Postmodern Art - a movement in Western art, spanning from the late 1970s until the present, rejects the key ideas of modernism. The traits associated with the use of the term postmodern in art include bricolage, use of text as the central artistic element, collage, appropriation, a return to traditional themes and techniques as a rejection of modernism, and depictions of consumer or popular culture.
Pastiche - a literary, artistic, musical, or architectural work that imitates the style of previous work or an artistic composition made up of selections from different works.
Bricolage - the construction or creation of a work of art from a diverse range of things which happen to be available.
Graffiti - images or lettering scratched, scrawled, painted or marked in any manner on property. Generally regarded as vandalism, the postmodern era has recognized it as a legitimate artform.
Pluralism - a postmodern movement in art that assumes the cultural context of art should be all encompassing in its respect for the art of the world's wide variety of cultures and artistic styles, and that diverse cultural and stylistic influences can coexist in a work of art.
Appropriation - an artistic concept in which an artist uses an image already in existence and places it in a new context in order to give it new meanings.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Manet Vs. Titian
Below are images of the Titian and Manet paintings that you will be asked to compare and contrast on the final exam:
Edouard Manet
Olympia
1863
Titian
Venus of Urbino
1538
FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE
The final exam will cover chapters 15-25 and this is how it will be constructed:
Study hard, and good luck to everyone. If you have taken good notes, if you have read the chapters, and if you have spent some time really trying to understand the "Terms Of The Day" then this exam shouldn't be difficult for you.
20 vocabulary terms (match the term to its definition) worth 1 point each.
40 multiple choice questions worth 1 point each
2 essays focussing on conversations we've had in class (The 3 Davids and Titian vs. Manet) worth 15 points each.
1 essay focussing on a new artwork you have not seen before in this class worth 10 points.
The 20 vocabulary terms will be pulled directly from the "Terms Of The Day" lists I have given you at the beginning of every class period. Study these lists well enough to be able to match each term on the left side of the page with its particular definition on the right side of the page, just like the mid-term.
The 40 multiple choice questions come from both the class lectures and from the book. There will be a few questions on the test that we never addressed in class; they come directly from the book. However, for brevity's sake, and to give you less to study, I WILL NOT give any questions from chapters that we did not cover in class at all. The exam questions will range from those that test how well you understand the definitions of terms to questions about specific artworks that you have seen, to questions about the artists themselves.
Let me give you two example questions (yes, these will be on the test just as you see them here):
Pablo Picasso's oil painting entitled Portrait of Ambroise Vollard is an example of which modern movement in art?
A. Impressionism
B. Surrealism
C. Cubism
D. Pop Art
During the late 16th century, the Catholic church launched a series of internal reforms, which spawned much of the Baroque period of art. These internal reforms were collectively called:
A. Reformation
B. Counter Reformation
C. Confucianism
D. Rococo
The best advice I can give you on how to study for this portion of the exam is to comb through all your notes you've taken in class, remind yourself of all the main concepts you've learned, familiarize yourself with all the "Terms Of The Day," and to make sure you have read the material in the book. Pay special attention to how each artwork serves as an example to illustrate a concept (in other words, Monet's painting is an example of Impressionism, David was a painter of the Neoclassical era). Don't just depend on what I have told you in class. Yes, 90% of these questions will come directly from lecture. But you don't want to be thrown off by the questions that are based on the book alone.
The two essay topics focussing on conversations we had in class will be phrased as follows (again, yes, I'm telling you exactly what will be on the test):
1. Compare and contrast the three sculptures, all titled David, by Donatello, Michelangelo, and Bernini. What do these works have in common? How do they differ from one another? What does each sculpture tell us about the place and time period in which it was created?
2. Compare and contrast Titian’s painting Venus Of Urbino and Manet’s painting Olympia. What do these works have in common? How do they differ from one another? What does each sculpture tell us about the artist’s opinion of what role art should play in society?
There will be a printed reproduction of each painting in the exam for you to look at while working on the essays.
The best way to study for these essays is to look at the images themselves (they can all be found on this blog HERE and HERE) and think back to those group conversations about them. (We will have our conversation about Titian and Manet when we get back from Thanksgiving Break.) Click HERE for a very concise compare-and-contrast of the 3 Davids on WikiAnswers. Click HERE for an article about Titian and Manet's paintings and how they portray the roles of women. That doesn't exactly answer the essay question, but the article points out some interesting differences.
The final essay topic will focus on a printed reproduction of a work of art you have not seen in this class yet and it will be phrased like this:
You have not seen the above artwork in this class thus far. Write a response to the work that takes into account what you have learned about art this semester. Don’t just describe what you see. Bring this work into conversation with the concepts you have been studying. What kind of art is this? In which art historical period do you think this work was made? What might the work tell us about the time period in which the artist lived, or the artist him/herself? Do you see any iconography, symbols, or choices of the artist that point to the work's content/meaning? Etc., etc.
This is meant to test how well you have been paying attention to the concepts you've been learning in this class. If you understand these topics and concepts well enough to apply them to a work you have not seen before, then you have made good use of your semester. Try practicing on the two images below (no, these will not be on the exam). Think about the wording of the essay topic above and consider what you might write about each of these works:
The 20 vocabulary terms will be pulled directly from the "Terms Of The Day" lists I have given you at the beginning of every class period. Study these lists well enough to be able to match each term on the left side of the page with its particular definition on the right side of the page, just like the mid-term.
The 40 multiple choice questions come from both the class lectures and from the book. There will be a few questions on the test that we never addressed in class; they come directly from the book. However, for brevity's sake, and to give you less to study, I WILL NOT give any questions from chapters that we did not cover in class at all. The exam questions will range from those that test how well you understand the definitions of terms to questions about specific artworks that you have seen, to questions about the artists themselves.
Let me give you two example questions (yes, these will be on the test just as you see them here):
Pablo Picasso's oil painting entitled Portrait of Ambroise Vollard is an example of which modern movement in art?
A. Impressionism
B. Surrealism
C. Cubism
D. Pop Art
During the late 16th century, the Catholic church launched a series of internal reforms, which spawned much of the Baroque period of art. These internal reforms were collectively called:
A. Reformation
B. Counter Reformation
C. Confucianism
D. Rococo
The best advice I can give you on how to study for this portion of the exam is to comb through all your notes you've taken in class, remind yourself of all the main concepts you've learned, familiarize yourself with all the "Terms Of The Day," and to make sure you have read the material in the book. Pay special attention to how each artwork serves as an example to illustrate a concept (in other words, Monet's painting is an example of Impressionism, David was a painter of the Neoclassical era). Don't just depend on what I have told you in class. Yes, 90% of these questions will come directly from lecture. But you don't want to be thrown off by the questions that are based on the book alone.
The two essay topics focussing on conversations we had in class will be phrased as follows (again, yes, I'm telling you exactly what will be on the test):
1. Compare and contrast the three sculptures, all titled David, by Donatello, Michelangelo, and Bernini. What do these works have in common? How do they differ from one another? What does each sculpture tell us about the place and time period in which it was created?
2. Compare and contrast Titian’s painting Venus Of Urbino and Manet’s painting Olympia. What do these works have in common? How do they differ from one another? What does each sculpture tell us about the artist’s opinion of what role art should play in society?
There will be a printed reproduction of each painting in the exam for you to look at while working on the essays.
The best way to study for these essays is to look at the images themselves (they can all be found on this blog HERE and HERE) and think back to those group conversations about them. (We will have our conversation about Titian and Manet when we get back from Thanksgiving Break.) Click HERE for a very concise compare-and-contrast of the 3 Davids on WikiAnswers. Click HERE for an article about Titian and Manet's paintings and how they portray the roles of women. That doesn't exactly answer the essay question, but the article points out some interesting differences.
The final essay topic will focus on a printed reproduction of a work of art you have not seen in this class yet and it will be phrased like this:
You have not seen the above artwork in this class thus far. Write a response to the work that takes into account what you have learned about art this semester. Don’t just describe what you see. Bring this work into conversation with the concepts you have been studying. What kind of art is this? In which art historical period do you think this work was made? What might the work tell us about the time period in which the artist lived, or the artist him/herself? Do you see any iconography, symbols, or choices of the artist that point to the work's content/meaning? Etc., etc.
This is meant to test how well you have been paying attention to the concepts you've been learning in this class. If you understand these topics and concepts well enough to apply them to a work you have not seen before, then you have made good use of your semester. Try practicing on the two images below (no, these will not be on the exam). Think about the wording of the essay topic above and consider what you might write about each of these works:
Study hard, and good luck to everyone. If you have taken good notes, if you have read the chapters, and if you have spent some time really trying to understand the "Terms Of The Day" then this exam shouldn't be difficult for you.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Terms Of The Day For November 19
Modern Art - artistic works produced during the period extending roughly from the 1860s to the 1970s, and denotes the style and philosophy of art in which the traditions of the past have been thrown aside in a spirit of experimentation.
Existentialism - a philosophical movement of the 19th and 20th centuries that assumes that, since the universe is chaotic and without order, people are entirely free and responsible for what they make of themselves.
Dada - a nihilistic art movement (especially in painting) that flourished in Europe early in the 20th century; based on irrationality and negation of the accepted laws of beauty.
Surrealism - an artistic movement and an aesthetic philosophy that aims for the liberation of the mind by emphasizing the critical and imaginative powers of the subconscious mind.
De Stijl - an early 20th century art movement advocating nonrepresentational art and universality by a reduction to the essentials of form and color; simplifying compositions to the vertical and horizontal directions, and using only primary colors and black and white.
The Harlem Renaissance - a period in the 1920s when African-American achievements in art and music and literature flourished, characterized by a deliberate reconnection with traditional and ancient African arts.
Abstract Expressionism - a New York school of painting characterized by freely created abstractions; includes action painting and color field.
Pop Art - a form of art, chiefly developed in the 1960s, that depicts objects or scenes from everyday life and employs techniques of commercial art and popular illustration.
Minimalism - a movement in various forms of art and design where the work is stripped down to its most fundamental features.
Existentialism - a philosophical movement of the 19th and 20th centuries that assumes that, since the universe is chaotic and without order, people are entirely free and responsible for what they make of themselves.
Dada - a nihilistic art movement (especially in painting) that flourished in Europe early in the 20th century; based on irrationality and negation of the accepted laws of beauty.
Surrealism - an artistic movement and an aesthetic philosophy that aims for the liberation of the mind by emphasizing the critical and imaginative powers of the subconscious mind.
De Stijl - an early 20th century art movement advocating nonrepresentational art and universality by a reduction to the essentials of form and color; simplifying compositions to the vertical and horizontal directions, and using only primary colors and black and white.
The Harlem Renaissance - a period in the 1920s when African-American achievements in art and music and literature flourished, characterized by a deliberate reconnection with traditional and ancient African arts.
Abstract Expressionism - a New York school of painting characterized by freely created abstractions; includes action painting and color field.
Pop Art - a form of art, chiefly developed in the 1960s, that depicts objects or scenes from everyday life and employs techniques of commercial art and popular illustration.
Minimalism - a movement in various forms of art and design where the work is stripped down to its most fundamental features.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Art Events This Week
Greece Lightning
Trolley Night Reception, Friday, November 26, 2010 6-9pm
Fridays 4-6pm, Saturdays 10-2pm, Through December 18, 2010
Appointments 901.481.1202
515 South Main Street
Memphis, TN 38103
Paul Revere Williams, American Architect
On display through January 8th, 2011.
Paul Revere Williams, American Architect, the first museum exhibition of the prolific and acclaimed 20th century designer who was the first documented African American member of the American Institute of Architects and the first to become an AIA Fellow, opened on October 22, 2010, and continues through January 8, 2011 in the Art Museum of the University of Memphis.
The exhibit emphasizes Paul R. Williams' architecture, but it also sheds light on his personal and professional history. Featuring 200 new photographs, the exhibit consists of still photographs and slide shows arranged by decade, 1920s through 1960s, depicting interiors and exteriors of buildings Williams designed. The images are of small and grand houses, business buildings, schools, churches and even the memorial for Al Jolson, the greatest of the black-face vaudville performers. Although not all of the 3000 or more of Williams-designed structures are illustrated, the wide range of styles and the mastery of detail for which he was celebrated are demonstrated, and unique large-scale photo installations provide close looks at seven projects.
AMUM
142 CFA Building
University of Memphis
Phone: (901) 678-2224
Fax: (901) 678-5118
Memphis College of Art kicks off the holidays with the 61st Annual Holiday Bazaar Friday, November 19 from 6 to 9 pm and Saturday, November 20 from 10 am to 3 pm.
This much-anticipated event features thousands of pieces of original artwork for sale in time for the holidays.
Unofficially the oldest bazaar in the city, MCA's market has become a mainstay of the holiday season and offers shoppers one-of-a-kind gifts and artwork made by students, faculty, staff and alumni. Sculptures, paintings, pottery, ceramics, glass, jewelry and ornaments are only a few of the items for sale. The 61st Annual Holiday Bazaar promises to be, as always, an extraordinary event and is free and open to the public.
University of Memphis
Phone: (901) 678-2224
Fax: (901) 678-5118
Memphis College Of Art: Holiday Bazaar
Memphis College of Art kicks off the holidays with the 61st Annual Holiday Bazaar Friday, November 19 from 6 to 9 pm and Saturday, November 20 from 10 am to 3 pm.
This much-anticipated event features thousands of pieces of original artwork for sale in time for the holidays.
Unofficially the oldest bazaar in the city, MCA's market has become a mainstay of the holiday season and offers shoppers one-of-a-kind gifts and artwork made by students, faculty, staff and alumni. Sculptures, paintings, pottery, ceramics, glass, jewelry and ornaments are only a few of the items for sale. The 61st Annual Holiday Bazaar promises to be, as always, an extraordinary event and is free and open to the public.
Memphis College Of Art
1930 Poplar Ave
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Quiz # 4
Below are the nine images from which I will choose five for the quiz, followed by the two essay questions. The quiz is Friday, so study up!
Flying Horse
Eastern Han dynasty
2nd century
Kandarya Mahadeva Temple
Khajuraho, India
10th-11th centuries
The Great Stupa
Sanchi, India
10 BCE-15 CE
Fan Kuan
Travelers Among Mountains And Streams
Early 11th century
Pablo Picasso
Portrait of Ambroise Vollard
1910
J. M. W. Turner
The Burning of the Houses of Lords and Commons
1834
Jacques-Louis David
Oath of the Horatii
1784
Gustave Courbet
The Stone Breakers
1849
Claude Monet
Impression: Sunrise
1872
Essay Question #1: Define the word Realism and tell how we see the qualities of Realism in the work of Gustave Courbet.
Essay Question # 2: Write an honest evaluation of the course. What where your expectations coming into the course. Were your expectations met? What did you get out of the course? What aspect of the class did you enjoy? What aspects did you find unpleasant? What suggestions would you give me for what I could do differently in the future?
As long as you are honest (even if it involves criticisms) and as long as you write more than a couple of short sentences, you can get full credit for this essay question.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Terms Of The Day For November 12
Neoclassicism - a revival of classical Greek and Roman forms in art, particularly during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries in Europe and America.
Romanticism - a literary and artistic movement of early nineteenth century Europe asserting the validity of subjective experiences as a countermovement to Neoclassicism.
Realism - the mid-nineteenth century art style based on the idea that ordinary people and everyday activities are worthy subjects for art.
Impressionism - a style of painting, developed in the late nineteenth century, that focussed on casual subjects, the ability to paint outdoors, and divided brush strokes to capture the light and mood of a particular moment.
Post-Impressionism - a general term applied to various personal style sof pointed that developed from about 1885-1900 in reaction to Impressionism.
Appropriation - an artistic concept in which an artist uses an image already in existence and places it in a new context in order to give it new meanings.
Fauvism - a style of painting introduced in the early twentieth century, characterized by areas of bright, contrasting color and simplified shapes. The name les fauves is translated “the wild beasts”.
Cubism - a style developed by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque in the early twentieth century, based on the simultaneous presentation of multiple views, disintegration, and geometric reconstruction of subjects.
Romanticism - a literary and artistic movement of early nineteenth century Europe asserting the validity of subjective experiences as a countermovement to Neoclassicism.
Realism - the mid-nineteenth century art style based on the idea that ordinary people and everyday activities are worthy subjects for art.
Impressionism - a style of painting, developed in the late nineteenth century, that focussed on casual subjects, the ability to paint outdoors, and divided brush strokes to capture the light and mood of a particular moment.
Post-Impressionism - a general term applied to various personal style sof pointed that developed from about 1885-1900 in reaction to Impressionism.
Appropriation - an artistic concept in which an artist uses an image already in existence and places it in a new context in order to give it new meanings.
Fauvism - a style of painting introduced in the early twentieth century, characterized by areas of bright, contrasting color and simplified shapes. The name les fauves is translated “the wild beasts”.
Cubism - a style developed by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque in the early twentieth century, based on the simultaneous presentation of multiple views, disintegration, and geometric reconstruction of subjects.
Three Davids
Here are the three sculptures of David that you will be asked to compare and contrast on the final exam:
Donatello
David
c. 1425-1430
(Bronze)
Michelangelo Buonarroti
David
1501-1504
(Marble)
Gianlorenzo Bernini
David
1623
(Marble)
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Terms Of The Day For November 5
Stupa - a dome-shaped Buddhist monument, used to house relics, evolved from earlier Indian funeral mounds.
Buddha - in Buddhist belief, one who has reached ultimate enlightenment, or Nirvana; Siddhartha Gautama (c. 563-483 BCE), the founder of Buddhism.
Bodhisattva - a person who is on the point of achieving enlightenment, but delays it in order to rmain on earth and teach others..
Confucianism - a Chinese ethical and philosophical system developed from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius (551–478 BCE); a complex system of moral, social, political, philosophical, and quasi-religious thought that has had tremendous influence on the culture and history of East Asia.
Daoism - one of the major religions indigenous to China. The primary belief is in learning and practicing “The Way” (Dao) which is the ultimate truth to the universe.
Buddha - in Buddhist belief, one who has reached ultimate enlightenment, or Nirvana; Siddhartha Gautama (c. 563-483 BCE), the founder of Buddhism.
Bodhisattva - a person who is on the point of achieving enlightenment, but delays it in order to rmain on earth and teach others..
Confucianism - a Chinese ethical and philosophical system developed from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius (551–478 BCE); a complex system of moral, social, political, philosophical, and quasi-religious thought that has had tremendous influence on the culture and history of East Asia.
Daoism - one of the major religions indigenous to China. The primary belief is in learning and practicing “The Way” (Dao) which is the ultimate truth to the universe.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Simon Schama: Bernini
Below is Simon Schama's documentary on Bernini in it's entirety. It is, unfortunately, split up into 9 chapters because of Youtube's restrictions on the length of videos.
Quiz # 3
Below are nine images from which I will choose the five that will be used for the quiz. Beneath the images are the two essay questions. Remember that if there is no artist listed for a work, I want you to list the work's location, instead. Study up!
Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio
The Conversion of Saint Paul
1600-1601
Paolo Veronese
Feast in the House of Levi
1575
Michelangelo Buonarroti
The Creation of Adam
1508-1512
Giotto di Bondone
Lamentation
1305
Gianlorenzo Bernini
The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa
1645-1652
Wall Painting from the Tomb of Nebumun
Egypt
c. 1450 BCE
Parthenon
Acropolis, Athens
c. 448-432 BCE
Polykleitos
Spear Bearer
Roman copy after a Greek original of c. 450-440 BCE
Scene from The Papyrus of Hunefer
Egypt
Egypt
c. 1375 BCE
Essay Questions:
1. Define the term Hierarchic Scale and give examples of how you have seen it utilized in the art you have seen in class.
2. Define the term Renaissance and give some examples of how the characteristics of the Renaissance era are demonstrated in the art that you have seen in class.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Terms Of The Day For October 29
Renaissance - literally translated “rebirth” - the period of European history in which the rediscovery of classical Greek art, philosophy, and science led to renewed interest in an intense study of the world and the limitless potential of individual human beings.
Humanism - a philosophy which encompasses a wide range of ethical stances that attach importance to human dignity, concerns, and capabilities, particularly rationality.
Sfumato - Italian term meaning “smoke”, describing a very delicate gradation of light and shade in the modeling of figures; often ascribed to Leonardo da Vinci's work.
Reformation - a religious movement of the 16th century that began as an attempt to reform the Roman Catholic Church and resulted in the creation of Protestant churches.
Counter Reformation - a period of time beginning late in the 16th century in which the Catholic Church underwent a series of internal reforms in an attempt to halt the growing number of conversions from Catholicism to Protestantism.
Baroque - the historic period from about 1600 until 1750 when the baroque style of art, architecture, and music flourished in Europe.
Chiaroscuro - the use of bold contrasts of light and dark to achieve a sense of volume in modeling three-dimensional objects such as the human body in paint.
Rococo - a style of art popular among the 18th century French aristocracy stressing purely ornamental, light, casual, irregular design and frivolity.
Humanism - a philosophy which encompasses a wide range of ethical stances that attach importance to human dignity, concerns, and capabilities, particularly rationality.
Sfumato - Italian term meaning “smoke”, describing a very delicate gradation of light and shade in the modeling of figures; often ascribed to Leonardo da Vinci's work.
Reformation - a religious movement of the 16th century that began as an attempt to reform the Roman Catholic Church and resulted in the creation of Protestant churches.
Counter Reformation - a period of time beginning late in the 16th century in which the Catholic Church underwent a series of internal reforms in an attempt to halt the growing number of conversions from Catholicism to Protestantism.
Baroque - the historic period from about 1600 until 1750 when the baroque style of art, architecture, and music flourished in Europe.
Chiaroscuro - the use of bold contrasts of light and dark to achieve a sense of volume in modeling three-dimensional objects such as the human body in paint.
Rococo - a style of art popular among the 18th century French aristocracy stressing purely ornamental, light, casual, irregular design and frivolity.
Very Early Photographic Images of Humans Discovered
Check this out: A photograph has been discovered that has what people believe may be an early image of humans in it. Now, the photograph was made about 9 years after the Daguerreotype that captured the man getting his shoes shined, but it's exciting all the same. Images of people in photographs at such an early time in photographic history is rare, indeed. Click HERE for an article about the photo.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Art Events This Week
Wow! This week is seriously lacking when it comes to art events. I have been searching all weekend for these few events I have to post here. For the most part, they may not be exactly what you think of when you think "art event," but I certainly do. Of course, you don't have to limit yourself exclusively to what I have here. If you know of anything else, feel free to go to it.
Stax Museum of American Soul Music
926 E Mclemore Ave
Memphis, TN 38106-3338
(901) 942-7685
926 E Mclemore Ave
Memphis, TN 38106-3338
(901) 942-7685
Objects of Wonder: Four Centuries of Still Life from the Norton Museum of Art
4339 Park Avenue
Memphis, TN 38117-4698
(901) 761-5250
October 17 - January 9, 2011
Objects of Wonder assembles fifty-two works of art from the collection of the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach, Florida, focusing on the intriguing genre of still life. The exhibition illuminates the progression of still life over the past four centuries, from the Ming Dynasty in China to the early 2000s through the work of some of the most famous artists in history, including Gustave Courbet, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso and Georgia O'Keeffe.
Memphis, TN 38120
Memphis, TN 38117-4698
(901) 761-5250
October 17 - January 9, 2011
Objects of Wonder assembles fifty-two works of art from the collection of the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach, Florida, focusing on the intriguing genre of still life. The exhibition illuminates the progression of still life over the past four centuries, from the Ming Dynasty in China to the early 2000s through the work of some of the most famous artists in history, including Gustave Courbet, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso and Georgia O'Keeffe.
It's Kind Of A Funny Story (PG13)
and
Waiting For Superman (PG)
Two films playing at
The Ridgeway Four
5853 Ridgeway Center Pkwy.Memphis, TN 38120
PH: 901-681-2047
Movie Hotline: 901-681-2020
Movie Hotline: 901-681-2020
Click HERE for showtimes.
PICTURING AMERICA
(901) 544-6226
Three exhibitions that examine American identity, past and present. At the Brooks in autumn 2010. "History is not the past, but a map of the past drawn from a particular point of view to be useful to the modern traveler." ~Henry Glassie
The Overton Wind Ensemble
The flagship instrumental organization at Overton High School for Creative and Performing Arts will perform an evening of music by American composers. The ensemble recently made its New York debut in concert at historic Carnegie Hall. Conducted by Dr. Reginald M. Houze. Free!
PICTURING AMERICA
The Brooks Museum of Art
1934 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN(901) 544-6226
Three exhibitions that examine American identity, past and present. At the Brooks in autumn 2010. "History is not the past, but a map of the past drawn from a particular point of view to be useful to the modern traveler." ~Henry Glassie
This fall, the Brooks has scheduled three overlapping exhibitions that provide a unique opportunity to look at intersecting aspects of the history, culture, social history, and landscape of the United States.
When Aperture announced that William Christenberry: Photographs 1961-2005 would travel, it was an obvious choice for the Brooks. Christenberry is an internationally recognized artist who lived and worked in Memphis from 1962 to 1968, and he is very well represented in the permanent collection: 115 photographs, three sculptures, an artist’s book, and a drawing.
Christenberry was born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, in 1936, the same year that Walker Evans and James Agee visited the area to produce Let Us Now Praise Famous Men, their seminal project chronicling the lives of sharecroppers during the Depression. Agee and Evans’s book deeply influenced Christenberry, compelling him to adopt the region as the subject of his art. Through his diverse work Christenberry communicates a singular vision—an elegiac consideration of the American South underscored by larger, universal themes of time, memory, and loss. William Christenberry Photographs: 1961–2005 is an overview of the photographic component of his oeuvre—a practice spanning more than four decades and employing a range of formats—from the Kodak Brownie, a simple, mass-produced point-and-shoot camera, to 35 mm, to the 8-by-10-inch camera he began using in 1977. Many of the images in this exhibition have never before been exhibited.
The evocative and beautiful wood engravings of Winslow Homer (1836-1910) captured American life in the decades before photography became the preferred medium for illustrating the news. Appearing in magazines such as Harper’s Weekly, his work offered a visual complement to stories of daily life, popular fiction, or major political events. The 55 wood engravings in Winslow Homer: From Poetry to Fiction include a full range of Homer’s illustrations, from charming images of children at play or vacationers at the beach, to more somber depictions of soldiers on the front lines of the Civil War. Focusing on the early years of Homer’s career, the exhibition offers visitors a chance to experience the artist’s remarkably poignant and enduring images of life in the United States during the mid-1800s.
The tremendous interest in the Civil War is reflected in the number of books, films, and documentaries on the subject, not to mention the thousands of re-enactors who come together annually across the country to recreate battles and skirmishes. Robert King (b.1969), who for 17 years has covered wars and political unrest around the globe, has photographed some of these events. The twenty-five images included in Remembering A House Divided: Robert King’s Photographs Of Civil War Re-Enactors document the historical accuracy prized by participants and the sometimes jarring clash of the past and the present.
When Aperture announced that William Christenberry: Photographs 1961-2005 would travel, it was an obvious choice for the Brooks. Christenberry is an internationally recognized artist who lived and worked in Memphis from 1962 to 1968, and he is very well represented in the permanent collection: 115 photographs, three sculptures, an artist’s book, and a drawing.
Christenberry was born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, in 1936, the same year that Walker Evans and James Agee visited the area to produce Let Us Now Praise Famous Men, their seminal project chronicling the lives of sharecroppers during the Depression. Agee and Evans’s book deeply influenced Christenberry, compelling him to adopt the region as the subject of his art. Through his diverse work Christenberry communicates a singular vision—an elegiac consideration of the American South underscored by larger, universal themes of time, memory, and loss. William Christenberry Photographs: 1961–2005 is an overview of the photographic component of his oeuvre—a practice spanning more than four decades and employing a range of formats—from the Kodak Brownie, a simple, mass-produced point-and-shoot camera, to 35 mm, to the 8-by-10-inch camera he began using in 1977. Many of the images in this exhibition have never before been exhibited.
The evocative and beautiful wood engravings of Winslow Homer (1836-1910) captured American life in the decades before photography became the preferred medium for illustrating the news. Appearing in magazines such as Harper’s Weekly, his work offered a visual complement to stories of daily life, popular fiction, or major political events. The 55 wood engravings in Winslow Homer: From Poetry to Fiction include a full range of Homer’s illustrations, from charming images of children at play or vacationers at the beach, to more somber depictions of soldiers on the front lines of the Civil War. Focusing on the early years of Homer’s career, the exhibition offers visitors a chance to experience the artist’s remarkably poignant and enduring images of life in the United States during the mid-1800s.
The tremendous interest in the Civil War is reflected in the number of books, films, and documentaries on the subject, not to mention the thousands of re-enactors who come together annually across the country to recreate battles and skirmishes. Robert King (b.1969), who for 17 years has covered wars and political unrest around the globe, has photographed some of these events. The twenty-five images included in Remembering A House Divided: Robert King’s Photographs Of Civil War Re-Enactors document the historical accuracy prized by participants and the sometimes jarring clash of the past and the present.
Also at the Brooks:
Thursday, October 28 | 7 pmThe Overton Wind Ensemble
The flagship instrumental organization at Overton High School for Creative and Performing Arts will perform an evening of music by American composers. The ensemble recently made its New York debut in concert at historic Carnegie Hall. Conducted by Dr. Reginald M. Houze. Free!
Friday, October 22, 2010
Expectations For The Research Paper
You are expected in this class to complete one five-page research paper on a particular artist, group of artists, period, or media of your choice. This paper is due November 12. Here are the expectations for that paper:
1. A title page (title of the research paper, your name, the class title, my name, and the date).
2. FIVE pages of text (12-point font, double spaced, 1-inch margins).
3. At least THREE sources (books, magazines, websites), but no more than ONE of them may be an Internet source. If you use more than three sources, more than one of them may be an Internet source, but there still needs to be at least TWO print sources.
4. A bibliography page. In the "Important Links" section on the left side of this blog you'll find a link to easybib.com. This is a website that allows you to enter information about a source, and it will format your citations for you.
Instructions:
As mentioned above, you should choose as the topic of your research a particular artist (Francisco Goya, Pablo Picasso, etc.) or a group of artists (the Impressionists, the Futurists, etc.) or a period of art (the Renaissance, the Romantic Era, etc.) or a particular medium (painting, sculpture, etc.).
Next, go to the library and search online for information about your chosen topic. Find historical, biographical, and technical information you want to include in your paper. Whatever sources you choose must be sited in your bibliography at the end of the paper.
I will make another post at a later time giving you the format for citing works in a bibliography and giving you some more in-depth information on easybib.com.
Now, write your paper (5 pages) and DO NOT PLAGIARIZE! Look for ways to relate what you are writing about to the things we have learned in class.
Sufficient grammar and spelling. It needs to be readable.
The sooner you get this paper out of the way, the better.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask me.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Terms Of The Day For 10/22
Civilization - cultures that have fairly complex social orders and relatively high degrees of technical development.
Ziggurat - massive religious temples built in ancient Mesopotamia and western Iranian plateau, having the form of a terraced step pyramid of successively receding stories or levels.
Pyramid - a gigantic mountain-like structure built in ancient Egypt as a burial vault for a pharaoh.
Hierarchic Scale - the manipulation of size and space in a picture to emphasize the importance of a specific object or figure.
Classical Art - art which emphasizes rational simplicity, order, and restrained emotion.
Capital - the top of a column; it identifies the column’s architectural order.
Idealized - the representation of natural objects, scenes, etc., in such a way as to show the characteristics considered most important by a given culture.
Icons - small Byzantine style paintings, usually depicting a biblical figure or a saint, which are used to inspire devotion during worship, but not worshiped in themselves.
Flying Buttress - An arch or half-arch that transfers the thrust of a vault or roof from an upper part of a wall to a lower support.
Ziggurat - massive religious temples built in ancient Mesopotamia and western Iranian plateau, having the form of a terraced step pyramid of successively receding stories or levels.
Pyramid - a gigantic mountain-like structure built in ancient Egypt as a burial vault for a pharaoh.
Hierarchic Scale - the manipulation of size and space in a picture to emphasize the importance of a specific object or figure.
Classical Art - art which emphasizes rational simplicity, order, and restrained emotion.
Capital - the top of a column; it identifies the column’s architectural order.
Idealized - the representation of natural objects, scenes, etc., in such a way as to show the characteristics considered most important by a given culture.
Icons - small Byzantine style paintings, usually depicting a biblical figure or a saint, which are used to inspire devotion during worship, but not worshiped in themselves.
Flying Buttress - An arch or half-arch that transfers the thrust of a vault or roof from an upper part of a wall to a lower support.
Friday, October 8, 2010
MIDTERM EXAM STUDY GUIDE
The midterm exam will cover chapters 1-11 and this is how it will be constructed:
20 vocabulary terms (match the term to its definition) worth 1 point each.
40 multiple choice questions worth 1 point each
2 essays focussing on conversations we've had in class (The Arnolfini Wedding and Rembrandt's self portraits) worth 15 points each. -I forgot about The Arnolfini Wedding in class. My apologies.
1 essay focussing on a new artwork you have not seen before in this class worth 10 points.
The 20 vocabulary terms will be pulled directly from the "Terms Of The Day" lists I have given you at the beginning of every class period. Study these lists well enough to be able to match each term on the left side of the page with its particular definition on the right side of the page.
The 40 multiple choice questions come from both the class lectures and from the book. There will be a few questions on the test that we never addressed in class; they come directly from the book. These come mostly from the "Printmaking" chapter we weren't able to cover in class. These questions will range from those that test how well you understand the definitions of terms to questions about specific artworks that you have seen, to questions about the artists themselves.
Let me give you four example questions (yes, these will be on the test just as you see them here):
A. Vincent van Gogh
B. Pablo Picasso
C. Henri Matisse
D. Judith Murray
The symbolic meaning of visual signs and imagery is called:
A. content
B. iconography
C. form
D. aesthetics
A. content
B. iconography
C. form
D. aesthetics
Art made with a combination of different materials, such as a collage, is referred to as:
A. medium
B. mixed media
C. composition
D. installation
Sharecropper (figure 179) by Elizabeth Catlett is an example of:A. medium
B. mixed media
C. composition
D. installation
A. a linoleum cut
B. an engraving
C. an etching
D. silkscreen
(This one comes from the book. It wasn't mentioned in the class lecture.)
The best advice I can give you on how to study for this portion of the exam is to comb through all your notes you've taken in class, remind yourself of all the main concepts you've learned, familiarize yourself with all the "Terms Of The Day," and to make sure you have read the material in the book. Pay special attention to how each artwork serves as an example to illustrate a concept (in other words, Francisco Goya's painting is an example of art for social causes, Jackson Pollock's Convergence is an example of nonrepresentational art, etc.). Don't just depend on what I have told you in class. Yes, 90% of these questions will come directly from lecture. But you don't want to be thrown off by the questions that are based on the book alone.
The two essay topics focussing on conversations we had in class will be phrased as follows (again, yes, I'm telling you exactly what will be on the test):
1. What symbols and iconography can be seen in Jan van Eyck’s The Arnolfini Wedding? What would those symbols have communicated to the painting’s 15th century audience? What was the purpose this painting was meant to serve?
2. What do these three self portraits tell us about Rembrant’s own use of art as a means of personal expression? Explain how each painting is reflective of a particular time, mood, and status of the artist. What do you see in each painting that gives this indication? How has he chosen to present himself each time? Why?
There will be a printed reproduction of each painting in the exam for you to look at while working on the essays.
The best way to study for these essays is to look at the images themselves (they can all be found on this blog) and think back to those group conversations about them. Also, on this blog I have posted a documentary about Rembrandt's rise to and fall from success. It may be an hour-long program, but it will help you considerably.
The final essay topic will focus on a printed reproduction of a work of art you have not seen in this class yet and it will be phrased like this:
This is meant to test how well you have been paying attention to the concepts you've been learning in this class. If you understand the topics and concepts we've been going over in class well enough to apply them to a work you have not seen before, then you have made good use of your semester. Try practicing on the two images below (no, these will not be on the exam). Think about the wording of the essay topic above and consider what you might write about each of these works:
Study hard, and good luck to everyone. If you have taken good notes, if you have read the chapters, and if you have spent some time really trying to understand the "Terms Of The Day" then this exam shouldn't be difficult for you.P.S. The exam will be the only thing we do next Friday. So, once you're finished with it, you are free to go.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Terms Of The Day For 10-8
Sculpture - The art of shaping figures or designs in the round or in relief
In-the-round (Freestanding) Sculpture - sculpture which is meant to be seen from all sides.
Relief sculpture - sculpture that projects from a two-dimensional background surface. Low Relief, High Relief.
Modeling - an additive method of creating sculpture in which a raw material is manipulated by hand.
Casting - a replacement method of creating sculpture in which one material is substituted for another.
Mold - a container into which liquid is poured to create a given shape when it hardens.
Carving - a subtractive method of creating sculpture in which unwanted material is removed from a block of material.
Construction - sculpture that is composed of multiple parts joined together to create a whole.
Assemblage - an artistic process in which a three-dimensional artistic composition is made from putting together found objects.
Kinetic Sculpture - sculpture that is specifically designed to move.
Installation - a site-specific, three-dimensional work of art designed to transform the perception of a space and construct a narrative.
In-the-round (Freestanding) Sculpture - sculpture which is meant to be seen from all sides.
Relief sculpture - sculpture that projects from a two-dimensional background surface. Low Relief, High Relief.
Modeling - an additive method of creating sculpture in which a raw material is manipulated by hand.
Casting - a replacement method of creating sculpture in which one material is substituted for another.
Mold - a container into which liquid is poured to create a given shape when it hardens.
Carving - a subtractive method of creating sculpture in which unwanted material is removed from a block of material.
Construction - sculpture that is composed of multiple parts joined together to create a whole.
Assemblage - an artistic process in which a three-dimensional artistic composition is made from putting together found objects.
Kinetic Sculpture - sculpture that is specifically designed to move.
Installation - a site-specific, three-dimensional work of art designed to transform the perception of a space and construct a narrative.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
A Whole Bunch Of Art Events This Friday Night
I know that all of these events take place AFTER your first art event write-up is due Friday morning, but perhaps they'll give you an early start on write-up #2.
John Hood-Taylor: Dystopia
P&H Cafe
1532 Madison AveMemphis, TN 38104
(901) 726-0906
Project Sketchbook 2010: The Exhibition
2547 Broad Avenue
Memphis, TN
The results of Project Sketchbook 2010 will be on display for two weeks opening Friday, October 08, 2010 from 6-10pm at Adam Shaw's Studio on Broad Avenue. Come join us!
Check out http://www.projectsketchbook2010.com/ for details.
Work from: Anastasia Nabakowski, Mary Jo Kamrimnia, AJ Karpinski, Adam Remsen, Alec McIntyre, Alex Paulus, Ariel Claborne, Ashley Luyendyk, Ashley Odum, Baxter Bucks, Beverly Dorsey, Brett Edmonds, Candace Canerdy, Cara Dailey, Caroline Mitchell, Charlie Touvell, Cheri Biggers, Christopher Reyes, Claire M. Ryan, Colin Kidder, Daniel Felt, Darlene Newman, Derrick Dent, Dorothy Spencer, Elaine Miller, Elizabeth Alley, Ellen Mitchell, Gina Burcky, Greg Langford, Gregg Haller, Jen Russell, Jennifer Absher, Jennifer Barnett-Hensel, Jeremiah Mills, Jill C. Denton, Joel Priddy, John Hood-Taylor, Jonathan Payne, Jonathan Postal, Kandice Cook, Lauren Rae Holtemrmann, Lisa Maners, Lisa Tribo, Marilyn Califf, Matthew Pierson, Matthew Roberson, Megan Travis-Carr, Michael Kline, Michele Duckworth, Miriam Oliphant, Moe Seki, Molly Young, Pamela McFarland, Rebecca Shellaberger, Roann Mathia, Robert Pearce, Ruth McElroy, Santana Singleton, Shane McDermott, Siphne Sylve, Stephanie Miller, Susan Younger, T. Matthew Pierson, Lindsay C. Workman, Tiffany Futch, Trici Parker, Vicki Murdock, Vincent Nappi, AND MORE!
Check out http://www.projectsketchbook2010.com/ for details.
Work from: Anastasia Nabakowski, Mary Jo Kamrimnia, AJ Karpinski, Adam Remsen, Alec McIntyre, Alex Paulus, Ariel Claborne, Ashley Luyendyk, Ashley Odum, Baxter Bucks, Beverly Dorsey, Brett Edmonds, Candace Canerdy, Cara Dailey, Caroline Mitchell, Charlie Touvell, Cheri Biggers, Christopher Reyes, Claire M. Ryan, Colin Kidder, Daniel Felt, Darlene Newman, Derrick Dent, Dorothy Spencer, Elaine Miller, Elizabeth Alley, Ellen Mitchell, Gina Burcky, Greg Langford, Gregg Haller, Jen Russell, Jennifer Absher, Jennifer Barnett-Hensel, Jeremiah Mills, Jill C. Denton, Joel Priddy, John Hood-Taylor, Jonathan Payne, Jonathan Postal, Kandice Cook, Lauren Rae Holtemrmann, Lisa Maners, Lisa Tribo, Marilyn Califf, Matthew Pierson, Matthew Roberson, Megan Travis-Carr, Michael Kline, Michele Duckworth, Miriam Oliphant, Moe Seki, Molly Young, Pamela McFarland, Rebecca Shellaberger, Roann Mathia, Robert Pearce, Ruth McElroy, Santana Singleton, Shane McDermott, Siphne Sylve, Stephanie Miller, Susan Younger, T. Matthew Pierson, Lindsay C. Workman, Tiffany Futch, Trici Parker, Vicki Murdock, Vincent Nappi, AND MORE!
Gadsby Creson: 40 Bike Rack Maquettes
Friday, October 8 · 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Urban Art Commission
2549 Broad AveMemphis, TN 38112
(901) 454-0474
The opening for 40 Bike Rack Maquettes will be held on Friday October 8 from 6 - 8 PM at the UrbanArt office on Broad Avenue. The exhibition will last from October 8, 2010 through January 28, 2011. Viewings of the exhibition after opening night will be by appointment only. To schedule an appointment to view the exhibition after the opening, please contact info@urbanartcommission.org
MCA faculty, student, and alumni exhibit during the Broad Ave. Artwalk!
Friday, October 8 · 5:00pm - 10:00pm
West Memorials
2481 Broad Ave
2481 Broad Ave
Memphis, TN 38112
Ongoing Art Events That You Can Attend By Friday
My apologies. I received an e-mail yesterday that reminded me that I had forgotten the post of art events that I promised you on Friday. I have been extremely busy over the past couple of weeks, but that is still no excuse. I try hard to be a "do what you say you'll do" kind of man, and I dropped the ball on this one. So, here are some ongoing art events that are open and available for you to attend between now and Friday morning...
The Dixon Gallery and Gardens Permanent Collection
The Dixon Gallery and Gardens
4339 Park Avenue
Memphis, Tennessee 38117
In accordance with the Dixon's interest, the museum has over the years, acquired excellent works by the French Impressionists who showed at one of the eight group Impressionist exhibitions. Also a priority are the works by other top-flight artists of the period, both Impressionist and Realist, who have not yet received the recognition of Degas, Monet, or Pissarro. An example of this commitment is the Dixon's recent acquisition of 56 works by the French artist Jean-Louis Forain, this making the Dixon a major international repository of the artist's work.
In 1996, in conjunction with the museum's 20th anniversary, the Dixon acquired 23 paintings and sculptures in a gift purchase agreement with the Montgomery H. W. Ritchie family of Palo Duro, Texas. The Ritchie Collection greatly enhances the museum's holdings of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works.
In 2006, the Dixon Gallery and Gardens celebrated 30 years of excellence with a special exhibition highlighting its fantastic permanent collection.
Today the Dixon continues expanding its collection, while also advancing art education in both the Memphis community and the world.
I AM A MAN
Now showing through October 24.
The Pink Palace
3050 Central Ave
Memphis, TN 38111-3316
Memphis, TN 38111-3316
The Ernest Withers Portfolio records Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rev. Ralph Abernathy and other prominent civil rights leaders in the 1950s and 60s, including their ride on the first desegregated bus in Montgomery, AL. He also documented the Little Rock Central High desegregation crisis, the Sanitation Workers Strike in Memphis, as well as many other catalytic events in the Civil Rights movement.
This exhibit is part of the Pink Palace Connections Exhibit Series, which is aimed at building our African-American collection of artifacts. Ultimately, may of these artifacts will be part of our new permanent exhibits.
Reel to Real with Chris Herrington
Memphis Brooks Museum of Art
This exhibit is part of the Pink Palace Connections Exhibit Series, which is aimed at building our African-American collection of artifacts. Ultimately, may of these artifacts will be part of our new permanent exhibits.
Reel to Real with Chris Herrington
Thursday, October 7 | 7 pm
1934 Poplar Avenue
Memphis, TN 38104
On view through January 2, 2011
Robert King’s (b. Memphis 1969) photographs from war torn Bosnia, Afghanistan, Chechnya, Rwanda, and Iraq have been published in The New York Times, Time, Newsweek, and USA Today. His career as a photojournalist, chronicled in the documentary Shooting Robert King (2008), began in 1993 in Sarajevo. The film captures King’s transformation from ill-prepared to highly-regarded photographer. Not all of his images, however, document actual warfare; one of his more powerful series is of Civil War reenactors.
The origins of military reenacting are open to debate—some historians note that the Greeks and Romans staged elaborate public battle scenes, while others point to Shakespeare’s depiction of wars. Nevertheless, the phenomenon is practiced widely (England, Romania, Greece, and Australia to name a few countries), and spans recreations of the Greco-Roman period, Medieval Europe, and the Russian Revolution to the South African Border Wars (1966-89). Civil War reenactors outnumber them all. For the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg in 1913, veterans recreated Pickett’s Charge. Many advanced on crutches and canes and met their former enemies with handshakes instead of muskets. Interest in reenacting has waxed and waned ever since, but has steadily increased since the 1990s with estimates of over 40,000 men, women, and children participating. Recent surveys claim that it is the fastest growing hobby in the United States.
There are various categories of participants. Farbs are inauthentic reenactors who wear polyester uniforms and wrist watches. At the opposite end of the spectrum are hardcores or progressives, individuals who go to great lengths, some would say extremes, in their quest for accuracy. They aim for a total immersion experience, trying to live exactly as the soldiers in the war did. In between the two groups are the mainstream, those who focus on exterior details but are not as concerned by what is invisible. There are many different reasons given for participation. In some cases, individuals are tracking their ancestors, others enjoy the experience of temporarily immersing themselves in a simpler time, while still others believe they are expanding public awareness of a significant period of US history. Additionally, the battles took place in this country making the history more immediate and the sites easy to visit. Regardless, these reenactments take place across the North and South, and underscore that the bloodiest war fought by Americans continues to resonate even 150 years after its conclusion.
Robert King, American, b. 1969
Battle of Missionary Ridge
Digital C-prints
Courtesy of the artist
Valley Head, Alabama, November 8, 2009
In the Between, The Courthouse Co-op Art Exhibition
Chris Herrington, music and film critic for the Memphis Flyer, screens one of his all-time favorite films, Ernst Lubitsch’s 1940 comedy The Shop Around the Corner. Selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry, The Shop Around the Corner stars Margaret Sullavan and James Stewart as coworkers in a Budapest shop who detest each other in real life yet fall in love via secret correspondence. The film has spawned numerous remakes, including the 1949 musical In the Good Old Summertime, the 1998 rom-com You’ve Got Mail, and the British television show, Are You Being Served?. Prices: $6 mem/$8 non-mem
Before the film, enjoy dining in the Brushmark restaurant, for reservations call 901.544.6225 or click here to make reservations online.
Before the film, enjoy dining in the Brushmark restaurant, for reservations call 901.544.6225 or click here to make reservations online.
Also at the Brooks:
Remembering a House Divided: Robert King's Photographs of Civil War Re-Enactors
On view through January 2, 2011
Robert King’s (b. Memphis 1969) photographs from war torn Bosnia, Afghanistan, Chechnya, Rwanda, and Iraq have been published in The New York Times, Time, Newsweek, and USA Today. His career as a photojournalist, chronicled in the documentary Shooting Robert King (2008), began in 1993 in Sarajevo. The film captures King’s transformation from ill-prepared to highly-regarded photographer. Not all of his images, however, document actual warfare; one of his more powerful series is of Civil War reenactors.
The origins of military reenacting are open to debate—some historians note that the Greeks and Romans staged elaborate public battle scenes, while others point to Shakespeare’s depiction of wars. Nevertheless, the phenomenon is practiced widely (England, Romania, Greece, and Australia to name a few countries), and spans recreations of the Greco-Roman period, Medieval Europe, and the Russian Revolution to the South African Border Wars (1966-89). Civil War reenactors outnumber them all. For the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg in 1913, veterans recreated Pickett’s Charge. Many advanced on crutches and canes and met their former enemies with handshakes instead of muskets. Interest in reenacting has waxed and waned ever since, but has steadily increased since the 1990s with estimates of over 40,000 men, women, and children participating. Recent surveys claim that it is the fastest growing hobby in the United States.
There are various categories of participants. Farbs are inauthentic reenactors who wear polyester uniforms and wrist watches. At the opposite end of the spectrum are hardcores or progressives, individuals who go to great lengths, some would say extremes, in their quest for accuracy. They aim for a total immersion experience, trying to live exactly as the soldiers in the war did. In between the two groups are the mainstream, those who focus on exterior details but are not as concerned by what is invisible. There are many different reasons given for participation. In some cases, individuals are tracking their ancestors, others enjoy the experience of temporarily immersing themselves in a simpler time, while still others believe they are expanding public awareness of a significant period of US history. Additionally, the battles took place in this country making the history more immediate and the sites easy to visit. Regardless, these reenactments take place across the North and South, and underscore that the bloodiest war fought by Americans continues to resonate even 150 years after its conclusion.
Robert King, American, b. 1969
Battle of Missionary Ridge
Digital C-prints
Courtesy of the artist
Valley Head, Alabama, November 8, 2009
In the Between, The Courthouse Co-op Art Exhibition
Friday, October 1 at 3:00pm - October 31 at 9:00pm
The Courthouse Co-op
1577 Court Ave
Memphis, TN
1577 Court Ave
Memphis, TN
The exhibition will open to the public from 3:00pm to 9:00pm every day during the month of October. The closing reception will be October 30th, and you can meet any of the artists that night, we'll all be there! The show will include work from such Memphis College of Art chums as:
Danita Barrentine
Caroline Brooks
Dr. Rob Canfield
Paige Colwell
Mitchell Dunnam
Andrew Edwards
Qaaim Goodwin
Leanna Hicks
Katy Luxion
Maria Manes
Howard Paine
Cora Pugh
Vincent Tabor
Trista Vercher
Arwen Warner
David White
Brian Evan Witmuss
and many others...
Danita Barrentine
Caroline Brooks
Dr. Rob Canfield
Paige Colwell
Mitchell Dunnam
Andrew Edwards
Qaaim Goodwin
Leanna Hicks
Katy Luxion
Maria Manes
Howard Paine
Cora Pugh
Vincent Tabor
Trista Vercher
Arwen Warner
David White
Brian Evan Witmuss
and many others...
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Terms Of The Day For 10-1
Photography - “light writing” or “light drawing”--the process, activity and art of creating still or moving pictures by recording radiation on a sensitive medium, such as a photographic film, or an electronic sensor.
Camera Obscura - a darkened enclosure in which images of outside objects are projected through a small aperture or lens onto a facing surface.
Daguerreotype - a photograph made by an early photographic process developed by Louis Daguerre; the image was produced on a silver plate sensitized to iodine and developed in mercury vapor.
Photo Essay - a collection of photographs on a single subject, arranged to tell a story or convey a mood in a way not possible with a single photograph.
Persistence of Vision - the brief retention of an image by the retina of our eyes after a stimulus is removed.
Film Editing - a process in which a film editor selects the best shots from raw footage, then reassemles them into meaningful sequences.
Close-Up - a shot shoing only the actor’s face.
Longshot - a shot photographed from a distance to emphasize large groups of people or a panoramic setting.
Montage - an editing technique combining a number of very brief shots, representing distinct but related subject matter, in order to create new relationships, build strong emotion, or indicate the passage of time.
Camera Obscura - a darkened enclosure in which images of outside objects are projected through a small aperture or lens onto a facing surface.
Daguerreotype - a photograph made by an early photographic process developed by Louis Daguerre; the image was produced on a silver plate sensitized to iodine and developed in mercury vapor.
Photo Essay - a collection of photographs on a single subject, arranged to tell a story or convey a mood in a way not possible with a single photograph.
Persistence of Vision - the brief retention of an image by the retina of our eyes after a stimulus is removed.
Film Editing - a process in which a film editor selects the best shots from raw footage, then reassemles them into meaningful sequences.
Close-Up - a shot shoing only the actor’s face.
Longshot - a shot photographed from a distance to emphasize large groups of people or a panoramic setting.
Montage - an editing technique combining a number of very brief shots, representing distinct but related subject matter, in order to create new relationships, build strong emotion, or indicate the passage of time.
Clips From Landmark Silent Films
Georges Méliès
A Trip To The Moon
1902
D. W. Griffith
Intolerance
1916
Sergei Eisenstein
The Battleship Potemkin
1925
Charlie Chaplin
City Lights
1931
A Trip To The Moon
1902
D. W. Griffith
Intolerance
1916
Sergei Eisenstein
The Battleship Potemkin
1925
Charlie Chaplin
City Lights
1931
Friday, September 24, 2010
Quiz #2
Below are 9 images from which I will choose the 5 for the quiz next week. Study up!
Vincent van Gogh
The Fountain In The Garden Hospital
1889
Jan van Eyk
Madonna And Child With The Chancellor Rolin
1433-1434
Wayne Thiebaud
Around The Cake
1962
Michelangelo Buonarotti
Studies for the Libyan Sibyl
c. 1510
Winslow Homer
Sloop, Nassau
1899
Gustav Klimpt
The Kiss
1907-1908
Damien Hirst
Posterity--The Holy Place
2006
M. C. Escher
Sky And Water 1
1938
Asher Brown Durand
Kindred Spirits
1849
Short Essay Questions For The Quiz:
#1. Give the definitions of the general Formal, Sociocultural, and Expressive Theories of art criticism.
#2. Define the words "pigment" and "vehicle." What are the vehicles used in watercolor, tempera, oil, and acrylic painting?
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