At the moment, we're learning Italy and neighbors through the travels of painter Caravaggio.
- Milano
- Florence
- Roma
- Napoli / Isla Capri
- Vesuvio
- Sicily
- Malta
- Tunisia / Carthage (continent of Africa, continent of Africa)
There's also the map of France (see below) that helps us place the work of Henri Cartier-Bresson as well as Picasso and Matisse.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Behind Saint-Lazare Station - Paris 1932 by photojournalist Henri Cartier-Bresson
Henri Cartier-Bresson (1908 – 2004) was a French photographer considered to be the father of modern photojournalism.
He was an early adopter of 35 mm format, and the master of candid photography, says Wikipedia.
He helped develop the "street photography" or "real life reportage" style that has influenced generations of photographers who followed.
He explained, "I suddenly understood that a photograph could fix eternity in an instant."[citation needed] He acquired the Leica camera with 50 mm lens in Marseilles that would accompany him for many years. He described the Leica as an extension of his eye.[citation needed] The anonymity that the small camera gave him in a crowd or during an intimate moment was essential in overcoming the formal and unnatural behavior of those who were aware of being photographed. He enhanced his anonymity by painting all shiny parts of the Leica with black paint.
The Leica opened up new possibilities in photography — the ability to capture the world in its actual state of movement and transformation. He said, "I prowled the streets all day, feeling very strung-up and ready to pounce, ready to 'trap' life."[citation needed] Restless, he photographed in Berlin, Brussels, Warsaw, Prague, Budapest and Madrid.
Cartier-Bresson's, The Decisive Moment, the 1952 US edition of Images à la sauvette. The book contains the term "the decisive moment" now synonymous with Cartier-Bresson: "There is nothing in this world that does not have a decisive moment."
Cartier-Bresson achieved international recognition for his coverage of Gandhi's funeral in India in 1948 and the last (1949) stage of the Chinese Civil War. He covered the last six months of the Kuomintang administration and the first six months of the Maoist People's Republic. He also photographed the last surviving Imperial eunuchs in Beijing, as the city was falling to the communists. From China, he went on to Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia), where he documented the gaining of independence from the Dutch.
In 1952, Cartier-Bresson published his book Images à la sauvette, whose English edition was titled The Decisive Moment. It included a portfolio of 126 of his photos from the East and the West.
He was inspired by the thought that, "There is nothing in this world that does not have a decisive moment."
"Photography is not like painting," Cartier-Bresson told the Washington Post in 1957. "There is a creative fraction of a second when you are taking a picture. Your eye must see a composition or an expression that life itself offers you, and you must know with intuition when to click the camera. That is the moment the photographer is creative," he said. "Oop! The Moment! Once you miss it, it is gone forever."[7]
He was an early adopter of 35 mm format, and the master of candid photography, says Wikipedia.
He helped develop the "street photography" or "real life reportage" style that has influenced generations of photographers who followed.
He explained, "I suddenly understood that a photograph could fix eternity in an instant."[citation needed] He acquired the Leica camera with 50 mm lens in Marseilles that would accompany him for many years. He described the Leica as an extension of his eye.[citation needed] The anonymity that the small camera gave him in a crowd or during an intimate moment was essential in overcoming the formal and unnatural behavior of those who were aware of being photographed. He enhanced his anonymity by painting all shiny parts of the Leica with black paint.
The Leica opened up new possibilities in photography — the ability to capture the world in its actual state of movement and transformation. He said, "I prowled the streets all day, feeling very strung-up and ready to pounce, ready to 'trap' life."[citation needed] Restless, he photographed in Berlin, Brussels, Warsaw, Prague, Budapest and Madrid.
Cartier-Bresson's, The Decisive Moment, the 1952 US edition of Images à la sauvette. The book contains the term "the decisive moment" now synonymous with Cartier-Bresson: "There is nothing in this world that does not have a decisive moment."
Cartier-Bresson achieved international recognition for his coverage of Gandhi's funeral in India in 1948 and the last (1949) stage of the Chinese Civil War. He covered the last six months of the Kuomintang administration and the first six months of the Maoist People's Republic. He also photographed the last surviving Imperial eunuchs in Beijing, as the city was falling to the communists. From China, he went on to Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia), where he documented the gaining of independence from the Dutch.
In 1952, Cartier-Bresson published his book Images à la sauvette, whose English edition was titled The Decisive Moment. It included a portfolio of 126 of his photos from the East and the West.
He was inspired by the thought that, "There is nothing in this world that does not have a decisive moment."
"Photography is not like painting," Cartier-Bresson told the Washington Post in 1957. "There is a creative fraction of a second when you are taking a picture. Your eye must see a composition or an expression that life itself offers you, and you must know with intuition when to click the camera. That is the moment the photographer is creative," he said. "Oop! The Moment! Once you miss it, it is gone forever."[7]
Mozart's Sister has arrived at Robinson Film Center
Reviews are mixed for the indie movie Mozart's Sister, recently playing at RFC.
Rottentomatoes.com has an array of reviews, the trailer and this summary:
A speculative account of Maria Anna "Nannerl" Mozart (Marie Feret), five years older than Wolfgang (David Moreau) and a musical prodigy in her own right. Originally the featured performer, she has given way to Wolfgang as the main attraction, as their strict but loving father Leopold (Marc Barbe) tours his talented offspring in front of the royal courts of pre-French revolution Europe.
Bonus points for brief critical essays on the movie.
Rottentomatoes.com has an array of reviews, the trailer and this summary:
A speculative account of Maria Anna "Nannerl" Mozart (Marie Feret), five years older than Wolfgang (David Moreau) and a musical prodigy in her own right. Originally the featured performer, she has given way to Wolfgang as the main attraction, as their strict but loving father Leopold (Marc Barbe) tours his talented offspring in front of the royal courts of pre-French revolution Europe.
Bonus points for brief critical essays on the movie.
British author Roald Dahl created Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach and the Fantastic Mr. Fox
Roald Dahl (1916 – 1990) was a British novelist, short story writer, fighter pilot and screenwriter, says Wikipedia.
Born in Wales to Norwegian parents, he served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, in which he became a flying ace and intelligence agent, rising to the rank of Wing Commander.
Dahl rose to prominence in the 1940s with works for both children and adults, and became one of the world's best-selling authors.[3][4] He has been referred to as "one of the greatest storytellers for children of the 20th century".[5]
His short stories are known for their unexpected endings, and his children's books for their unsentimental, often very dark humour.
Some of his notable works include James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, George's Marvellous Medicine, Fantastic Mr Fox, Matilda, The Witches and The BFG.
In Mr Fox the eponymous hero feeds his family by stealing chickens, ducks, and turkeys each night from three mean and wealthy farmers: Boggis, Bunce, and Bean.
The farmers are fed up with Mr Fox's theft and try to kill him.
In the Artspace version Mr Fox is voiced by New Orleans musician Johhny Vidacovich and is cast as a vulnerable father who is down on his luck and losing ground in his battle with the farmers.
Born in Wales to Norwegian parents, he served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, in which he became a flying ace and intelligence agent, rising to the rank of Wing Commander.
Dahl rose to prominence in the 1940s with works for both children and adults, and became one of the world's best-selling authors.[3][4] He has been referred to as "one of the greatest storytellers for children of the 20th century".[5]
His short stories are known for their unexpected endings, and his children's books for their unsentimental, often very dark humour.
Some of his notable works include James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, George's Marvellous Medicine, Fantastic Mr Fox, Matilda, The Witches and The BFG.
In Mr Fox the eponymous hero feeds his family by stealing chickens, ducks, and turkeys each night from three mean and wealthy farmers: Boggis, Bunce, and Bean.
The farmers are fed up with Mr Fox's theft and try to kill him.
In the Artspace version Mr Fox is voiced by New Orleans musician Johhny Vidacovich and is cast as a vulnerable father who is down on his luck and losing ground in his battle with the farmers.
Class fees of $10 being used for $8 charge for visit to field trip to experience Fantastic Mr Fox / Artspace Shreveport on Tues, Nov 8; parents invited
The Fantastic Mr Fox production at Artspace Shreveport is an innovative and artistic experience that brings to life Roald Dahl's classic book of the same name.
Created and first performed in New Orleans, the show combines puppetry, dioramas, lighting, soundtrack and audience participation.
Each fine arts class will visit Artspace during their class block on Tues, Nov 8, to experience the show.
Parents are invited to join in the visit.
Class fees of $10 have been paid by most students. Please see jpams. The Mr Fox fee of $8 per student will be paid from the class fund.
Created and first performed in New Orleans, the show combines puppetry, dioramas, lighting, soundtrack and audience participation.
Each fine arts class will visit Artspace during their class block on Tues, Nov 8, to experience the show.
Parents are invited to join in the visit.
Class fees of $10 have been paid by most students. Please see jpams. The Mr Fox fee of $8 per student will be paid from the class fund.
Blog and notes quiz Wed, Nov 2
Reading comprehension and information management - ie, knowing the material that is on the blog and in your class notes - will be tested again on Wed, Nov 2.
Some 12 - 15 questions will be mostly but not entirely multiple choice.
Some 12 - 15 questions will be mostly but not entirely multiple choice.
Fine arts independent projects due Th, Nov 10
Projects in sculpture, painting, photography, video and other fine arts media are due Th, Nov 10, for 15 pts each person.
Students may work solo or in a duo.
Approximately 25 minutes in each class will be devoted to indie projects. Students are expected to match the class time with equivalent homework time. Bringing appropriate materials to class in timely fashion is also your responsibility.
Early completion of a highly-realized project will earn a 5 pt bonus.
Students may work solo or in a duo.
Approximately 25 minutes in each class will be devoted to indie projects. Students are expected to match the class time with equivalent homework time. Bringing appropriate materials to class in timely fashion is also your responsibility.
Early completion of a highly-realized project will earn a 5 pt bonus.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Pioneer in moving pictures: Eadweard Muybridge
Eadweard J. Muybridge (1830 – 1904) was an English photographer who spent much of his life in the United States, says Wikipedia.
He is known for his pioneering work on animal locomotion which used multiple cameras to capture motion, and his zoopraxiscope, a device for projecting motion pictures. It pre-dated the flexible perforated film strip.
In 1872, former Governor of California Leland Stanford, a businessman and race-horse owner, had taken a position on a popularly-debated question of the day: whether all four of a horse's hooves are off the ground at the same time during the trot. Up until this time, most paintings of horses at full gallop showed the front legs extended forward and the hind legs extended to the rear. [9] Stanford sided with this assertion, called "unsupported transit", and took it upon himself to prove it scientifically. Stanford sought out Muybridge and hired him to settle the question.[10]
In later studies Muybridge used a series of large cameras that used glass plates placed in a line, each one being triggered by a thread as the horse passed. Later a clockwork device was used. The images were copied in the form of silhouettes onto a disc and viewed in a machine called a Zoopraxiscope. This in fact became an intermediate stage towards motion pictures or cinematography.
At the University of Pennsylvania in the 1880's Muybridge used banks of cameras to photograph people and animals to study their movement.
The models, either entirely nude or with very little clothing, were photographed in a variety of undertakings, ranging from boxing, to walking down stairs, to throwing water over one another and carrying buckets of water.
Between 1883 and 1886 he made a total of 100,000 images, working under the auspices of the University of Pennsylvania. They were published as 781 plates comprising 20,000 of the photographs in a collection titled Animal Locomotion.[16]
Muybridge's work stands near the beginning of the science of biomechanics and the mechanics of athletics.
At the Chicago 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, Muybridge gave a series of lectures on the Science of Animal Locomotion in the Zoopraxographical Hall, built specially for that purpose.
He used his zoopraxiscope to show his moving pictures to a paying public, making the Hall the very first commercial movie theater.[17]
He is known for his pioneering work on animal locomotion which used multiple cameras to capture motion, and his zoopraxiscope, a device for projecting motion pictures. It pre-dated the flexible perforated film strip.
In 1872, former Governor of California Leland Stanford, a businessman and race-horse owner, had taken a position on a popularly-debated question of the day: whether all four of a horse's hooves are off the ground at the same time during the trot. Up until this time, most paintings of horses at full gallop showed the front legs extended forward and the hind legs extended to the rear. [9] Stanford sided with this assertion, called "unsupported transit", and took it upon himself to prove it scientifically. Stanford sought out Muybridge and hired him to settle the question.[10]
In later studies Muybridge used a series of large cameras that used glass plates placed in a line, each one being triggered by a thread as the horse passed. Later a clockwork device was used. The images were copied in the form of silhouettes onto a disc and viewed in a machine called a Zoopraxiscope. This in fact became an intermediate stage towards motion pictures or cinematography.
At the University of Pennsylvania in the 1880's Muybridge used banks of cameras to photograph people and animals to study their movement.
The models, either entirely nude or with very little clothing, were photographed in a variety of undertakings, ranging from boxing, to walking down stairs, to throwing water over one another and carrying buckets of water.
Between 1883 and 1886 he made a total of 100,000 images, working under the auspices of the University of Pennsylvania. They were published as 781 plates comprising 20,000 of the photographs in a collection titled Animal Locomotion.[16]
Muybridge's work stands near the beginning of the science of biomechanics and the mechanics of athletics.
At the Chicago 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, Muybridge gave a series of lectures on the Science of Animal Locomotion in the Zoopraxographical Hall, built specially for that purpose.
He used his zoopraxiscope to show his moving pictures to a paying public, making the Hall the very first commercial movie theater.[17]
Judith mit dem Haupt des Holofernes, 1530, Holland
Lucas CRANACH the Elder, Judith mit dem Haupt des Holofernes, 1530
Originally uploaded by Ondra Havala
In the story, Judith, a beautiful widow, is able to enter the tent of Holofernes because of his desire for her. Holofernes was an Assyrian general who was about to destroy Judith's home, the city of Bethulia, though the story is emphatic that no "defilement" takes place.
Overcome with drink, he passes out and is decapitated by Judith; his head is taken away in a basket (often depicted as carried by an elderly female servant).
Artists have mainly chosen one of two possible scenes (with or without the servant): the decapitation, with Holofernes prone on the bed, or the heroine holding or carrying the head.
Thanks to Natalie Rambis!
Fine arts survey: basic film cameras, terms that remain mostly applicable today
SLR
Pros
Direct focusing control
Precise framing
Depth-of-field control (if available)
Unlimited lens/filter options
Ability to use tilt/shift, macro and long lenses
efficient flare check in contra-light
Rangefinder
Compact
Quiet and practically vibration-free
Very bright, aperture independent viewfinder
Superb wide-angle and normal lenses
Maximum optical quality at f/4-5.6, while excellent at maximum apertures
Short shutter lag
Cons
SLR
Large and heavy
Vibrations restrict hand-hold photography
Retrofocus design plagues wide-angle lenses
Maximum optical quality at f/8-11 while often mediocre at maximum apertures for 28-80 lenses.
Often considerable shutter lag
Dark viewfinder with f/5.6 and slower lenses
Rangefinder
Telephoto lenses are limited to 135 mm or shorter (coincident rangefinder cameras)
Awkward macro-photography (if possible at all)
Possible parallax errors at close-up focusing
Rudimentary depth-of-field control
Focus control is indirect
polarizers cannot be used (without major obstacles)
potential mismatch between lens flare vs rangefinder
Pros
Direct focusing control
Precise framing
Depth-of-field control (if available)
Unlimited lens/filter options
Ability to use tilt/shift, macro and long lenses
efficient flare check in contra-light
Rangefinder
Compact
Quiet and practically vibration-free
Very bright, aperture independent viewfinder
Superb wide-angle and normal lenses
Maximum optical quality at f/4-5.6, while excellent at maximum apertures
Short shutter lag
Cons
SLR
Large and heavy
Vibrations restrict hand-hold photography
Retrofocus design plagues wide-angle lenses
Maximum optical quality at f/8-11 while often mediocre at maximum apertures for 28-80 lenses.
Often considerable shutter lag
Dark viewfinder with f/5.6 and slower lenses
Rangefinder
Telephoto lenses are limited to 135 mm or shorter (coincident rangefinder cameras)
Awkward macro-photography (if possible at all)
Possible parallax errors at close-up focusing
Rudimentary depth-of-field control
Focus control is indirect
polarizers cannot be used (without major obstacles)
potential mismatch between lens flare vs rangefinder
What to know in the fine arts center, France
The best-known regions -
- Normandy - 1) the invasion of England in 1066 by William of Normandy, aka William the Bastard 2) Normandy invasion of German-occupied France by British, American, Australian and French forces June 6, 1944.
- Bordeaux - It is the world's major wine industry capital. Also notable here: pate de foie gras and lamb dishes.
- Cote d'Azur: yachts and beautiful, wealthy people sun themselves in St Tropez, Nice and Cannes. Picasso lived in the region for years.
- Provence - Painters love the light here: residents include Cezanne, Van Gogh, Renoir, Monet, Matisse and Picasso, among many.
- Burgundy is the region of some of the most expensive French wines, as well as dishes such as Boeuf Burguignon, Coq au vin and Escargots à la Bourguignonne.
- Paris
- Marseille
- Bordeaux
- Strasbourg
- Rhine R.
- Loire R.
- Normandy - 1) the invasion of England in 1066 by William of Normandy, aka William the Bastard 2) Normandy invasion of German-occupied France by British, American, Australian and French forces June 6, 1944.
- Bordeaux - It is the world's major wine industry capital. Also notable here: pate de foie gras and lamb dishes.
- Cote d'Azur: yachts and beautiful, wealthy people sun themselves in St Tropez, Nice and Cannes. Picasso lived in the region for years.
- Provence - Painters love the light here: residents include Cezanne, Van Gogh, Renoir, Monet, Matisse and Picasso, among many.
- Burgundy is the region of some of the most expensive French wines, as well as dishes such as Boeuf Burguignon, Coq au vin and Escargots à la Bourguignonne.
- Paris
- Marseille
- Bordeaux
- Strasbourg
- Rhine R.
- Loire R.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Italian artist Caravaggio's "David with the head of Goliath"
Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571 – 1610) was an Italian artist active in Rome, Naples, Malta, and Sicily between 1593 and 1610, says Wikipedia.
His paintings, which combine a realistic observation of the human state, both physical and emotional, with a dramatic use of lighting, had a formative influence on the Baroque school of painting. Among others, he influenced Rembrandt.
Caravaggio's style was a radical naturalism which combined close physical observation with a dramatic, even theatrical, use of chiaroscuro. He painted the shift from light to dark with little intermediate value.
He burst upon the Rome art scene in 1600 with the success of his first public commissions, the Martyrdom of Saint Matthew and Calling of Saint Matthew. Thereafter he never lacked for commissions or patrons, yet he handled his success badly, being caught in several felonious assaults.
The Cardsharps is perhaps Caravaggio's first true masterpiece.
Already evident was the intense realism or naturalism for which Caravaggio is now famous. He preferred to paint his subjects as the eye sees them, with all their natural flaws and defects instead of as idealised creations. This allowed a full display of Caravaggio's virtuosic talents. This shift from accepted standard practice and the classical idealism of Michelangelo was very controversial at the time. Not only was his realism a noteworthy feature of his paintings during this period, he turned away from the lengthy preparations traditional in central Italy at the time. Instead, he preferred the Venetian practice of working in oils directly from the subject - half-length figures and still life.
In 1599, presumably through the influence of Cardinal Del Monte, Caravaggio was contracted to decorate the Contarelli Chapel. The two works making up the commission, the Martyrdom of Saint Matthew and Calling of Saint Matthew, delivered in 1600, were an immediate sensation.
Major works from his Malta (Mediterranean island south of Sicily) period include a huge Beheading of Saint John the Baptist (the only painting to which he put his signature) and a Portrait of Alof de Wignacourt and his Page, as well as portraits of other leading knights.
He painted also a David with the Head of Goliath, showing the young David with a strangely sorrowful expression gazing on the severed head of the giant, which is Caravaggio's.
His paintings, which combine a realistic observation of the human state, both physical and emotional, with a dramatic use of lighting, had a formative influence on the Baroque school of painting. Among others, he influenced Rembrandt.
Caravaggio's style was a radical naturalism which combined close physical observation with a dramatic, even theatrical, use of chiaroscuro. He painted the shift from light to dark with little intermediate value.
He burst upon the Rome art scene in 1600 with the success of his first public commissions, the Martyrdom of Saint Matthew and Calling of Saint Matthew. Thereafter he never lacked for commissions or patrons, yet he handled his success badly, being caught in several felonious assaults.
The Cardsharps is perhaps Caravaggio's first true masterpiece.
Already evident was the intense realism or naturalism for which Caravaggio is now famous. He preferred to paint his subjects as the eye sees them, with all their natural flaws and defects instead of as idealised creations. This allowed a full display of Caravaggio's virtuosic talents. This shift from accepted standard practice and the classical idealism of Michelangelo was very controversial at the time. Not only was his realism a noteworthy feature of his paintings during this period, he turned away from the lengthy preparations traditional in central Italy at the time. Instead, he preferred the Venetian practice of working in oils directly from the subject - half-length figures and still life.
In 1599, presumably through the influence of Cardinal Del Monte, Caravaggio was contracted to decorate the Contarelli Chapel. The two works making up the commission, the Martyrdom of Saint Matthew and Calling of Saint Matthew, delivered in 1600, were an immediate sensation.
Major works from his Malta (Mediterranean island south of Sicily) period include a huge Beheading of Saint John the Baptist (the only painting to which he put his signature) and a Portrait of Alof de Wignacourt and his Page, as well as portraits of other leading knights.
He painted also a David with the Head of Goliath, showing the young David with a strangely sorrowful expression gazing on the severed head of the giant, which is Caravaggio's.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Rembrandt color photo project due Tues, Oct 25, 15 pts
In imitation of Rembrandt the next batch of 3 photos must be -
- subjects must be dressy in attire; ie, with collared shirt, hat, scarf, etc.
- a half-figure - from a bit above the waist.
- feature dramatic side lighting.
- 2 in ordinary color.
- one photo in black & white that has been hand-colored.
- be mounted on card stock or matted.
- be well focused.
- have a very plain backdrop.
- avoid harsh shadows and feature a sober mien.
- subjects must be dressy in attire; ie, with collared shirt, hat, scarf, etc.
- a half-figure - from a bit above the waist.
- feature dramatic side lighting.
- 2 in ordinary color.
- one photo in black & white that has been hand-colored.
- be mounted on card stock or matted.
- be well focused.
- have a very plain backdrop.
- avoid harsh shadows and feature a sober mien.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Rembrandt and Amsterdam quiz Friday
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands, says Wikipedia.
Amsterdam has metropolitan population of 2,158,592.[7] It comprises the northern part of the Randstad, one of the larger conurbations in Europe, with a population of approximately 7 million.[8]
Its name is derived from Amstelredamme,[9] indicative of the city's origin: a dam in the river Amstel. It was settled as a small fishing village in the late 12th century,
Amsterdam became one of the most important ports in the world during the 17th century, which was the Dutch Golden Age. Proeprity arrived as a result of its innovative developments in trade. During that time, the city was the leading center for finance and diamonds.[10]
Seeven of the world's top 500 companies, including Philips and ING, are based in the city.[12] In 2010, Amsterdam was ranked 13th globally on quality of living[13] by Mercer, and previously ranked 3rd in innovation by 2thinknow in the Innovation Cities Index 2009.[14]
The Amsterdam Stock Exchange, the oldest stock exchange in the world, is located in the city centre.
Amsterdam's main attractions, including its historic canals, the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, Stedelijk Museum, Hermitage Amsterdam, Anne Frank House, Amsterdam Museum, its red-light district, and its cannabis coffee shops draw more than 3.66 million international visitors annually.
Amsterdam has metropolitan population of 2,158,592.[7] It comprises the northern part of the Randstad, one of the larger conurbations in Europe, with a population of approximately 7 million.[8]
Its name is derived from Amstelredamme,[9] indicative of the city's origin: a dam in the river Amstel. It was settled as a small fishing village in the late 12th century,
Amsterdam became one of the most important ports in the world during the 17th century, which was the Dutch Golden Age. Proeprity arrived as a result of its innovative developments in trade. During that time, the city was the leading center for finance and diamonds.[10]
Seeven of the world's top 500 companies, including Philips and ING, are based in the city.[12] In 2010, Amsterdam was ranked 13th globally on quality of living[13] by Mercer, and previously ranked 3rd in innovation by 2thinknow in the Innovation Cities Index 2009.[14]
The Amsterdam Stock Exchange, the oldest stock exchange in the world, is located in the city centre.
Amsterdam's main attractions, including its historic canals, the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, Stedelijk Museum, Hermitage Amsterdam, Anne Frank House, Amsterdam Museum, its red-light district, and its cannabis coffee shops draw more than 3.66 million international visitors annually.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Rembrandt lighting, a style so universally appreciated that it is a stock item in photography and painting
Rembrandt lighting is characterized by an illuminated triangle under the eye of the subject, on the less illuminated side of the face, says Wikipedia.
One side of the face is lit well from the main light source while the other side of the face uses the interaction of shadows and light, also known as chiaroscuro, to create this geometric form on the face.
chiaroscuro: (Italian, "light-dark") in art is characterized by strong contrasts between light and dark, usually bold contrasts affecting a whole composition.
It is also a term for using contrasts of light to achieve a sense of volume in modelling three-dimensional objects such as the human body.
Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn
1606 -1669
- Dutch painter and etcher. He is generally considered one of the greatest painters and printmakers in European art history and the most important in Dutch history.[2]
Having achieved youthful success as a portrait painter, his later years were marked by personal tragedy and financial hardships.
Yet his etchings and paintings were popular throughout his lifetime, his reputation as an artist remained high,[3] and for twenty years he taught many important Dutch painters.[4]
Rembrandt's greatest creative triumphs are exemplified especially in his portraits of his contemporaries, self-portraits and illustrations of scenes from the Bible. His self-portraits form a unique and intimate biography, in which the artist surveyed himself without vanity and with the utmost sincerity.[2]
One side of the face is lit well from the main light source while the other side of the face uses the interaction of shadows and light, also known as chiaroscuro, to create this geometric form on the face.
chiaroscuro: (Italian, "light-dark") in art is characterized by strong contrasts between light and dark, usually bold contrasts affecting a whole composition.
It is also a term for using contrasts of light to achieve a sense of volume in modelling three-dimensional objects such as the human body.
Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn
1606 -1669
- Dutch painter and etcher. He is generally considered one of the greatest painters and printmakers in European art history and the most important in Dutch history.[2]
Having achieved youthful success as a portrait painter, his later years were marked by personal tragedy and financial hardships.
Yet his etchings and paintings were popular throughout his lifetime, his reputation as an artist remained high,[3] and for twenty years he taught many important Dutch painters.[4]
Rembrandt's greatest creative triumphs are exemplified especially in his portraits of his contemporaries, self-portraits and illustrations of scenes from the Bible. His self-portraits form a unique and intimate biography, in which the artist surveyed himself without vanity and with the utmost sincerity.[2]
Fine Arts portraiture: side lighted and matted black & white head shots are classic
Standards
- dramatic side lighting - see Rembrandt lighting.
- conversion to black & white
- matted
- titled and signed
- 5X7 or 8X10
- 3 pieces
- 15 pts
- campus exhibit / online exhibit
Due in class on Oct 10.
- dramatic side lighting - see Rembrandt lighting.
- conversion to black & white
- matted
- titled and signed
- 5X7 or 8X10
- 3 pieces
- 15 pts
- campus exhibit / online exhibit
Due in class on Oct 10.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Jazz from the written page: poet Allen Ginsberg, 1926 - 1997
Irwin Allen Ginsberg (1926 – 1997) was an American poet and one of the leading figures of the Beat Generation in the 1950s, notes Wikipedia.
He vigorously opposed militarism, materialism and sexual repression. Ginsberg is best known for his epic poem "Howl", in which he celebrated his fellow "angel-headed hipsters" and harshly denounced what he saw as the destructive forces of capitalism and conformity in the United States.
I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by
madness, starving hysterical naked,
dragging themselves through the negro streets at dawn
looking for an angry fix...[2]
In October 1955, Ginsberg and five other unknown poets gave a free reading at an experimental art gallery in San Francisco. Ginsberg's "Howl" electrified the audience.
In 1957, "Howl" attracted widespread publicity when it became the subject of an obscenity trial in which a San Francisco prosecutor argued it contained "filthy, vulgar, obscene, and disgusting language." The poem seemed especially outrageous in 1950s America because it depicted both heterosexual and homosexual sex[4] at a time when sodomy laws made homosexual acts a crime in every U.S. state.
"Howl" reflected Ginsberg's own homosexuality and his relationships with a number of men, including Peter Orlovsky, his lifelong partner.[5]
Judge Clayton W. Horn ruled that "Howl" was not obscene, adding, "Would there be any freedom of press or speech if one must reduce his vocabulary to vapid innocuous euphemisms?"[6]
In "Howl" and in his other poetry, Ginsberg drew inspiration from the epic, free verse style of the 19th century American poet Walt Whitman. Both wrote passionately about the promise (and betrayal) of American democracy, the central importance of erotic experience, and the spiritual quest for the truth of everyday existence.
Ginsberg was a practicing Buddhist who studied Eastern religious disciplines extensively.
Ginsberg's political activism was consistent with his religious beliefs. He took part in decades of non-violent political protest against everything from the Vietnam War to the War on Drugs.[12] The literary critic, Helen Vendler, described Ginsberg as "tirelessly persistent in protesting censorship, imperial politics, and persecution of the powerless."
He vigorously opposed militarism, materialism and sexual repression. Ginsberg is best known for his epic poem "Howl", in which he celebrated his fellow "angel-headed hipsters" and harshly denounced what he saw as the destructive forces of capitalism and conformity in the United States.
I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by
madness, starving hysterical naked,
dragging themselves through the negro streets at dawn
looking for an angry fix...[2]
In October 1955, Ginsberg and five other unknown poets gave a free reading at an experimental art gallery in San Francisco. Ginsberg's "Howl" electrified the audience.
In 1957, "Howl" attracted widespread publicity when it became the subject of an obscenity trial in which a San Francisco prosecutor argued it contained "filthy, vulgar, obscene, and disgusting language." The poem seemed especially outrageous in 1950s America because it depicted both heterosexual and homosexual sex[4] at a time when sodomy laws made homosexual acts a crime in every U.S. state.
"Howl" reflected Ginsberg's own homosexuality and his relationships with a number of men, including Peter Orlovsky, his lifelong partner.[5]
Judge Clayton W. Horn ruled that "Howl" was not obscene, adding, "Would there be any freedom of press or speech if one must reduce his vocabulary to vapid innocuous euphemisms?"[6]
In "Howl" and in his other poetry, Ginsberg drew inspiration from the epic, free verse style of the 19th century American poet Walt Whitman. Both wrote passionately about the promise (and betrayal) of American democracy, the central importance of erotic experience, and the spiritual quest for the truth of everyday existence.
Ginsberg was a practicing Buddhist who studied Eastern religious disciplines extensively.
Ginsberg's political activism was consistent with his religious beliefs. He took part in decades of non-violent political protest against everything from the Vietnam War to the War on Drugs.[12] The literary critic, Helen Vendler, described Ginsberg as "tirelessly persistent in protesting censorship, imperial politics, and persecution of the powerless."
"A pure, round sound but also an unusual freedom of articulation and pitch:" Miles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926 – September 28, 1991) was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, and composer, notes Wikipedia.
Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Davis was at the forefront of almost every major development in jazz from World War II to the 1990s: he played on various early bebop records and recorded one of the first cool jazz records; he was partially responsible for the development of hard bop and modal jazz, and both jazz-funk and jazz fusion arose from his work with other musicians in the late 1960s and early 1970s; and his final album blended jazz and rap.
Many leading jazz musicians made their names in Davis's groups, including pianist Herbie Hancock, saxophonist John Coltrane, saxophonist Kenny Garrett, and guitarist John McLaughlin.
As a trumpeter, Davis had a pure, round sound but also an unusual freedom of articulation and pitch. He was known for favoring a low register and relatively sparse playing that served the song rather than display flashy playing, but Davis was also capable of highly complex and technically demanding trumpet work.
Kind of Blue is his magnum opus. In March and April 1959, Davis re-entered the studio with his working sextet to record Kind of Blue. He called back Bill Evans for the album sessions as the music had been planned around Evans' piano style.[3] Equally crucially, both Davis and Evans had direct familiarity with the ideas of pianist George Russell regarding modal jazz, Davis from discussions with Russell and others prior to what came to be known as the Birth of the Cool sessions.
By the time of E.S.P. (1965) Davis' lineup consisted of Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter (bass) and Tony Williams (drums). This lineup, the last of his acoustic bands, is often known as "the second great quintet."
The double LP Bitches Brew became a huge seller, hitting gold record status (half a million copies) by 1976. This album and In a Silent Way were among the first fusions of jazz and rock that were commercially successful, building on the groundwork laid by Charles Lloyd, Larry Coryell, and many others who pioneered a genre that would become known simply as "Jazz-rock fusion".
Davis was troubled by osteoarthritis (which led to a hip replacement operation in 1976, the first of several), sickle-cell anemia, depression, bursitis, ulcers and a renewed dependence on alcohol and drugs (primarily cocaine), and his performances were routinely panned throughout late 1974 and early 1975. By the time the group reached Japan in February 1975, Davis was teetering on a physical breakdown and required copious amounts of vodka and narcotics to complete his engagements.
After a Newport Jazz Festival performance at Avery Fisher Hall in New York on July 1, 1975, Davis withdrew almost completely from the public eye for six years. As Gil Evans said, "His organism is tired. And after all the music he's contributed for 35 years, he needs a rest."[citation needed]
Davis characterized this period in his memoirs as a colorful time when wealthy women lavished him with sex and drugs. In reality, he had become completely dependent upon various drugs, spending nearly all of his time propped up on a couch in his apartment watching television, leaving only to score more drugs.
By 1979, Davis had rekindled his relationship with actress Cicely Tyson. With Tyson, Davis would overcome his heroin addiction and regain his enthusiasm for music. As he had not played trumpet for the better part of three years, regaining his famed embouchure proved to be particularly arduous.
Miles Davis died on September 28, 1991 from a stroke, pneumonia and respiratory failure in Santa Monica, California at the age of 65. He is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in The Bronx, New York.
Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Davis was at the forefront of almost every major development in jazz from World War II to the 1990s: he played on various early bebop records and recorded one of the first cool jazz records; he was partially responsible for the development of hard bop and modal jazz, and both jazz-funk and jazz fusion arose from his work with other musicians in the late 1960s and early 1970s; and his final album blended jazz and rap.
Many leading jazz musicians made their names in Davis's groups, including pianist Herbie Hancock, saxophonist John Coltrane, saxophonist Kenny Garrett, and guitarist John McLaughlin.
As a trumpeter, Davis had a pure, round sound but also an unusual freedom of articulation and pitch. He was known for favoring a low register and relatively sparse playing that served the song rather than display flashy playing, but Davis was also capable of highly complex and technically demanding trumpet work.
Kind of Blue is his magnum opus. In March and April 1959, Davis re-entered the studio with his working sextet to record Kind of Blue. He called back Bill Evans for the album sessions as the music had been planned around Evans' piano style.[3] Equally crucially, both Davis and Evans had direct familiarity with the ideas of pianist George Russell regarding modal jazz, Davis from discussions with Russell and others prior to what came to be known as the Birth of the Cool sessions.
By the time of E.S.P. (1965) Davis' lineup consisted of Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter (bass) and Tony Williams (drums). This lineup, the last of his acoustic bands, is often known as "the second great quintet."
The double LP Bitches Brew became a huge seller, hitting gold record status (half a million copies) by 1976. This album and In a Silent Way were among the first fusions of jazz and rock that were commercially successful, building on the groundwork laid by Charles Lloyd, Larry Coryell, and many others who pioneered a genre that would become known simply as "Jazz-rock fusion".
Davis was troubled by osteoarthritis (which led to a hip replacement operation in 1976, the first of several), sickle-cell anemia, depression, bursitis, ulcers and a renewed dependence on alcohol and drugs (primarily cocaine), and his performances were routinely panned throughout late 1974 and early 1975. By the time the group reached Japan in February 1975, Davis was teetering on a physical breakdown and required copious amounts of vodka and narcotics to complete his engagements.
After a Newport Jazz Festival performance at Avery Fisher Hall in New York on July 1, 1975, Davis withdrew almost completely from the public eye for six years. As Gil Evans said, "His organism is tired. And after all the music he's contributed for 35 years, he needs a rest."[citation needed]
Davis characterized this period in his memoirs as a colorful time when wealthy women lavished him with sex and drugs. In reality, he had become completely dependent upon various drugs, spending nearly all of his time propped up on a couch in his apartment watching television, leaving only to score more drugs.
By 1979, Davis had rekindled his relationship with actress Cicely Tyson. With Tyson, Davis would overcome his heroin addiction and regain his enthusiasm for music. As he had not played trumpet for the better part of three years, regaining his famed embouchure proved to be particularly arduous.
Miles Davis died on September 28, 1991 from a stroke, pneumonia and respiratory failure in Santa Monica, California at the age of 65. He is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in The Bronx, New York.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Black diaspora in America, 1910 - 1930, 1940 - 1970
Jeffrey Baker, Southern University Museum of Art, 610 Texas, Shreveport
Originally uploaded by trudeau
African Americans migrated to escape racism and prejudice in the South, as well as to seek jobs in industrial cities.
Some historians differentiate between a First Great Migration (1910–30), numbering about 1.6 million migrants, and a Second Great Migration (1940 to 1970), in which 5 million or more people moved and to a wider variety of destinations.
From 1965–70, 14 states of the South, especially Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi, contributed to a large net migration of blacks to the other three cultural (and census-designated) regions of the United States.[2]
By the end of the Second Great Migration, African Americans had become an urbanized population. More than 80 percent lived in cities. Fifty-three percent remained in the South, while 40 percent lived in the North and 7 percent in the West.[3]
A reverse migration has gathered strength since 1965, dubbed the New Great Migration, the term for demographic changes from 1965 to the present which are a reversal of the previous 35-year trend of black migration within the United States.
Best Jazz Trio in S'pt? Probably so.
Smart history of jazz presentation at scholastic.com/activities/bhistory/history_of_jazz.
And the musicians above are Henry Ward, Chan Teague and Christopher Allen. All are members of the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra but they also swing hard in the Miles Davis mode of jazz.
And the musicians above are Henry Ward, Chan Teague and Christopher Allen. All are members of the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra but they also swing hard in the Miles Davis mode of jazz.
Nov 1 & 2: Dia de Los Muertos
Day of the Dead (Spanish: Día de los Muertos) is a Mexican holiday, says Wikipdeai.
The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. It is particularly celebrated in Mexico, where it attains the quality of a National Holiday.
The celebration takes place on November 1st and 2nd, in connection with the Catholic holidays of All Saints' Day (November 1) and All Souls' Day (November 2).
Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars honoring the deceased using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed and visiting graves with these as gifts.
The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. It is particularly celebrated in Mexico, where it attains the quality of a National Holiday.
The celebration takes place on November 1st and 2nd, in connection with the Catholic holidays of All Saints' Day (November 1) and All Souls' Day (November 2).
Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars honoring the deceased using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed and visiting graves with these as gifts.
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