About Art History

Wordless Wednesday - Doe: a Deer. A Female Deer.

2009-11-11T01:01:52Z

Photo � INAH, Centro Regional de Investigaciones

(While they distilled alcohol, I am fairly certain that members of the Mayan culture didn't carry firearms, wear safety orange or need special permits to take antlerless deer. In fact, some Mayan artisan actually saluted this doe in ceramic form. That said, happy firearms deer season to you hunters who will go sit out in the predicted freezing rain before sunup next Monday. P.S.: Never make fun of art historians for incomprehensible pursuits, all right? Ever again. You know who you are. And I know where you've plugged your campers' extension cords into our household outlets.)

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Wordless Wednesday - Doe: a Deer. A Female Deer. originally appeared on About.com Art History on Wednesday, November 11th, 2009 at 01:01:52.

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In Which the Definitions of "Arts" and "Humanities" Confuse Me

2009-11-03T23:35:14Z

So, today the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities named 26 nominees to this largely ceremonial post. Which is cool because, hey! It's honestly thrilling to see a guy so busy trying to find a large enough tow truck to pull the US economic bus out of the ditch give even a passing nod towards something so crucial (to some of us) as the Arts and Humanities. And the Honorary Chairman of the PCAH is First Lady Michelle Obama, a lovely, genuine human being with larger issues on her agenda. Please don't suppose that I suppose Barack and Michelle Obama stayed up late over the course of several nights agonizing over this list like a State dinner seating chart, because I'm not, quite, that stupid. However.

I've read over the official list, and can't help but notice that the roster reads more-or-less thusly: actor, actor, actor, actor, cellist, architect, playwright, jazz underwriter, film producer, Senator's wife, Senator's billionairess wife, Editor in Chief of VOGUE (I kid you not), ballet dancer and publicist. There are a lot of names, but none of them belong to visual artists, museum directors, gallery owners or, indeed, anyone who huffs paint fumes, cuts mats, welds or chisels for a living. By the way, a BOATLOAD of visual artists were on board for our current President during the election campaign that ended one short year ago.

Speaking from long and expensive experience, the "Arts" and "Humanities" include visual art. (If there are some new definitions of these words, I am going to attempt to retroactively sue a few undergraduate programs for my BFA.) Making visual art, studying visual art and preserving visual art are the lives' works of some US citizens who deserve both respect and recognition. As mentioned, these are largely ceremonial posts ... but how's about a tiny hat tip to the discipline solely devoted to one of our five senses on the next go-round, PCAH?

In Which the Definitions of "Arts" and "Humanities" Confuse Me originally appeared on About.com Art History on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 23:35:14.

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Mr. Art Critic on DVD

2009-11-02T03:13:48Z

The independent film Mr. Art Critic was released on DVD a couple of weeks ago. Now, normally I don't "do" video reviews, but this opportunity was too good to pass up for several reasons. First, I have an extremely short, top secret list of art critics whose reviews I love to loathe and so was wondering if this comedy might shed some light on their ceaseless causticity. (The answer: not really; this isn't a documentary.)

Secondly, I was curious to see a comedic treatment applied to the terribly, terribly serious business of reviewing gallery shows and juried competitions. We've probably all seen works--and audience behavior--at both that required muffled coughing of us to stifle fits of inappropriate laughter, and we've doubtlessly all read reviews that seemed to be written about a completely different event. Could Mr. Art Critic deliver a solid 90 minutes built around these inside jokes? (The answer: yes. Deliciously so.)

Finally (upcoming shameless plug warning), aside from some opening footage shot in Chicago and a highway montage, Mr. Art Critic was filmed on location in Traverse City and Mackinac Island, Michigan. Richard Brauer, who wrote and directed the movie, lives and works in the area, and nearly all of the cast and crew are Michiganders. As am I. We share a beautiful corner of the Wolverine State, and I'm delighted to think of you viewing scene after scene of one of the most charming, picturesque spots we have to offer: Mackinac Island. If you've never visited, we all hope that you will.

For Your Reading and Viewing Pleasure:

Mr. Art Critic review
Mr. Art Critic trailer
Brauer Productions, Inc. website
The Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau

Mr. Art Critic on DVD originally appeared on About.com Art History on Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 03:13:48.

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Wordless Wednesday - Two Witches

2009-10-28T02:45:25Z

Hans Baldung Grien (German, 1484/85-1545)
Zwei Hexen (Two Witches), 1523
Oil and tempera on limewood
65.3 x 45.6 cm (25 11/16 x 17 15/16 in.)
St�del Museum, Frankfurt am Main
Photo � Ursula Edelman

(If you are looking for subtlety here, forget about it. During the Northern Renaissance, witches were portrayed as evil women. Malevolent, naked, seductive women. Sinister, smirking, Fall of Man-causing women. Much like Eve in the Book of Genesis, minus the mitigating Satan/serpent flimflam factor. You can read all about this I-wish-I-could-say-it-no-longer-exists mindset here in "Christian Imagery and Witchcraft in Prints by Hans Baldung Grien" by Stan Parchin.)

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Wordless Wednesday - Two Witches originally appeared on About.com Art History on Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 at 02:45:25.

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An Atypical Art Theft Investigation Ending

2009-10-24T21:21:15Z

Remember that art theft over a month ago, where an entire Warhol series went missing? And how there was a $1 million reward for information leading to their recovery? Well, we can all kiss the promise of reward money goodbye. The insurance company withdrew it about 10 minutes after collector Richard L. Weisman withdrew his claim. "Withdrew his insurance claim?" I can almost hear you ask (as I did). Yes. It went something like this:

Owner withdraws insurance claim worth up to $25 million.
The LAPD Art Theft Detail, somewhat untactfully, publicly remarks that this is a "curious" move.
Owner takes umbrage at LAPD Art Theft Detail remarks.

Annnnd ... well, that's it. All quiet on the Weisman front ever since. Apparently, when Richard L. commissioned the Athlete Series he bought something like eight sets of them. Perhaps it's just a small matter to get replacements out of storage. And +/- $11 million possibly isn't the make-or-break point of his personal checking account, as +/- $11 can be at my house. Who knows? Not me! In my next life, I'm going to attach myself to a Rich Person as soon as I'm old enough to properly say the words, "Please, kind sir. Take me in and teach me the ways of your people."

An Atypical Art Theft Investigation Ending originally appeared on About.com Art History on Saturday, October 24th, 2009 at 21:21:15.

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Fairey 'Fesses, Defense Decamps

2009-10-18T22:57:36Z

So, if you've been playing the HOPE home version all of these months, the latest on the Shepard Fairey/Associated Press/Mannie Garcia hate triangle is that Shepard Fairey has apparently sabotaged his own Fair Use case. Depending on which news source you read, he either lied, submitted false evidence or made an error about which photograph was the basis for the HOPE image, and then either panicked, forgot or neglected to mention one or more of the first three actions.

Unfortunately for Shepard Fairey, any one of the above nine possible combinations has made it practically impossible for his defense team, the Fair Use Project, to continue to represent him in a court of law. (I take this to mean that we can all debate "Fair Use" from here to breakfast at the tops of our lungs but, when a client utters falsehoods under deposition, all bets are off. With this, I concur.)

Fairey is very sorry. I'm only sorry that this iconic image has been peripherally dragged through the mud. Regardless of whether this whole mess ends with a bang, whimper or court-mandated passings of damages hats, HOPE will retain its place in history.

Now, then. What of the photographer, Mannie Garcia's rights? These are conspicuously absent from the recent news articles. And what do you think? Let's discuss this, because there currently is no end to misinformation about this case, Marcel Duchamp, Andy Warhol, Shepard Fairey and the definition of "derivative work" floating around on the Internet.

Fairey 'Fesses, Defense Decamps originally appeared on About.com Art History on Sunday, October 18th, 2009 at 22:57:36.

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About That Newly Authenticated Leonardo Drawing

2009-10-15T23:57:54Z

It hit the news two days ago that leading Leonardo scholars had been vindicated on attributing The Drawing Formerly Known as Young Girl in Profile in Renaissance Dress to the Renaissance Master. Why? Florentine fingerprints, Friends! You can read all about this "new" Leonardo drawing here, including links to abstracts and statements written by the experts involved.

Suspected works by Leonardo are authenticated about once per century, so this is rather huge in The Art World. The only question I'm left asking is, "At which young Sforza maiden do we seem to be looking?" After reading (seemingly) endlessly, I've gotten my Biancas and Bianca Marias hopelessly confused...

Image credit:

Attributed to Leonardo da Vinci (Italian, 1452-1519)
La Bella Principessa, ca. 1480-90
Black, red and white chalk, pen and ink on vellum, with watercolor additions. Strengthened with oak panel backing.
23.87 x 33.27 cm (9 3/8 x 13 1/16 in.)
� Private Collection & Lumiere-Technology

About That Newly Authenticated Leonardo Drawing originally appeared on About.com Art History on Thursday, October 15th, 2009 at 23:57:54.

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Wordless Wednesday - Young Christian Girl

2009-10-07T10:15:28Z

Paul Gauguin (French, 1848-1903)
Young Christian Girl (Bretonne en Pri�re), 1894
Oil on canvas
65.2 x 46.7 cm (25 5/8 x 18 3/8 in.)
� Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, Williamstown, Massachusetts, USA

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Wordless Wednesday - Young Christian Girl originally appeared on About.com Art History on Wednesday, October 7th, 2009 at 10:15:28.

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"Struggling Museum Now Allowing Patrons To Touch Paintings"

2009-10-06T17:16:34Z

I know, right? You're a curator or conservator who just simultaneously suffered Numbers One *and* Two incontinence simply by reading that headline. Relax! It's The Onion, up to its usual mischief. (Museums are indeed struggling during the ongoing economic downturn, but let's all pray no staff ever becomes this desperate ...)

"Struggling Museum Now Allowing Patrons To Touch Paintings" originally appeared on About.com Art History on Tuesday, October 6th, 2009 at 17:16:34.

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This Clown Had an Art Exhibition (And Why You Should Care)

2009-09-27T19:16:23Z

The gent in the pink jumpsuit and clown mask is known as Shawn Crahan on his driver's license. To metal fans, he is known as "Clown" (or sometimes "#6"), a percussionist in the Grammy winning band Slipknot. Three days ago, Crahan turned 40--a milestone for all of us, but especially so for a heavy metal musician. He celebrated "art, music and growing old" by staging a free, one-night exhibition of his photography and paintings at the Moberg Gallery in Des Moines, Iowa. As you have doubtless guessed, I think everyone should make art, so would like to offer both an "Atta boy" and a "Many happy returns" to Mr. Crahan.

Now, to the "Why You Should Care" part. Many of us try to inspire a love (similar to our own) of art history in our fellow humans. Sadly though, not everyone sees value in visual art, let alone the study of its history. This disinterest is often magnified x10 when a student has to take an art history class. Have you ever witnessed non-verbal cues that make it plain a root canal sans anesthesia would be preferable to whatever is going on? Yes, it's like that. I have one son who is taking an English course, kicking and screaming every step of the way. He already knows English, you see. He speaks it. There is no point in further exploring English; we are all wasting our time. If I could only find the proper words, I might begin to describe the expression on his face each time he begins composing some new, entirely st00pid assignment. He, to my auditory pain, loves blasting Slipknot, while Shakespeare leaves him flat. In my opinion, we need to find some relative-to-him source of wordsmithy inspiration. (Seth MacFarlane, perhaps ...)

Point being: The key, I think--with any subject--is landing on a spot where students (formal or informal) can connect with the subject matter. In art, it's often with the personal life of an artist. Find some commonality on the human level, and the works themselves may become of interest. I've brought up Shawn "Clown" Crahan in the hopes that you may be able to slip his exhibition into casual convo with a younger (than me) crowd and pique interest. In other words, my dear art-historic Partner in Crime: "Infiltrate and double-cross." That's my art history motto, anyway.

What say you? How do YOU engage your acolytes? All teaching tips gratefully accepted.

P.S. If you do mention "Clown," I beg of you, do NOT let it drop that he is a percussionist with "The Slipknot" as I did. Oh, the horror! My potential Hip Factor not only flew out the window upon inserting that demonstrative adjective, it disappeared from sight and landed somewhere in the tall grass, never to be seen again.

Image credit: Heavy Metal Band Slipknot arrives at the 48th Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on February 8, 2006 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images.

This Clown Had an Art Exhibition (And Why You Should Care) originally appeared on About.com Art History on Sunday, September 27th, 2009 at 19:16:23.

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