Comments on the Walls

Both of these graffiti pieces have been attributed to the artist known as "Banksy" his work had been absent from London for a while, but it is thought that he has returned in order to make some statements about the Olympics which begin in London next week.

Collect It Because You Love It

Dorothy and Herbert Vogel

The Vogels were art collectors. They amassed a collection of over 5,000 pieces of contemporary art from a collection begun in the mid-twentieth century. They did on modest salaries from his job as a postal worker and her as a librarian. Their choices were well-considered and educated, but mostly what they liked, and were drawn to. 

Mr. Vogel passed away yesterday at 89, he was proof that you do not need a lot of money to collect art, you just need a desire. Check out this website 20 x 200, it is a great place to start.

Dinner Invitation

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The Dinner Party by Judy Chicago, 1974-79, The Brooklyn Museum, NY.

In the era of Women's Liberation in the United States, no artist made more of a statement about women and their struggle for equality (a struggle that clearly continues) than Feminist artist Judy Chicago. Her dinner seats note-worthy women from history at a table where they, and the viewers can observe each other and their contributions. A sampling of the women included are Georgia O'Keeffe, Cleopatra, Sojourner Truth, and Emily Dickinson, to name a few.

The Dinner Party, detail.

Happy Birthday, Judy Chicago.

Beautifully New

Lady with Fan by Gustav Klimt, 1917, Private Collection.

Happy Birthday to Gustav Klimt, today would have been his 150th birthday. The Austrian Art Nouveau painter, often chose women as his subjects and also used gold leaf to further embellish and decorate his work. There is a retrospective of his artwork at the Belvedere Museum in Vienna, Austria now through January 6, 2013.

Beautiful Perfection

Cupid and Psyche as Children by William-Adolphe Bouguereau, 1889, Private Collection.

Among the most popular and prolific artists of the 19th century, Bouguereau was a traditional academic-style painter as many other artists were shunning (or being shunned by) the French Art Academy and heading in different directions. He preferred classical subjects, such as Greek Mythology, and a very straight-forward, realistic, presentation. His work remains quite popular for it's beauty, and the obvious skill of the artist.

Directing the New Age

The Marshmallow Sofa by George Nelson and Irving Harper for Herman Miller, 1956.

George Nelson was offered the Directorship of The Herman Miller Furniture Company in 1945 following the publication of a book called, Tomorrow's House which he co-authored with Henry Wright. Under Nelson's leadership, mid-20th century design had a home and was allowed to flourish.

The Cranbrook Art Museum in Bloomfield Hills, MI is hosting a retrospective of Nelson's career through October 14, 2012.

Circles and a Flag

Window Triptych from the Avery Coonley Playhouse, Riverside IL., 1912 by Frank Lloyd Wright, The Art Institute of Chicago.

Frank Lloyd Wright designed every element of his buildings especially his homes. He designed this stained glass window for the Playhouse of the young Coonley daughter.

Happy 4th of July!

Nurturing Young Talent

 Koala by Hannah Kiraly, 2012

Hannah Kiraly is my neighbor and a senior at Lakewood High School next year. Not long after I first met her I saw some of her photos and was blown-away by her natural talent. I have been pleased to see it grow and mature, as she as, and I believe it is important that she continue to take photos. Please check-out her work at the link on her name below, and just get a small glimpse of what she is up to. She is also a first rate cat sitter.

Hannah Kiraly: Click "Collect Me" to help me win a New York City photo exhibition and a$25,000 cash grant: One Life Photography Competition

Understanding Symbols

The Hunter (Catalan Landscape) by Joan Miro, 1923-24, MoMA, NYC.

Miro began his work as a painter doing portraits but soon found the work of artists like Picasso and the Surrealists with whom he socialized in Paris, to influence him to try other directions in his paintings. The Spanish Civil War drew his work into a political realm as his countrymen suffered at home. His career lasted well into the later part of the twentieth century, in fact a large tapestry he did for the World Trade Center was one of the most valuable pieces of art work that was destroyed on September 11, 2001. 

Figure 6 by Joan Miro, 1974, The World Trade Center (destroyed 9/11/01).

The National Gallery of Art is hosting an exhibition through August 12, 2012 entitled 

 Joan Miró: The Ladder of Escape