Daniel Merriam

Art Appreciation

While surfing my favorite art blogs, I came across the imaginative and beautiful work of Daniel Merriam. Born on February 1, 1963, the self-taught American contemporary surrealist is best known for his dry brush technique and imaginative style.

You can see more of his works HERE and the Bubble Street Gallery HERE.

via artodyssey1

via artodyssey1

via artodyssey1

Sources:

http://www.danielmerriam.com
https://www.facebook.com/DANIELMERRIAM
http://www.bubblestreetgallery.com/artists/daniel-merriam
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Merriam
http://artodyssey1.blogspot.com/2009/07/daniel-merriam-regarded-as-one-of.html
http://www.papayablog.com/2009/10/daniel-merriams-imaginary-realism.html

Steven Meisel

Photography Appreciation

At an early age, I knew about American fashion photographer Steven Meisel. Many of his work included some of the most well-known supermodels such as Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington, and Linda Evangelista. Yes, I use to collect photos from fashion magazines and place them on my bedroom wall.

Steven Meisel started as an illustrator for fashion designer Halston. He then started shooting for fashion magazines and fashion campaigns.

Recently, the Wall Street Journal did an interview with Steven Meisel, which you can read HERE. In the interview, he indicated that he sees himself in his photographs.

You can see more of his beautiful photographs HERE.

Hilary Swank via theglamourwhore

Christy Turlington, Vogue Italia via myaesthetica

Madonna, Sex Box (1992) via onthecoverofamagazine

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Meisel
http://models.com/people/Steven-Meisel
http://www.vogue.com/tag/photographer/steven-meisel/
http://steven-meisel.tumblr.com/
http://www.wsj.com/articles/an-exclusive-q-a-with-photographer-steven-meisel-1422460551
http://grayboulevard.blogspot.com/2010/04/fashion-photography-steven-meisel.html
https://ossiestyler.wordpress.com/category/photography/page/2/
https://allaboutfashionphotography.wordpress.com/fashion-photographers/
http://grayboulevard.blogspot.com/2010/04/fashion-photography-steven-meisel.html
http://onthecoverofamagazine.blogspot.com/2014/01/1992-sex-book-photographed-by-steven_5.html
http://theglamourwhore.blogspot.com/2010/11/proof-that-steven-meisel-can-make.html
http://fabulousfindsandco.blogspot.com/2010/04/bringing-back-1920s-glam-with-model.html

Beastie Boys - Sabotage

Music Appreciation

If you're my age and remember MTV as the cable channel that showed music videos, then you'd probably remember watching the American hip-hop group Beastie Boys' Sabotage music video.

Considered as one of the greatest songs of all time, the 1994 rapcore music video was directed by Spike Jonze. The music video shows the Beastie Boys running around city streets dressed in 1970s attire in an opening credits of a fictional police drama called Sabotage.


via emimusic


Source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabotage_(song)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spike_Jonze

Dance: Olga Kuraeva

Dance Appreciation

Improvisation by ballerina Olga Kuraeva.
https://www.facebook.com/kuraevaoa


via MSF Group

Cosplay... Is An Art: Granada Gaming 2015

via Pedro G

The Mothman Prophecies

Film Appreciation

I remember going home and researching the Mothman legend after watching the movie, The Mothman Prophecies. It triggered a curiosity as to whether this was a legend or whether there was substantial evidence of such supernatural creature, like Bigfoot or the Chupacabra.

The movie, which is directed by Mark Pellington and stars Richard Gere, is based on a book by parapsychologist John Keel on actual events that occurred between November 1966 and December 1967 in Point Pleasant, West Virginia. There is considerable debate as to whether the appearance of the Mothman was prophetic and a warning or whether the creature caused the disaster.


  via Movie Trailers M&M

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mothman_Prophecies_%28film%29
http://www.animalplanet.com/tv-shows/lost-tapes/videos/hellhound/
http://www.gods-and-monsters.com/mothman-legend.html
http://www.cinefania.com/movie.php/43467/

Svetlana Kondakova

Art Appreciation

I came across a painting by Russian-born artist Svetlana Kondakova of a woman lying in the grass motionless with a skull next to her. This painting which is titled Ophelia more than likely is in reference to William Shakespeare's Hamlet.

As explained on her website, many of her works are introspective. Her educational background in Scotland, Greece, and Bolivia have provided inspiration for her paintings.

You can see more of her beautiful works HERE.

Ophelia via artodyssey1

Self-Portrait via svetlanakondakova

Swan via artodyssey1

Sources:

http://www.svetlanakondakova.com/
https://www.virtualgallery.com/galleries/svetlana_kondakova_a1577875
http://artodyssey1.blogspot.com/2013/11/svetlana-kondakova.html
http://svetlanakondakova.blogspot.com/

Spice World

Film Appreciation

When I was a sophomore in college, it seems as if the Spice Girls were everywhere.

Soon after the release of their debut studio album, Spice, the Spice Girls (Baby Spice, Geri Halliwell, Melanie Brown, Melanie Chisholm and Victoria Addams) starred in the lighthearted musical comedy, Spice World.

Considered a ripoff of The Beatles' A Hard Day's Night (1964), the 1997 film depicts fictional events the Spice Girls encounter leading up to a major concert. Some iconic actors appear in the film such as Roger Moore, Meat Loaf, Bob Hoskins, and Elvis Costello, which makes watching the film entertaining.

Despite negative reviews, the film was a box office success.


via ramixbucks

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spice_World_(film)
http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/spice-world-1998

D.W. Griffith

Film Appreciation

He is considered the "Inventor of Hollywood." David Llewelyn Wark "D.W." Griffith is best known for directing Birth of a Nation, an adaptation of Thomas Dixon Jr.'s The Clansmen. The 1915 feature film is a story during the Civil War and Reconstruction era where the speaker of the house is portrayed to punish the Southern whites and empowering former slaves. In the film, the Ku Klux Klan is shown to protect the White Southerners.

Born on January 22,1875, Griffith is credited for being innovative in his film-making techniques and co-founding United Artists.

Sources:

http://www.biography.com/people/dw-griffith-9321016#synopsis
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D._W._Griffith
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Clansman:_An_Historical_Romance_of_the_Ku_Klux_Klan

The Integrity of Journalism and Blogging

PARDON THE INTERRUPTION 

There is a huge difference between journalism and blogging.

As defined by the AP, journalism is the activity of gathering (researching), assessing (investigating/evaluating), creating (writing), and presenting news and information. I'd add further that before a piece is printed, there is a form of review by editors.

Blogging, as defined by Webster, is a web site on which someone writes about personal opinions, activities, and experiences.

Unfortunately, we live in a society where many obtain news from unsubstantiated sources, such as social media and blogs. Many of these blogs have questioned the integrity of journalism--a source of substantiated information (see definition above).

What's worse is when news organizations take blogs (a source of personal opinion) as credible information and report it as "factual."

When blogging, I try to practice my journalistic education, but at the same time offer my opinion and perspective. The main purpose of many of my entries are more to share what I learn and what I experience. However, in no way do I feel that readers should take my entries, although many well researched, as factual.

Cosplay... Is An Art: ExpoComic 2015

  via Samuel H

blink-182 - All The Small Things

Music Appreciation

Selected by Rolling Stone magazine as one of the "100 Greatest Pop Songs," Blink-182's "All the Small Things" was released on January 18, 2000. The song was written by Tom DeLong as an ode to his wife and his favorite band, the Ramones.

The music video, which won an MTV Video Music Award, featured the band doing parodies of pop boy bands and Britney Spears and Christina Aguilar.

One of the most memorable thing I remember is the album cover for Enema of the State, which featured famous porn star Janine Lindemulder.




via Blink182VEVO


Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_the_Small_Things

Eric Bowman

Art Appreciation

I came across the art work by Californian artist Eric Bowman, while surfing one of my favorite art blogs, Art Odyssey.

What caught my attention from this self-taught and award winning painter is the use of light to emphasize the detail of the subject and emotion he wishes the viewer to feel. For example, you can feel the singer in the painting titled Burgundy Blue.

You can see more of his work HERE.

Burgundy Blue via via artodyssey1

No Privacy Backstage via artodyssey1

Take Five via artodyssey1

Sources:

http://ericbowman.com/
https://www.facebook.com/eric.bowman.5076
http://ericbowmanartist.blogspot.com/
http://artodyssey1.blogspot.com/2014/07/eric-bowman.html
http://wikipainting.blogspot.com/2015/10/eric-bowman.html

Sam Shaw

Photography Appreciation

Sam Shaw is best recognized for his photographs of famous people. One of his iconic photographs is that of Marilyn Monroe's "flying skirt."

Shaw was born on January 15, 1912 on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. After high school, Shaw shared an art studio with artist Romare Bearden, considered one of the most important American artist of the 20th century. His career started as a photojournalist for Collier's, a weekly publication, before becoming a contributor for Magnum Photos. His photographs have appeared on several publications such as LIFE and Haper's Bazaar

You can see more of his work HERE.

Marilyn Monroe, The Seven Year Itch, 

New York City (1954) via blogs.telegraph.co.uk

Sources:

http://shawfamilyarchives.com/
http://www.biography.com/people/sam-shaw-20900275
http://www.nytimes.com/1999/04/09/arts/sam-shaw-87-film-producer-and-photographer.html
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/photography-sam-shaw-75208
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/culture/timwong/100072792/remembering-sam-shaw-a-photographic-genius-who-made-marilyn-monroe-an-icon/

Spice Girls - Wannabe

Music Appreciation

"Tell me what you want what you really really want..."

Shot in on take at the Midland Grand Hotel (St. Pancras Renaissance London Hotel), "Wannabe" was the debut single by the Spice Girls. The music video introduced us to Sporty, Baby, Ginger, Scary, and Posh Spice.

I was a junior in college and remember being more attracted to Sporty Spice (Mel C) while my friends were more into Ginger Spice (Geri Halliwell) and Posh Spice (Victoria Beckham). Perhaps it was the ponytail.


via emimusic

Sources:

http://on-this-day.com/onthisday/thedays/music/jan14.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wannabe_(song)
http://www.zimbio.com/Beyond+the+Charts/articles/X_zgFqOcckx/21+Things+Don+t+Know+Spice+Girls

A Clockwork Orange (1971)

Film Appreciation

I recall writing a paper in grad school on the fictional rehabilitation and psychological conditioning administered by the government on delinquents as shown in Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange.

Released in the UK on January 13, 1971, the film is an adaptation of a short novel by Anthony Burgess. It stars Malcolm McDowell as Alex, a sociopathic delinquent, who leads a gang on horrific criminal activities. He is then captured and administered a controversial form of rehabilitation.





Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Clockwork_Orange_(film)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Clockwork_Orange

Cosplay... Is An Art: Anime Expo 2015

via KBLNoodles

Peter Worswick

Art Appreciation

If you follow my blog, you know by now that I'm a big fan of realistic, sensual and intimate art. I usually look for work of art that is ascetically pleasing, symmetrical, and provocative.

While surfing my favorite art blogs, I came across a gallery full of gorgeous realistic paintings of women by Peter Worswick.

Born in 1960 in Blackburn, Lancashire (about 20 miles north of Manchester), Worswick is exhibited throughout the UK, including Kensington Palace. He has won many awards and is an honorary member of The International Guild of Artist's.

You can see more of his wonderful work HERE.

via touchofcolorr

via artodyssey1

via maherartgallery

Sources:

http://www.peterworswick.co.uk/
http://www.theacorngallery.co.uk/a1-gallery2.asp?roomID=7614
http://www.artdecorgallery.co.uk/artists/artist/54-peter-worswick.html
http://artodyssey1.blogspot.com/2013/12/peter-worswick.html
http://maherartgallery.blogspot.com/2014/03/peter-worswick.html
http://dancewithcolors.blogspot.com/2014/12/dwc-woman-figure-painter-peter-worswick.html
http://touchofcolorr.blogspot.com/2015/07/peter-worswick.html

Janet Jackson - Escapade

Music Appreciation

Janet Jackson's Escapade song reminds me of a girl who lived in my neighborhood when I was a kid. Her name was Caroline and she resembled a teen version of Janet Jackson. Of course, at the time many girls poofed their hair and some even dressed in black. Oh... but Caroline was a special girl. She played stick ball and football with us boys.

Escapade was released on January 8, 1990. The music video for this upbeat pop song took place at an exotic carnival setting and the dancers dressed in various exotic pirate costumes.


via JanetJacksonVEVO

Source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escapade_(song)

Antonio Tordesillas

Art Appreciation

I came across a photo-like painting of a beautiful brunette seated nude with her legs crossed in an art blog I follow, Kai Fine Art. The painting is by Spanish artist Antonio Tordesillas. Tordesillas is known for the amazing details in his hyperrealistic paintings.

You can see more of his work at one of the blog links below.

Ester via kaifineart

Eva 14 via artodyssey1

Morning Glory via conchigliadivenere

Sources:

http://www.waterhousegallery.com/Tordesillas.html
http://www.kaifineart.com/2014/01/antonio-tordesillas.html
http://www.justart-e.com/antonio-tordesillas.html
http://artodyssey1.blogspot.com/2010/07/antonio-tordesillas-nacido-1976.html
http://www.figurativas.org/a/1043/antonio-tordesillas
http://www.tuttartpitturasculturapoesiamusica.com/2013/11/Rabindranath-Tagore-Antonio-Tordesillas.html
https://conchigliadivenere.wordpress.com/2014/02/14/antonio-tordesillas-1960-spanish/