Peter Gabriel - Sledgehammer

Music Appreciation

I remember watching the music video to Peter Gabriel's Sledgehammer when I was about ten years old.

At that age, the music video was captivating with its stop motion animation of trains, paper airplanes, bumper cars, and dancing oven-ready chickens. For its time, the music video was not only innovative but cool and fun.

But what's the song's meaning?

I've tried to look it up and get an idea of its meaning. Many commenters on Songmeanings.net think its a song with many sexual innuendos. A few think Peter Gabriel was singing about the music industry--nothing new to musical artists (see my previous posts on other artists HERE and HERE).

Songfacts.com quotes Peter Gabriel regarding the song, "Sometimes sex can break through barriers when other forms of communications are not working too well."

So, while my parents sheltered me from Rate R movies, I was filling my head with sexual innuendos and lyrics of phallic symbols. This explains a lot, now.





Sources: 

http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/13038/

http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=773

Wikipedia

Jennifer Balkan

Art Appreciation

Recently, I came across an article about Jennifer Balkan, a local Austin artist, in Tribeza magazine. After reading the article, I google searched her and her work, and not only became fascinated with her artwork but also her educational background before she became a full time artist.

Balkan studied behavior neuroscience at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania and received a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Texas at Austin. As described by Tribeza author, Raechel Kelley, Balkan "integrate[s] psychological and sociological concepts in her pieces."

You can see more of her narrative oil paintings on her website HERE.

Lucky 1 (2010) via womenpaintingwomen

When I grow up (2010) via blackvanilla2012



Mes reflexions d'un autre monde (2012) via terrystricklandart

O Fortuna (2006) via generousart

Sources: http://jenniferbalkan.net/; http://www.tribeza.com/magazine_content/jennifer-balkan; http://artstormer.com/2011/08/19/master-of-disguise-paintings-by-jennifer-balkan/; http://terrystricklandart.blogspot.com/; http://vimeo.com/29856047; http://www.southwestart.com/articles-interviews/emerging-artists/jennifer_balkan
 

Jean Pucelle

Art Appreciation

Parisian Gothic manuscript illuminator, Jean Pucelle, is known for the illuminated prayer book called The Hours of Jeanne d'Evreux. The book was created for Jeanne d'Evreux, the third wife of King Charles IV of France.

The illustrations are done in grey tones or "grisailles" and "with touches of blue, red and yellow."





Sextam: Crucifixion/Adoration of the Magi via luciolicinio

Tierce: Christ Carrying the Cross/Annunciation to the Shepherds via luciolicinio

Sources: 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Pucelle; http://luciolicinio.blogspot.com/2012/06/jean-pucelle.html; http://french-painters.blogspot.com/2012/08/jean-pucelle.html; http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/54.1.2

Sergey Marshennikov

Art Appreciation

If I were wealthy enough to afford a painting, I'd purchase one by Sergey Marshennikov.

Born in 1971 in Ufa, Russia (eighteen hours east of Moscow), Marshennikov is known for his realistic portraits of nude women. His photograph-like paintings not only captures the subject but also the setting, flawlessly.

My personal favorite has be the one of titled Arabian Relaxation, where a woman sits on a bed of sheets smoking a hookah.

You can see more of Marshennikov's beautiful work on his blog HERE.




Blue Roses (2012) via catherinelarose

Arabian Relaxation via conchigliadivenere

No. 109 (2007) via tuttartpitturasculturapoesiamusica

Sources: http://serge-marshennikov.tumblr.com/;http://www.tuttartpitturasculturapoesiamusica.com/2012_08_01_archive.html; http://conchigliadivenere.wordpress.com/2011/06/15/sergey-marshennikov-1971-russian/;
http://danceswithcolors.blogspot.com/2012/06/dwc-nu-artist-sergei-marshennikov.html; http://maherartgallery.blogspot.com/2012/01/serge-marshennikov.html; http://www.mutualart.com/Artist/Sergey-Marshennikov/74694790D846B7C5; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALANgT06Tpg; http://muddycolors.blogspot.com/2012/11/inspiration-serge-marshennikov.html; http://catherinelarose.blogspot.com/2012/01/serge-marshennikov.html

Fabián La Rosa

Art Appreciation

Argentinian artist Fabián La Rosa is known for his still lifes and portraits.

Of his paintings, my personal favorite is that a little boy dressed as Zorro standing against the wall next to a child's sketch of Zorro and a taped notebook paper with the letter "Z."

You can see more of his wonderful paintings HERE.




Zorro via iamachild

Pears via arteinformado

Untitled via conchigliadivenere

Sources: http://www.zurbarangaleria.com.ar/expos/larosa/larosa.html; http://artodyssey1.blogspot.com/2010/08/fabian-la-rosa-argentina.html; http://iamachild.wordpress.com/2012/09/01/fabian-la-rosa-1970-argentine/; http://masquenoticiasblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/nueva-muestra-en-coleccion-alvear-de.html; http://www.arteinformado.com/Eventos/60397/fabian-la-rosa/

 

Tracey Lane

Art Appreciation

Tracey Lane is an American artist known for her textured paintings of birds, horses, flowers, and trees.

She captures her subjects in their natural state, but presents her subject while distorting the background in order to make it the focus of the painting.

Of her paintings, I personally like those she does of birds.

You can see her wonderful paintings HERE.

Waiting via artfan24

Rose Colored via artfan24

Come to Me via southwestart

Sources: http://traceylane.com/; http://www.pryorfineart.com/; http://artfan24.blogspot.com/2012/12/tracey-lane.html; http://codaparkcity.com/artists/tracey-lane/

The Cult - She Sells Sanctuary

Music Appreciation

Twenty eight years ago, English hard rock band, The Cult, released "She Sells Sanctuary," a song about "finding solitude in a woman's arms."

Many of us, who have heard the song, probably associate it with something memorable. Take my coworker, for example. He remembers listening to "She Sells Sanctuary" driving through the desert from El Paso to Austin, Texas.

I remember appreciating the song from a mix tape a college student from my dad's class had left at the house. I didn't dare but listen to it with my Sony Walkman; growing up in a conservative house, I thought I was going to hell.

I do remember watching the music video late at night on MTV, and thinking, "that girl is pretty." It probably took me another ten years to figure out the girl was actually Ian Astbury, the lead singer of The Cult.

Watching the music video now, I'm able to appreciate it more and even catch things I didn't notice before. For example, is Ian Astbury dressed as English political icon Guy Fawkes?

MORE THE CULT: http://photographywritingandmore.blogspot.com/2012/05/cult-love-removal-machine.html

Sources: 

http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-cults-ian-astbury-talks-about-songs-ignoring-t,79785/; Wikipedia