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Saturday, August 31, 2013

Romare Bearden

Art Appreciation

Born on September 2, 1911, Romare Bearden was considered to be one of the most important American artist of the 20th century. Although he did paintings of realistic and religious themes, he is best known for his collages of scenes of the American South.

Being an influential African-American during a time when black artists struggled for civil liberties, Bearden was a founding member of the Harlem-based art group known as The Spiral. His wife, Nanette Rohan Bearden continued his legacy by creating the Bearden Foundation which supports young African-American artists.

You can see more of his wonderful art HERE.



Morning via paris-tx-naacp


The Dove via 3502imageandnarration

Card Players via aubreylevinthal


Sources: Wikipedia; http://www.beardenfoundation.org/index2.shtmlhttp://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/beardeninfo.shtmhttp://www.metmuseum.org/metmedia/interactives/art-trek/romare-bearden-lets-walk-the-blockhttp://www.biography.com/people/romare-bearden-40540http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/02/arts/design/romare-bearden-at-michael-rosenfeld-gallery-review.html?ref=romarebeardenhttp://paris-tx-naacp.blogspot.com/2011/09/romare-bearden.htmlhttp://3502imageandnarration.blogspot.com/2010/03/artist-of-week-romare-bearden.htmlhttp://aubreylevinthal.blogspot.com/2013/08/sunday-pick-romare-bearden.html




Friday, August 30, 2013

Talking Heads - Once In A Lifetime


Music Appreciation

Named one of the most important American musical works of the 20th Century, David Byrne's and Talking Head's "Once in a Lifetime," was released on February 2, 1981.

I remember watching this music video on MTV, when I was young. Back then, I thought the video was a bit disturbing to watch Byrne dancing with convulsions to lyrics that didn't make sense.

It wasn't until my adult life when this song started to make a whole lot of sense.

Sometimes we find ourselves with everything we need and want, but we're still unsatisfied. We want more and more. In the process, we're missing out on living life with what we've got.




PREVIOUS POST: Talking Heads - And She Was

Source: Wikipedia; http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=1867





Saturday, August 24, 2013

Sally Delap-John

Art Appreciation

I came across Sally Delap-John's work while thumbing through The Essential Guide Santa Fe & Taos book I picked up from the New Mexico travel center. Her painting titled "Truchas - Long View" caught my attention that I wanted to find more of her work online.

In the process of looking for more of her work, I learned that Delap-John paints en plein air, and she works with watercolors and oils.

You can find more of her work HERE.


Truchas - Long View via issuu.com


Llano Churchyard via high-road-artist.com

Sources: http://sallydelap-john.com/; http://high-road-artist.com/9056/artist-profiles/sally-delap-john-painting-the-villages/http://issuu.com/creativeindustri.es/docs/essential-guide-2011-2012



Saturday, August 17, 2013

Janice Urnstein-Weissman

Art Appreciation

American figurative artist, Janice Urnstein-Weissman, is known for her photorealistic paintings of heavily tattooed female nudes.

In previous interviews, she has stated that she has "been fascinated to watch the story unfold on the skin of my female models," and "much like wearing jewelry or designer clothes, tattooing has become a persona message about a woman's identity."

Indeed, those complex designed tattoos do tell stories as its captured in great detail in Urnstein-Weissman's paintings.

For me who appreciates the female form, looking at art on art is absolutely something to admire.

You can see more of Urnstein-Weissman's work on her website HERE.


Tattoo V111 (2005) via inkedmag



La Rouge Femme via underpaintings


Sources: http://www.janiceurnsteinweissman.com/http://hoteldelaspinturas.blogspot.com/2012/11/janice-urnstein-weissman-cuerpos.htmlhttp://tullman.blogspot.com/2009/10/tullman-collection-artist-janice.htmlhttp://www.eegallery.com/artists/wei.inx1.htmlhttp://www.easyreadernews.com/25151/where-beauty-is-skin-deep-2/http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/eascfa/feminist_art_base/gallery/janice_weissman.php?i=2595http://figurationfeminine.blogspot.com/2011/05/janice-urnstein-weissman-1944.htmlhttp://www.jenkinsjohnsongallery.com/press/2008/NY_PRweissman.pdfhttp://www.dailybreeze.com/general-news/20081218/rpv-artist-celebrates-beauty-of-tattoos-in-detailed-portraitshttp://underpaintings.blogspot.com/2013/03/sneak-peek-figure-in-american-art-16th.html


Sunday, August 11, 2013

Stick with Pandora or get SiriusXM


I have to admit, I'm starting to fall in love with satellite radio.

I remember when the idea of having satellite radio was outright ridiculous. Why pay for radio that plays music and talk radio when one can get it free on the FM or AM? But then again, I've found myself paying for CDs, iTunes, and now Pandora for my music.

In the past few weeks, the cars I've rented through Enterprise have come with SiriusXM radio. I quickly became a fan of their comedy stations, Comedy Central Radio and Blue Collar Radio.

If you dare and switch the dial up a few channels, you'll find Radio Sex, where two former porn stars, Ginger Lynn and Christy Canyon live it up on the radio.

Yes, I'll admit, I listened to this station, but soon switched it when one of them suggested to a listener that he should send his rap tape to Tupac or the Notorious B.I.G. Obviously, these two girls were still living in the 1990s.

So, for $14.49 a month, I could get "commercial-free music, plus sports, news, talk and entertainment." Sounds great, huh?

I pay Pandora $3.99 a month for "personalized radio."

The thing I like about Pandora is that I can customize my stations for 4 bucks a month. The problem I have with Pandora is its inconsistency--stations drop or freeze during rush hours. Sometimes when I'm at the gym, my Pandora will not load songs.

Satellite radio is uncensored, which is pretty cool. The music they play is from the track without radio edits. The comedy stations are amazingly funny, and, yes, the idea that a station dedicated to sex is enticing. The downside of satellite radio is that the station drops more often in city driving--mostly due to overpasses and tall buildings. Plus, $15 bucks a month is still pretty steep.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

Saturday, August 10, 2013

John Gannam

Art Appreciation

John Gannan was an American illustrator and painter known for his work which appeared in popular magazines such as LIFE and Woman's Home Companion.

He is also known for his watercolor paintings that captured women in intimate moments. One of my favorite of his paintings is that of a woman sitting in front of her vanity, titled The Mirror.

What I appreciate of paintings featuring women in front of vanities is the artist's capture of the mirror's reflection--capturing the woman's complete beauty.

You can read more about John Gannan from the Society of Illustrators' website HERE.


Mother and Child via mestresdarte 


Fair Morning via conchigliadivenere


The Mirror via conchigliadivenere
 Sources: http://beautyjoy4ever.blogspot.com/2008/10/john-gannam-1907-1965.html; http://conchigliadivenere.wordpress.com/2013/07/23/john-gannam-1907-1965-american/;
http://www.societyillustrators.org/Awards-and-Competitions/Hall-of-Fame/Past-Inductees/1981--John-Gannam.aspx; http://illustrationart.blogspot.com/2007/07/watercolors-of-john-gannam.html; http://todaysinspiration.blogspot.com/2011/09/john-gannam-scans-parting-gift-from-tak.html; http://mestresdarte.blogspot.com/2011/08/john-gannam.html; http://wickedwink.blogspot.com/2008/09/influence-john-gannam.html; http://gogd.tjs-labs.com/table-view.php?illustrator=JOHN*GANNAM; http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/john-gannam-1907-1965-listed-tearful-164295668





Thursday, August 8, 2013

Marc St. Gil


Photography Appreciation

In the 70s, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) incentivized photographers to be photojournalists and capture images of environmental concerns. The program was called Documerica, and there's about over 15,000 35mm color slides and black and white negatives and prints at the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration.

One of those photojournalists was Marc St. Gil. I came across his photographs while searching the Flickr Commons.

To be honest, I was looking for a kissing picture for a blog entry I was thinking about writing. The photo I found was that of a couple on the bank of the Frio River kissing. When I opened the photo, I noticed many more pictures taken by St. Gil. I was intrigued.

In addition to his assignment of capturing environmental hazards, St. Gil captured life in a small town, west of San Antonio, Texas.

Below are just a few of my favorites.



Chemical Plant, 11/1972
Chemical Plant, Corpus Christi, Texas 11/1972 via usnationalarchives


Olin Mathieson Chemical Plant on Far Side of Lake 07/1972
Olin Mathieson Chemical Plant on Far Side of Lake 07/1972 via usnationalarchives


A Resident of Leakey, Texas, near San Antonio, 05/1973
A Resident of Leakey, Texas, near San Antonio, 05/1973 via usnationalarchives


Ranch Hand Who Works in the Area near Leakey, Texas, near San Antonio 05/1973
Ranch Hand Who Works in the Area near Leakey, Texas, near San Antonio 05/1973 via usnationalarchives 



Man Who Prepares Fur Skins for Market in a Buyers' Shed Has Skins Hanging Overhead in Leakey, Texas, near San Antonio, 12/1973
Man Who Prepares Fur Skins for Market in a Buyers' Shed Has Skins Hanging Overhead in Leakey, Texas, near San Antonio, 12/1973 via usnationalarchives


Woodrow Wilson, One of Leakey's Local Characters, in His Pickup. He Never Works, But Sits Staring at the River on the Outskirts of Town from 7 A.M. To Sunset 06/1972
Woodrow Wilson, One of Leakey's Local Characters, in His Pickup. He Never Works, But Sits Staring at the River on the Outskirts of Town from 7 A.M. To Sunset 06/1972 via usnationalarchives



Young Woman from San Antonio, Texas, Who Spends Her Vacations in Leakey, Texas, Because She Likes the People and Has Many Friends in the Town. Near San Antonio 12/1973
Young Woman from San Antonio, Texas, Who Spends Her Vacations in Leakey, Texas, Because She Likes the People and Has Many Friends in the Town. Near San Antonio 12/1973 via usnationalarchives 



One Girl Smokes Pot While Her Friend Watches During an Outing in Cedar Woods near Leakey, Texas.
One Girl Smokes Pot While Her Friend Watches During an Outing in Cedar Woods near Leakey, Texas. (Taken with Permission) near San Antonio. One of Nine Pictures 05/1973 via usnationalarchives


Teenage Couple Embrace on the Bank of the Frio Canyon River near Leakey, Texas, and San Antonio 05/1973
Teenage Couple Embrace on the Bank of the Frio Canyon River near Leakey, Texas, and San Antonio 05/1973 via usnationalarchives


Sources: http://www.theseamericans.com/galleries/documerica-project/marc-st-gil/http://tomclarkblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/marc-st-gil-wading-in-water-leakey-texas.htmlhttp://austinist.com/2012/10/10/marc_st_gils_finest_shots_from_his.php#photo-1http://hunguponretro.blogspot.com/2012/06/documerica-project-photographs-by-marc.htmlhttp://www.lowellmickwhite.com/1/category/marc%20st%20gil/1.html



Saturday, August 3, 2013

Randy Pijoan

Art Appreciation

I came across a painting by Randy Pijoan while thumbing through The Essential Guide Santa Fe & Taos titled "Night Crew, Zia Diner."

The realistic painting is of the night crew outside the  mission-style building getting ready for their shift. Zia Diner is a restaurant in Santa Fe known for its comfort food.

Pijoan is known his innovative art genre he calls "Phrasism," which is the capture of people's actions in everyday modern life.

You can see more of his wonderful work HERE.

Night Crew, Zia Diner via The Essential Guide

Adobe Bar Rendezous via dreazine

Festival Girl via riocostillaart





Sources: http://www.randypijoan.com/http://dreazine.blogspot.com/2010/12/color.html; http://riocostillaart.com/randy-pijoan-painting/; http://www.fourcornersgeotourism.com/content/the-studio-of-randy-pijoan/fca4F58BB1C7758F5063; http://www.mutualart.com/OpenArticle/Visual-poetry/2C6522E86BC33CC9; http://issuu.com/creativeindustri.es/docs/essential-guide-2011-2012; http://www.artilluminator.com/?page_id=12