Dorothea Tanning- Surrealist Art

Dorothea Tanning, born in Galesburg, Ill in 1910 received her training at Chicago's Knox College in Chicago, made an impact on New York at an early age. Where a meeting with French Surrealist Artist Max Ernst, among others, would make a life changing impact on her life1 transforming herself into one of the foremost surrealist artist of our time.

It was difficult to choose an image of Dorothea Tanning's Surrealist Art because not only of her vast portfolio of work but of the quality. The question was; Which painting available for me best symbolises Dorothea Tanning's Surrealist Art? I couldn't answer the question effectively without doing the art and artist an injustice because that's a question best answered by the artist.

So, I chose the one to which I could best give an opinion. The image of Family Portrait struck me most because of how each family member's size, for me, speaks to their status in the family. The father figure shown here as a translucent, looming figure, larger than everyone else poses as the most important or influential member, perhaps even imposing. His eyes are round mirror like glasses yet showing no reflection. The next in size is a younger woman perhaps a daughter, prim and solemn being served by an older, matriarchal figure. The older woman in relation to the rest of the family is smallest in size suggesting a status of least importance. Her facial expression is solemn yet hard to see as her features are smaller and not as easy to see as the others which to me, suggest her feelings are of least importance as well.

I could be way of base here in my opinion as I don't really know what the artist was trying to depict. Either way, Dorothea Tanning has made an impression on me as an artist who's symbolism illustrates an insight into the human psyche that is unique. In my opinion that psyche speaks to how we view ourselves whether swisted, skewed or in degrees of good, evil or sanity.

For more about Dorothea Tanning Surrealist... http://www.thefreelibrary.com/DOROTHEA+TANNING-a075830825

1http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/tanning/, 2 photo from www.writedesignonline.com

Isamu Noguchi- Artist, Architect

Combining two things I love, art and furniture is absolutely heavenly. But, I feel I'm underrating this piece by putting it in the class of furniture, I'll like to call it functional art, art that you live with and interact with making it a part of your daily life.

It's really ironic how much I love furniture because I always have the worst trouble choosing pieces for myself. So, usually I go for a minimalist living space rather than have something I don't like in my home.

His life span 1904-1988 is short in comparison to the life of creativity that came from his mind which makes this man's work immortal. I chose his coffee table because of my love of furniture but this is only a small corner in his universe of creations which include, writings, paintings, sculpturs and more.

More about Isamu Noguchi: http://www.noguchi.org/index.html

Feng Zhendgjie

Immediately, I was struck by the futuristic, cyborg like impression of these paintings but, was I wrong?

From viewing several of Feng Zhendgjie's work I noticed that all of his subjects are depicted with irises focused in opposite directions basked in an ora of light framing the head and sometimes shoulders.

Often his work is contrast with a dark backdrop or an eye catching bright hue of color framing the face. Each work has a different expression which makes me believe that each subject was a real person of striking substance and in a focused mode of thought to be reflected in the subjects face.

Below is a quote taken directly from Phillips de Pury and Company Gallary:

"A female face with the irises located at the extremities can almost be regarded as a trademark of Feng Zhengjie’s paintings. We feel, of course, something strange when facing these paintings: we can’t understand what she is looking at, or what she is thinking. We say, in Japanese, that 'the eyes tell more than the mouth' which means that the expression of the eyes is decisive. The artist, first hid their eyes’ expression by using sunglasses, then he found that he could do it, more effectively, by locating the irises at the extremity of the eyes. This is a discovery and a surprise. Moreover, this solution gives us a bizarre impression as if the girls have no eyes, although their eyes are actually depicted.On the other hand, the lips are painted vivid rouge. The color seems even gaudy to some people. If you look at these lips closely, you will find that they are all individual with different shapes and expressions. They are all charming and attractive, more or less, appear from the gaudiness of the color.Their lips make a remarkable contrast with the dehumanized look in their eyes," (C. Shigeo, “These Girls Are Looking At? Feng Zhengjie’s Paintings,” Feng Zhengjie, Italy, 2004, pp.108-109).

See more of Feng Zhengjie's work or to read about him visit:http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/artists/feng_zhengjie.htm

Arrangement in Grey and Black- Whistler's Mother

Even before I could understand what this meant, I always thought the mother depicted in this painting looked just plain tired. I've seen the same expression and demeanor from my own mother after a day's work so as a child I imagined she had 4 lively children who were willful and kept her on the go.

Now, I wonder what she's thinking, what's going on around her, what happened just before she sat for the painting? Then I rationalize with the period of the painting, perhaps she's simply sitting? She can't be tire because that was a time when slaves were still being used to do everyday mundane tasks for their masters. Is she just lazy? What is she focusing on? What is she resting her feet on? Is there a treat wrapped in her kerchief to quiet a squalling child?

I ask these questions to try to connect with James McNeil Whistler and other artist who are now separated from us by an expanse of time and death in an attempt to make the piece more personal and to gain more understanding beyond what critics view as a powerful or simple brush stroke.

This seemed appropriate for today as Mother's everywhere are being honored for being the bringers of life in our world. She is only one of whom I'd love to honor today my own mother is one as well. To say thanks to all and Happy Mother's Day.

Anna Hyatt-Huntington Sculptor

Panther Ascending A Rock in bronze Circa 1907, is only one of Anna Hyatt's works. At first glance I'm struck by a sleek muscular animal whose posture is of basking in a carresing heat of midevening sunshine.

The expression on the animals face is reminiscent of a result I get when scratching the head of my mom's domesticated cat. Anna Hyatt's stricking ability to capture such realism and life makes me smile even now.

Anna Hyatt's father was a Paleontologist at Harvard University which I can only imagine would've instilled, at an early age, a love and fascination with animal forms.

Enjoy this award winning artist's work on you own to discover what i have in a very short time. Which is that any medium can be used to convey a spectacular award winning work of art.

Gerald Bhendu African Art

One of the most intriguing and mysterious artists came to my attention a few weeks ago. My first impression of readingg about his life was admittedly anger on my part. To be more specific I was angered by how little information I could find about the man himself. From what I read he was a much sought after artist but where are his riches? I realize not all artist paint for the monetary gain or notoriety but for their own pleasure and expression. Somehow, I didn't get that impression from reading about Gerald Bhendu.

I believe anyone with his talent enjoys their work as I believe he did however, I don't believe he had the opportunity to realize his gift as a means to financial prosperity. Living as a child during a time when some believed that black Africans were best left uneducated as to not "spoil a natural gift", may be unthinkable by today's standard. But that's how life was for Bhendu. Despite that he create some of the most beautiful and inspiring real-life character studies, in my opinion. His expression where sometimes in the form of home made medium when money was very low or non-existent. In my opinion a man of his talents should never be without financial resources. Which is one of the reasons why my nerves were struck by the limited information about his life.

While a lengthy Internet search of Bhendu's Life yielded less than satisfying results, his work speaks volumes about who he was as an artist, with an extraordinary eye for detail, a love and intense pride for his people. These things without reading about them are clearly communicated through the care he put into each of his works.

D. H. Lawrence Literary Artist

One of the greatest literary artists to exist on this earth capturing the imagination and hearts and eyebrows of many. D.H. Lawrence was born David Herbert Lawrence in Nottinghamshire England to parents, by today's standards, would be considered the epitome of opposites attract. His mother was a school teacher and father a blue blue collar coal miner. He himself an artistic triple threat as a novelist, poet and painter. Despite his humble beginnings the Nottingham University Educated young man created a name for himself as a writer drawing on his life for inspiration. 1 Some of his most notable works are: Sons and Lovers(my favorite), The Rainbow, Women in Love and Lady Chatterley's Lover.

Mrs. Morel's sentiment in Chapter one of Sons and Lovers:

"What have I to do with it?" she said to herself. "What haveI to do with all this?Even the child I am going to have! It doesn't seem as if I were taken into account."Sometimes life takes hold of one, carries the body along,accomplishes one's history, and yet is not real, but leaves oneselfas it were slurred over.?..."

For me and I'm sure for others, this passage struck a cord in our minds about how life can relentlessly move forward like an express freight train whether we are ready, willing or not. I often wonder how many of his life events where spurred along with him as an unwilling passenger.

His truthfulness and descriptive language makes each phrase come alive evoking feelings and emotions which carry us along with his stories. It's as if we are feeling what each character experiences as they live out their lives within his writings.

D. H. Lawrence had the ability maintain objectivity in his characters, in my opinion, creating elements of each person that we love and dislike, recognize in ourselves and in others that we know. His books, poems, stories and views were both criticized and admired by his peers creating a new generation of thinkers and belief systems.

Sources:

1. http://www.online-literature.com/dh_lawrence/

Fannie Nampeyo Pottery Art

Pleasure and delightenment(to coin a phrase) are the things I feel when I have the pleasure of viewing a piece from the Nampeyo Family Art work. Fannie Nampeyo was the matriarch of a solid line of Hopi Pottery artists specializing in care and meticulous results. She lived between the years of 1860ish-1930ish, exact dates are debatable.1


Hopi Pottery is a form of art originating from the Navajo Nation in the Northeastern Arizona region. What makes this art so special is that it is hand created in an exclusive area called Hano, the Mecca of Hopi Artists. Fannie Nampeyo is praised and famed for founding the method used to create Hopi pottery art which is the unique way of firing the clay to create it's signature smooth orange hue.2


Years of History, perseverance of life and tradition despite often times inhospitable3 conditions have lead to a seamless culmination of soulful art expression in Fannie Nampeyo's art. Her traditions live on through her descendants and their persistent respect for what she's created. Her work has touched many lives of all ages, nationalities and regions to etch a place in our world, beyond the art, as a creative force to inspire many.

Knowing that her handmade work would rival that of any modern technology used to create a smooth refined piece solidifies my belief that , each piece tells a story and in my opinion, holds a bit of the soul and spirit of it's potter.

Sources: 1. http://www.artssouthwest.com/pottery/artists.html 2. http://www.canyonart.com/hopipots.htm 3. Blair M. E., Blair L. A. The Legend of a Master Potter: Nampeyo and Her Decendents

The Arts Supported in Stimulus Bill

“There are five million people who work in the arts industry. And right now they have 12.5% unemployment—or are you suggesting that somehow if you work in that field, it isn’t real when you lose your job, your mortgage or your health insurance? We’re trying to treat people who work in the arts the same way as anybody else.” -Congressman David Obey, The Art Newspaper

This is the sentiment in our new Administration in respect to the Arts World which in my opinion is a fantastic thing. For centuries the Arts have been a respected profession and sought after career, in other nations. Here in the U.S. the sentiment was of it being more of a pass-time or hobby until recent years when major support of Arts foundations and philanthropy rivaled many a political campaign. Making our leaders sit-up and take notice that the Arts isn't just a pass-time but an integral part of our nation and the communities within both urban and affluent.

My question about this Bills range of support is, does it extend beyond the easel and canvas in support of the Literary Arts and alternative Arts? I eagerly await the outcome once these funds have been dispersed.

Another question raised is: “how giving tens of millions of dollars to the National Endowment of the Arts or the Smithsonian Museum will reverse the devastating effects of the economic crisis?” -John McCain, The Art Newspaper;

I eagerly await the outcome. However, in my opinion it's important to show a balanced support of all facets of our culture as a nation because allowing one area to thrive while another errodes would be like unraveling the positive outcome of years of equality struggles with the stroke of a pen.

Art Sculpture?

So many different mediums of art exist and new ones are created everyday. As I walked past a studio last night I caught a glimps of rope, twine, a wooden barrel, paint, smooth and jagged stones. What could this hodgepodge of materials create? Are there more things that I can't see right now? And what message will the artist try to convey? I tried to get into the mind of the artist without meeting them when I saw this unfinished display. My interest was seriously peeked.

At the least I think this person's medium is sculpting because of the wide range of materials. The rustic condition of everything made me think that this person uses material that is available for free aquired while on a walk or happened upon during routine comings and goings. My mind constantly plays with the images of each item like trying to piece a jig saw puzzle together.

I won't try to make sense of them now as I believe the artist's mind and thoughts are like unto the sea and it's waves disapating against a sandy beach. Each wave leaves a unique impression against the sand changed by external forces that we can't control. At the same time I believe creative expression has a destionation whether we are aware of it or not, yet.