by Sandy | Apr 25, 2012 | Art, Blogroll, Exhibits, Museums
The Los Angeles Museum of Art showcases work from 1931-1968 in their exhibit: “In Wonderland: The Surrealist Adventures of Women Artists in Mexico and the United States“
“North America represented a place free from European traditions for women Surrealists from the United States and Mexico, and European émigrés. While their male counterparts usually cast women as objects for their delectation, female Surrealists delved into their own subconscious and dreams, creating extraordinary visual images. Their art was primarily about identity: portraits, double portraits, self-referential images, and masquerades that demonstrate their trials and pleasures.”
Some of the artists included are Louise Bourgeois, Leonora Carrington, Frida Kahlo, Lee Miller, Kay Sage, Dorothea Tanning, and Remedios Varo.
In Wonderland: The Surrealist Adventures of Women Artists in Mexico and the United States * Until 5/6/12
LACMA/ Los Angeles County Museum of Art
5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles
by Bob Martin | Apr 21, 2012 | Art, Education, music
Olaudah Equiano
The understanding of folk music and its lyrics can provide an unabashed depiction of the life of a people. This music is never about being popular or a hit, rather, it is always an expression of endurance.
Reviewing the songs that can be found in the book Slave Songs of the United States
you begin to see how amazing the journey has been for Barack Obama and others.
by Sandy | Apr 16, 2012 | Art, Blogroll, Education, Events, Exhibits
Detroit Institute of Arts/ DIA hosts the 75th Annual Detroit Students Exhibition beginning on April 28, 2012. The show “features hundreds of imaginative works created by Detroit Public Schools students in grades K-12, ranging from paintings, prints, drawings, photography, ceramics, videos, jewelry and more. The exhibition is free with museum admission.” 
The 75th Detroit Public Schools Student Exhibition
Saturday, April 28, 2012 – Sunday, June 03, 2012
Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, Michigan
(I bet the parents are sooooo proud!)
by Sandy | Apr 10, 2012 | Art, Artist, Blogroll, Museums
An unusual pairing at the Metropolitan Museum, NYC –
Rembrandt and Degas: Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
Collected from the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, Netherlands, the museum has put together “Self-portraits made by Rembrandt van Rijn (1606–1669) and Edgar Degas (1834–1917) at the start of their illustrious careers …seen side by side, for the first time, in an exhibition that highlights the Dutch master’s guiding influence on the young French Impressionist and offers an intimate look at their unique kinship.“
Rembrandt and Degas: Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man – until May 20, 2012
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
5th Ave and 86 Street, NYC
(Images: Rembrandt van Rijn, Sheet of Studies with Self-Portrait (detail), 1630–34 and Edgar Degas, Self-Portrait (detail), ca. 1855–57)
by Bob Martin | Apr 3, 2012 | Art, Cable, Directors, HBO, Movies
Simultaneously, as we began to understand the characters and their dynamics on the HBO series “Luck” we learned that the series had been cancelled, because of the concern for horses that might be used in the production of the series. Ironically the series was beginning to paint a bleak portrait of the “sport” of horse racing, the people associated with the sport as well as the care for these magnificent animals once they are no longer able to race, leaving some people to wonder if the heat that HBO felt (and reason for cancellation) was about the death of 3 horses or the exposure given to the seedy side of this sport.Unfortunately races horses die from racing and not from being filmed. So the cancellation of show is about politics and not horses, so ending the series did do much for the horse.
Growing up in an urban area, I’ve had a fascination with horses and believed that they were always treated like “Scout” or “Trigger” the always appreciated sidekicks of the Lone Ranger and Roy Rogers, respectfully and that the people surrounding the “sport” of horse racing were the type of people you see at the Kentucky Derby, woman with flowered hats, and owners in white linen suites. “Luck” put to rest this fantasy.
Like everything that turns out to be worth watching, the series “Luck” was about more then just the horses and any one single thing. A well acted, written and directed portrait of people whose background story we seldom hear about. It was the bazaar and conflicting human story that was just beginning to unfold and there just didn’t seem to be enough time (episodes) to tell the whole story. Like the “Sopranos” and “Deadwood” it would have been the second season (I believed) that would make the series a hit.
I am sorry to see the series end. Maybe the next time they will use puppets.
by Bob Martin | Mar 30, 2012 | Directors, Film, Movies
Art awakens us to the truth.
When I first viewed White Ribbon I overlooked one element that the film highlights, that was “privilege”. Privilege came with blue eyes, fair skin and Christianity in the 1930 and 40(s). It’s now 2012 and hope for ending the discrimination of people who comprise of over 80% world population has remained just a hope.
Recently with the murder of a young black man in Florida, the people responsible for the murder, its investigation and prosecution, all claimed that they were not racist or bigots and therefore the killing of a young man on his way home could be justifiably ignored. There was no deeper consideration and that is the sad and sickening part. The young dead man was left with the burden of proof.
We all have become so comfortable with telling ourselves lies, that we let the obvious escape us.
White Ribbon” is wonderful and disturbing movie. “Like the truth.
Some movies are best filmed in Black and White. The lack of color gives the story a factual realness and solemness that suggest violence. No need to see the gore. White Ribbon is an elegant movie wonderfully directed and shot that got great reviews when it was first released.
Most of the reviews that I’ve read speak to how the director Michael Haneke may have painted a picture of the origins of Nazi Germany and World War Two. I on the other hand thought about what is it that is being preached today, disguised in bright glorious colors and apocalyptic rhetoric, that might be leading this world toward another horrific adventure.
by Bob Martin | Mar 29, 2012 | Art, Photograhy
The Art of Hank Keneally
Until April 26th 2012
by Sandy | Mar 22, 2012 | Arts, Entertainment and Music, Blogroll, TV
I love the AMC series, “Mad Men”. Its 5th season returns to TV this Sunday evening, March 25, 2012 in a 2 hour episode. This great show has been gone for 17 months, I have no doubt that I, and other hard core fans, will pick it up just like it was yesterday. “Mad Men” has developed such a cult following that there will be watching parties around the country with the obligatory water cooler catch up on Monday morning. 
The mid 20th century attitudes, clothing and behavior (3 martini lunches, smoking everywhere, personal secretaries that give benefits and “politically incorrect” remarks) are highlighted in the intrigues and escapades of the men and women of a Madison Avenue advertising agency. There is a great cast led by Jon Hamm and January Jones, the show includes super work by John Slattery, Christina Hendricks, Robert Morse, and Elizabeth Moss. Everyone is just so present and “there”. Good actors, but also a good writers, led by the show’s creator, Matthew Weiner.
The “good old days” weren’t that good for everyone, but, watching “Mad Men” work its way thru the 60’s reminds me of all the options – good and bad- that are available to us now and I realize that “multiple choice” can make the present so much more challenging than the past with its stereotypes. The old days weren’t that terrific, (although I really liked wearing “summer” gloves to work) but, those times were simpler and perhaps that simplicity, with its mask of family values, is really what the nostalgia is all about.
I love this show. The characters have dimensions and layers, the main man, Korean War vet Don Draper, is a philanderer with skills, has tons of secrets and can change personalities at the drop of his fedora. Who will he be next? Will he be radicalized by the 60’s revolution and grow his hair long or will he try to hold on to the traditional, rarified atmosphere of staid Madison Avenue?
“Mad Men” – can’t wait!
by Sandy | Mar 14, 2012 | Artist, Arts, Entertainment and Music, Blogroll, Exhibits, Museums
The Art Institute of Chicago presents, The Last Harvest: Paintings of Rabindranath Tagore – Indian-Bengali artist (1851-1941).
“A renowned novelist, poet, musician, and philosopher—the first non-European to beawarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913—Tagore is responsible for shaping the modern Indian identity. While perhaps lesser known, his paintings also demonstrate his profound cultural impact. Sixty-one of these impressive works, drawn from three collections in India, come together in this exhibition and offer a glimpse into the visionary mind of this influential thinker.”
The Last Harvest: Paintings of Rabindranath Tagore
Until April 15, 2012
The Art Institute of Chicago, 111 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois
(Image: “Untitled”, 1934)
by Bob Martin | Mar 12, 2012 | Film, Writers
John Le Carré
Le Carré’s depiction of intelligence operators or “spies” is that they are people who are for the most part not physically gifted and deal with their work as if they were sitting at a giant chess board. They like puzzles and believe if they stare at something long enough it will begin to make sense. Le Carre focuses in on flaws in his characters. They are people who have practiced and perfected telling lies about themselves and others from the earliest stages of their lives. Their only loyalty is to anyone who they believe loves them. Patriotism is not the important thing. The movie “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy” remains true to what I think about a Le Carré novel and people in general. There are very few if any superheros in this world and when one does turn up they are remarkably ordinary looking creatures.
It’s in the eyes, that’s were all action is. Pay attention to the eyes and the small gestures, that is were the spectacular happens in this movie. Brilliantly!
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy – due out on DVD April, 2012
“North America represented a place free from European traditions for women Surrealists from the United States and Mexico, and European émigrés. While their male counterparts usually cast women as objects for their delectation, female Surrealists delved into their own subconscious and dreams, creating extraordinary visual images. Their art was primarily about identity: portraits, double portraits, self-referential images, and masquerades that demonstrate their trials and pleasures.” 
