Posts

The Nazca Civilization

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The Nazca Civilization  Hello readers, glad we are finally coming to an end to the semester and I hope it has gone well for everyone and that we have learned a lot to move forward to the next semester. This week we have been given some freedom to choose a non western area of our choosing, and I am choosing the Nazca Civilization, originated in Peru. I do not know much of this area and knew nothing of the different groups of people that were from there so lets get to learning together.  The Nazca civilization flourished in the southern coast of Peru between approximately 100 BC and 800 AD. The culture was heavily influenced by the preceding Paraca's culture so some viewers have a hard time seeing when the change takes place. Their art which includes potery, textiles and geoglyphs offer valuable insight into their cultural beliefs, social structure and artistic techniques. These artworks showcase a unique blend of geometric shapes, animal figures, and human representation with s...
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The Age of Digital Entertainment

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  The Age of Digital Entertainment       Hello everyone reading this weeks blog, I decided to focus on the impacts of digital entertainment and its impact on Post Modern artworks that I will be showcasing below. The rise of digital entertainment transformed not only how people consume media but how artists can create, critique and communicate. In the Post Modern era, art seems to be a reflection of our world surrounded by screens and internet culture, video games, and social media.  Electronic Superhighway  By: Nam June Paik     Created in 1995 by Nam June Paik, the Electronic Superhighway is a powerful reflection of how digital technology reshapes perception and identity in postmodern media art. The work consists of 336 televisions, 50 DVD players, 3,750 feet of cable, and 575 feet neon tubing that outlines the glowing map of the United States. If you look up a video clips of the art piece, each state has personal video clips designed for each st...
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Art in the Great Depression

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  Art in the Great Depression     The Great Depression was a worldwide economic downturn that began in the United States following the stock market crash of October 1929. It lasted through the 30's which had devastating effects including unemployment, banks failed, and millions of people lost their savings, home and livelihoods. This post will explore how the expression of art became a powerful way to express hope, resilience and the need for change during a difficult time.  Departure of the Joads By: Thomas Hart Benton          The artist Benton focused on the realism that reflected the struggles and resilience of everyday Americans during the time of the depression. The Departure of the Joads was created in 1941 which captured the hardships with a touch of empathy and the power of these moments for the future.  The painting has little color which I feel sets the tone for the theme of the blog as well as what lies inside the shado...
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Romantic Era

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      When it comes to art, before this class, I was more drawn to landscapes that told a story or a pretty picture of a couple together, which points me to more of the Romantic Era. In this week I will be comparing four different pieces from this era comparing the different happy smiles and pretty colors to desperate tragedies in Pre-Raphaelite and post-impressionism.  Proserpine By: Dante Gabriel Rossetti     Rossetti was an English painter and poet, known for his Pre-Raphaelite paintings.  Rossetti's work Proserpine, painted in 1874,   is an example of the Pre-Raphaelite style itself, that is known for the vivid detail and symbolism throughout. In this painting, Proserpine is the main focus as she was the goddess of the underworld in Greek mythology, seen standing in dim lighting with a pomegranate in hand. There are a few things hidden in plain sight that also have a great influence on what the story might be and that would include the pomegra...
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Classical Exhibit

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                     Hello everyone, for this week I will be taking a deeper dive into two classical pieces that are centered on the Art and Scientific Discovery in the 1700's. During this time period for art, there was also science discoveries that were then reflected back into paintings. There were significant advancements in astronomy, biology, and chemistry that were reflected into paintings so lets take a look at a few.  An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump By: Joseph Wright 'of Derby'     This painting was done in 1768 in London. Wright was known for creating a series of paintings surrounded by tasks done during candlelight that increased the complexity of the story being told. This one in particular showcases an audience gathering around a lecturer to watch an experiment. A white cockatoo was placed in a glass container from where the air was then pumped to create a vacuum. Wright  focusses on the ...
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Baroque Work

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           Hello readers, unlike previous weeks it did not take me long to know what piece I wanted to write on as I have seen this one and have personal photos of this copy when I visited the Louvre museum last spring.  I did not know much about the painting as they only give a small piece of context in such a big building but thought it would be a good time to touch on it deeper now.  The Abduction of the Sabine Women By Nicolas Poussin          With so many bight colors in the women's dresses and parts of a blue sky, it seems that it would be a colorful painting with happiness. Looking deeper into the painting there is a singular man high above everyone else and a mix of men that are holding the women and putting up a fight and it is more of a distress picture that does not give the same inspiration for an awe. The painting amplifies the Baroque style through its use of movement, theatricality, and strong contrast betwe...
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Understanding Northern Renaissance Art

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  Understanding Northern Renaissance Art          Ever since I was a little girl, art that did not have a lot of color did not seem enjoyable, as the faces in the painting of American Gothic by Grant Woods also seem to depict. The stark lines and minute details were influenced by Northern Renaissance painters as he learned to admire those works when he lived in Munich. Throughout my life I have seen this image and thought it was possibly just a simple painting of possibly a farmer who had a wife that was mad at him. The image was always popping up at different points in life and it was somewhat confusing to me as to why this was such an important piece, now knowing that there are many stories that viewers depict onto the painting of what they might think it is about or what is going on behind the scenes and seems to be more of a conversational piece to hear other peoples take on the painting.      My grandparents went through the great depres...
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