Jeff Harris

I don't have much time since I have to head to work, but I couldn't leave before posting this article/video I found on Huffington Post.





Jeff Harris is an inspirational human being and artist. If I could devote just 5 minutes of my day to creating something, like he has done, I can't imagine what I would come up with. I am not big on New Year's resolutions--they seem trite and petty--but perhaps this will be a life resolution. So often I spend my day focused on what others are doing or saying and most of the time this is self-destructive behavior. Perhaps if I dedicated that time to being constructive and creative, I would end up with something absolutely beautiful and wonderful like Harris' work.

Correlation?

Is there a connection/correlation between me getting a teaching gig in art history at a local community college and me seeing this picture in the same day?

Probably not. But I'd like to think so. Mayjay props to Miz Parker for locating and reposting this gem.

Some New Stuff

Does anybody else ever need to revamp the look of their blog simply so they can write a post after a long hiatus?

Or am I alone in this great big world?

Either way, I (or rather, my blog) is revamped and I can finally get around to actually writing something on this thing.

I haven't checked the date of my last post but I'm sure it's safe to say it's been far too long.

A lot has happened. Recap?

1. Mark and I moved to Ireland.

Yep. That sums it up.

So this first post back isn't going to be about this amazing country, what we've done since arriving or what the name of my favorite pub is (Tigh Neachtain's). This post, true to form, is going to be about art.

I came across two pieces recently. One IRL (in real life for all you internet-lingo-losers out there. Us winners call you the ILLs.) and one at a URL. Gosh I'm so clever with my abbreviations tonight!

The first:

Ai Weiwei's Sunflower Seeds has to be one of the coolest artworks I've come across in a long while. In the main turbine hall of the Tate Modern, over 100 million sunflower seeds were placed on the floor. And you're probably thinking...what a waste of food (At least that's where my ravenous mind/tummy goes)! BUT these sunflower seeds are not real sunflower seeds. Each seed in an individually made, hand painted piece of porcelain! Crazy right? CRAZY.

I loved this piece not just for the sheer magnitude or because I had the urge to steal one of these seeds and risk being banned from the Tate Modern forever, but because the emphasis on the piece was on the process, on the work that went into it. There was a video that accompanied this work that they showed in a small enclosure nearby and watching the process of the piece was fascinating. Ai Weiwei basically supported people in a small Chinese town that would normally be unemployed and penniless by creating this artwork. Art for the greater good? I'm sold.


A similar art piece that I came across online was this:

Meet Motoi Yamamoto and his labyrinths. He creates these works with salt--2,200 pounds of salt to be exact--and a helluva lot of patience. Now, different from Weiwei--who has had others involved throughout the whole process of Sunflower Seeds--Yamamoto creates the piece but then lets others change the maze or disrupt the maze if they so choose. (Sidenote: Tate Modern visitors used to be able to walk on the sunflower seeds but then they realized the dust from the porcelain could be hazardous. Also, a friend told me that they were practically sweeping it all back in place all the time--which to me would have been a major detraction. While it would have been cool to walk on them--and I would have been able to steal one easier that way--I'm glad it was the way it was by the time I got to it.)

Again, what is so amazing about these pieces is the sheer undertaking of the work itself--the process. However, they are also remarkable (in my opinion) because both men intentionally chose mediums and and processes that have significant meanings for their respective cultures and societies. Let me break it down for you:

Weiwei. Chinese. Mao. Mao as the Sun. Therefore, all Chinese people are sunflowers. Sunflower seeds as metaphor. Get it? It's explained better here.

Yamamoto. Japanese. Traditional symbol for purification and mourning in Japan: Salt. Mazes=eternity. There is a more personal reason behind the need to make mazes with salt. Curious what it is? Thought so. That's why I gave you the link earlier silly gooses!

Both Weiwei and Yamamoto's undertakings were extreme and massive, to say the least. But what they accomplish by working in such exaggerated numbers is a general sense of awe in the viewer. And what's even more impressive is that the awe is not limited to their visual effect. The awe is perpetuated by the process and the story behind the purpose of these pieces and what they represent.

Bottom line: Asians dominate.

Review #2

Signora da Vinci: A Novel

By: Robin Maxwell

 

 I finished Signora da Vinci just twenty-four hours ago and while my heart says give it a 9 out of 10 stars, my brain says 6. Why the conflict? Because my heart is that of a middle-aged woman who is unashamed of her obsession with daytime television, romance, and epic tragedy. My brain belongs to a 23-year-old waitress who has her Master's degree and simply cannot overlook easy word choices and poor writing.  See my dilemma? (Aside: Anyone else think that dilemma would best be spelled 'dilemna'?)

Since Signora da Vinci has not won any book awards and most certainly has not gained the notoriety of  A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, I feel a brief synopsis is necessary. Here goes...

Signora da Vinci is a historical fiction narrative about Leonardo da Vinci's mother, Caterina, and her purported life story. Caterina, being raised by an apothecary/alchemist, is educated beginning at the age of 8 in subjects ranging from religion, philosophy, literature, physics, art, etc. Although a wise young adult, she inevitably falls in love with a wealthy Vinci inhabitant Piero and, after promised his love and matrimony, has sexual relations outside of marriage (SCANDAL!!!) Well, like all good love stories, his family disapproves and, since he is spineless, he moves to Florence and leaves Caterina to raise her forthcoming child on her own. Leonardo is born and OF COURSE Piero's family now wants the child because it's the 1st born son of their family, however illegitimate. As the story unfolds, Caterina's dedication to her son is developed and it lays the groundwork for her motivation throughout her (fictionarlized) life. After discovering Leonardo's artistic talents, Caterina is the one that sets the ball in motion for him to apprentice under Verrocchio in Florence. However, her longing to be near her son is too great and so she decides that, with her education to support her, she could easily disguise herself as a man and work as an apothecary in Florence. After this relocation, Caterina's (now Cato the Apothecary) life truly begins as she is surrounded by music, art and science and befriends the greatest minds of her time, including Lorenzo de' Medici (who also becomes her lover...GREATER SCANDAL). The book describes some of the greatest artworks and artists of the times, but also delves into the political and religious turmoil surrounded Italy in the 15th century. The book concludes with Caterina venturing to India after Leonardo is safely and successfully creating works in Milan.

Phew. That was tough! (Book summarizer I am not.)

So what did I love about this book?

• The Historical References! As a person who obtained her Bachelor's degree in History and her Master's in Art History, this book was right up my academic alley. Reading a novel that name-dropped Medici, Verrocchio, Botticelli, etc. while discussing the historical/religious/political context of 15th century Italy was just amazing. Maxwell's incorporation of some of the most iconic artworks of all time into the narrative was thrilling as well. I mean, what if Botticelli really did reveal the work below as she describes...what if...

 Botticelli, Birth of Venus

• Maxwell's ability to tell such a convincing and interesting story that I was able to suspend my disbelief. I didn't spend the book saying to myself "God, that's impossible!" or "How far-fetched!" I spent my time reading this novel saying "Did that really happen?" What is great about that response is that it fosters my desire to research more and, little known fact, I LOVE learning. So thanks Maxwell for that.

• This book may have been about Leonardo da Vinci, the time period, Italy, Leonardo's mother and many other things, but I think Maxwell's greatest ambition in Signora da Vinci was to discuss the importance of learning, of knowledge, especially among women. I didn't really focus on this particular plot line until the very end. Maxwell cleverly used her epilogue to get to the heart of the matter: that if you are knowledgeable, or you strive to obtain knowledge, regardless of your gender, that you will never be fully without hope or faith. Beautiful, really.

What did I not like about this book?

• You can only suspend disbelief for so long.
• The story was obviously catered toward women, or the highly sympathetic/affectionate types.
• The writing. Just because the story takes place in the 15th century, it does not mean that every 20 sentences or so you suddenly adjust your language and sentence structure. I guess if it was consistent it would have worked, but it wasn't. It broke the narrative on occasion--reminding the reader that this was a modern-day telling of a possibly entirely fictional life.

So, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

I read this book fairly quickly so I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants an enjoyable, pleasing read without necessarily wanting to learn any historical information definitively.

Next book, The Passage, to be read in tandem with Ms.DuneManic (AKA- Darth Rachel). Prepare yourselves for not just one, but TWO, point of views!

Chaplin, Wall-E and RFK...OH MY!

So, as some of you may know, I can get quite crafty when it comes to gift-giving. So, when confronted with the ever-daunting task of finding a present for Mark (aka: Baby, Pidge, Hubster, the Man, my love, etc.) I decided one year to do portraits of two of his favorite figures of all time: Charlie Chaplin and Wall-e. This is what came of it:

Meet Wall-E

Hello Charlie

 Since painting these, Mark has wanted this portrait-creation to be a yearly thing. So, the following year I decided upon two of his favorite great-minds: Robert F. Kennedy and Nikola Tesla. Tesla was and still is nearly impossible to paint because of the low-quality to very few images that exist of him. I have sort of given up on him for a little while, but here is good ole RFK:

 

 Good ole RFK

So why am I telling you all of this? WELL, I just recently decided that (due to brokedom) that I should try to create these portraits per the request of others that would be willing to pay me for my services. And behold! An Etsy Shop is born! So far, I just have these few items posted and "Personalized Portraits" available for request/purchase, but more is on its way. So if you feel like supporting a friend, or a stranger, feel free to contact me about a portrait that you might want!

.End transmission of self-promotion.