by Bob Martin | Mar 11, 2011 | Artist, Arts, Entertainment and Music, Live Performance
Julie Taymor stepping down or away from “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark” was expected. In her talk at TED 2011, last week there seemed to be a hint that she was expecting a downturn in events and was cushioning her admirers and supporters for a possible fall.
In Broadway history it is not unusual for directors or writers to be removed from projects that they’ve started. Possibly the one difference here is that Julie Taymor’s visual style is so unique that it would seem impossible for someone else to supplant the original intent of the play. Ms. Taymor’s work for me has always been about magic, our accepting something that we knew was not real, like an elephant disappearing in smoke or in her case turning puppets in lions and giraffes (“The Lion King”). Taymor is a brilliant illusionist and feeds our visual fantasies.
“Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark” may have been too large of a project for right now, plus no one is immune to some failure and Ms. Taymor will be back to Amaze us once more.
by Sandy | Mar 9, 2011 | Art, Artist, Blogroll, Exhibits, Museums
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, is currently featuring its collection of paintings by Swiss artist Paul Klee (1879-1940). 
“…Revered as one of the most original and inventive modern artists, Klee made his name in Germany, where he was associated with the Blaue Reiter group and became an influential instructor at the Bauhaus before being denounced as a “degenerate” artist by the Nazis. This exhibition presents a diverse array of works made between the two World Wars.”
Paul Klee’s style was influenced by expressionism, cubism and surrealism.
Paul Klee * SF MOMA
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art/ SF MOMA
151 Third Street, San Francisco, CA
by Sandy | Feb 26, 2011 | Art, Artist, Arts, Entertainment and Music, Blogroll, Creativity, Exhibits, Museums
“Abstract Expressionist New York” at the Museum of Modern Art in NYC highlights work from some of the most influential artists of the 40’s thru the 60’s that gravitated to one spot with “…a merger of ideas and styles called abstract expressionism and made New York the center of the art world…”
The MoMA presentation is “a vibrant, energizing show that’s far more than a greatest-hits collection. Sure, you’ll recognize some of the 250 or so works here — Pollock’s drip paintings, Louise Nevelson’s black boxes, Barnett Newman’s stripes. But with them are works by less familiar artists (William Baziotes, Bradley Walker Tomlin) plus early pieces by the masters we know.”
“Abstract Expressionist New York” – Until April 2011
Museum of Modern Art, NYC
(Images: “Number 1A” , 1948 Jackson Pollock and “Woman”, 1950 Willem de Kooning)
by Bob Martin | Feb 5, 2011 | Art, Artist
William T. Williams
“Artist William T. Williams, a professor of art at Brooklyn College, City University of New York, is the 2011 recipient of the Alain Locke International Award in recognition of his consistent achievement producing large, abstract paintings that reflect his mastery of color, innovative artistic approaches, and a diverse range of interests. In addition, he has, throughout a career spanning more than forty years, generously mentored generations of artists. ” Detroit Institute of Art
by Bob Martin | Jan 3, 2011 | Artist, Creativity, Galleries, Museums
Painting by Brian Kershisnik at The Mesa Art Center
What I appreciate most about Brian Kershisnik’s Paintings, is his uncomplicated way of telling of a story. Most of our lives are void of heavy drama and are filled instead with simply unnoticeable and fulfilling events. His paintings are about these events that we acknowledge only as we look back at what gave us the most joy.
Nice Words an exhibit of paintings by Brian Kershisnik, On view until Sunday, February 27, 2011 at the
Mesa Contemporary Arts
by Sandy | Dec 13, 2010 | Art, Artist, Blogroll, Exhibits, Museums
American artist John Singer Sargent, 1856-1925, known primarily for his portraits, is the star of 2 exhibits at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston / MFAH:
“Sargent and the Sea”: “the little-explored maritime paintings and drawings that Sargent produced in various locales during the first five years of his career.“
“Houston’s Sargents”: “30 works drawn from local private collections—and the museum´s own—offer a look at John Singer Sargent´s entire career.”
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston – MFAH, 1001 Bissonnet St, Houston, TX[ad#Adsense Link Unit][ad#Google Mobile]
In Broadway history it is not unusual for directors or writers to be removed from projects that they’ve started. Possibly the one difference here is that Julie Taymor’s visual style is so unique that it would seem impossible for someone else to supplant the original intent of the play. Ms. Taymor’s work for me has always been about magic, our accepting something that we knew was not real, like an elephant disappearing in smoke or in her case turning puppets in lions and giraffes (“The Lion King”). Taymor is a brilliant illusionist and feeds our visual fantasies.
