require students to take humanity courses so that they are better able to appreciate the world and culture they live in. Humanity courses better equip a student with the ability to observe the world and not take it just at face value, but rather delve into the “whys” and “hows” behind everything from advertisement coloring to presidential speeches.
My family is pretty artistic so I have grown up around visual art and its various concepts. I have never taken an art class before, but I am familiar with the most of the famous artists by name; when they lived and in which time period their art is categorized is where the extent of my knowledge ends.
I am a musician, so my relationship to music is a rather personal one. I enjoy playing my cello and violin, as well as singing. My interest in music ranges from classical to R&B and Soul. My general take on music is as a rule i enjoy it if I can understand what the vocalist is singing, and if it is “musical” not noise.
I have seen several live theatrical productions (as well as performed in many). My favorite live theatre experience was when I got to see “The Phantom of the Opera” on Broadway. The sets were spectacular, with such ingenious engineering utilized in order to accomplish the many hectic scene changes and dramatic special effects. The costumes were rich and very theme appropriate, the acting astounding, and the singing amazing.
I have taken several online courses before, and have developed a strategy of sorts to be sure everything is turned in on time. It usually takes a week or two for me to get in sync with the work flow of all my classes, but once this has happened i am able to budget my time based on the proximity of deadlines. I mark all assignment deadlines in my phone and map out time spaces that can be devoted to each assignment based on those deadlines. For the most part this works, it is only when unforeseen obstacles arise, that this method can become faulty.
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