Luis Marden

Photography Appreciation

Luis Marden was a renowned photographer and explorer who made significant contributions to the field of underwater photography. 

Born Annibale Luigi Paragallo in Chelsea, Massachusetts on January 25, 1913, Marden was introduced to photography at a High School chemistry class. At the age of 19, he wrote a book on 35mm color photography called Color Photography with the Miniature Camera.

He began his career at a Boston radio station (WMEX) photography program which he hosted. He would then become a freelance photographer for The Boston Herald.

The self-taught photographer then landed a career as a photojournalist for National Geographic magazine in 1934.

Marden's passion for underwater photography began in the 1930s, when he was sent on a mission to document the Caribbean's coral reefs. He quickly fell in love with the beauty and mystery of the underwater world and dedicated much of his career to exploring and photographing it.

He also pioneered the use of new underwater photography techniques, such as the use of flash and color film, which helped to bring the beauty and detail of the underwater world to the surface. 

Marden's work not only gave people a glimpse of the beauty of the underwater world but also helped in raising awareness of the importance of marine conservation. 

Throughout his career, Marden received numerous awards and accolades for his work, including the prestigious Royal Photographic Society's award for Underwater Photography. 

Self-portrait in front of Chichen Itza, Mexico (1936)

"Three fishermen regard an antique mariners' 

compass off the cost of Amalfi, 1959"

National Geographic

"Divers swim in the Indian Ocean as part of 

Jacques Cousteau's expeditions in the 1950's"

National Geographic

Sources:

Wikipedia

National Geographic

https://www.rolexmagazine.com/2013/01/1976-luis-marden-rolex-ad.html#/page/2

whf c. ai

Robert Motherwell

Art Appreciation

Born in Aberdeen, Washington on January 24, 1915, Robert Motherwell was an American painter and printmaker and considered an important figure in the development of Abstract Expressionism. He was one of the youngest members of the so-called "New York School" of painters, which included Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, and Willem de Kooning. 

His early work was heavily influenced by surrealism and often incorporated elements of automatic drawing and collage into his paintings. He later developed a more minimal style, focusing on large expanses of color and simple, geometric shapes.

Motherwell received a BA in philosophy from Stanford University. At Stanford, he was introduced to modernism through literature by Mallarmé, James Joyce, Edgar Allan Poe, and Octavio Paz. This would become a major theme to his works. 

He completed a year in a Ph.D. program in philosophy at Harvard and took courses in art history at Columbia University in New York City. 

He became friends with American art historian Meyer Schapiro, who then encouraged Motherwell to focus on painting. Schapiro introduced him to Parisian surrealists, which included Max Ernst.

While in Mexico with surrealist Roberto Matta, he met Maria Emilia Ferreira y Moyeros, his first wife. He would then dedicate his time to painting. 

In his return from Mexico, Motherwell played a significant role in laying the foundations for the new movement of abstract expressionism, aka the New York School.

Motherwell's first one-man exhibition was at Peggy Guggenheim's "Art of This Century" gallery. He became a leading spokesman for avant-garde art in America. He and Mark Rothko would eventually start the Subjects of the Artist School.

Motherwell's work has been widely exhibited and is held in many important collections, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and the Tate Gallery in London. He received numerous awards and honors during his lifetime, including the National Medal of Arts in 1989.

Elegy to the Spanish Republic (c. 1940s)

Pancho Villa, Dead or Alive (1943)

Dublin 1916, with Black and Tan (1964)

Sources: 

Wikipedia

https://www.boreasfineart.com/artist/Robert_Motherwell/biography/

http://www.columbia.edu/cu/pr/97/19032.html

https://app.cuseum.com/art/robert-motherwell-dublin-1916-with-black-and-tan

whf c.ai

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern Steps Down

Pardon the Interruption

Last week, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arden announced she was stepping down from the leadership to spend more time with her partner and daughter. She also indicated that she was unable to commit to another four years as Prime Minister. 

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern gained international recognition for her effective leadership in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

While other countries made the pandemic a political theater, Ardern implemented strict lockdown measures and a comprehensive testing and tracing program, which helped to eradicate the virus from the country. 

Ardern's empathetic and compassionate approach to crisis management, as well as her focus on prioritizing the well-being of citizens, has been widely praised. 

Ardern has also been an influential advocate for women's rights and the fight against climate change.

Photographed by Derek Henderson for Vogue, March 2018

Sources:

https://www.vogue.com/article/jacinda-ardern-new-zealand-prime-minister-vogue-march-2018-issue

whf c. ai (75%)

Dance: Nicki Minaj - Super Freaky Girl

Choreographer: Brian Esperon

via Brian Esperon

Cosplay is an Art: Linc-Con 2022

via Parsley Leaves

Fashion is DEFINITELY Art: Dior Men - Fall 2023

Artistic Director: Kim Jones

via Christian Dior

Reflecting on a 30 year old Article on Ticketmaster's Anti-competitiveness

In fall 2022, Ticketmaster was in the headlines after its website were flooded with Swifties attempting to get tickets to their favorite singer, Taylor Swift.

This led to two lawsuits filed alleging Ticketmaster engaged in "fraud, price-fixing, and antitrust violations" and "anticompetitive and misleading conduct."

This is nothing new for the ticket giant. In 1994, a congressional subcommittee brought in those in the music industry who testified on Ticketmaster's anticompetitive ticket pricing and service charges without considering an artist's input. 

Music critic Dave Marsh wrote a column highlighting the subcommittee hearing in the November 1994 issue of PLAYBOY magazine, which he attended and represented ticket buyers.

In the column, he explained 90's alternative rock band, Pearl Jam, filed a complaint with the Justice Department's antitrust division regarding how Ticketmaster "had prevented them from touring... by refusing to meet the band's ceiling price for tickets at $18, with a service charge of $1.80." Equivalent to $40 (2022).

He continued, "Their complaint centered on both a major business matter -- the rising cost of concert tickets -- and important First Amendment issues. From an artistic point of view, if there are no alternate venues or competing tour sites, there is no free expression. Whoever owns the stage calls the shots," and adds, "Ticketmaster has an ironclad cartel."

Ticketmaster's counsel argued that it doesn't set the ticket price or service charges and... "They are determined through negotiations with Ticketmaster's clients."

Dave Marsh does raise a good point that still resonate today. We are customers and we should have a say in pricing. However, because of Ticketmaster's strong hold in the market, the people's voice is not heard.

Unfortunately, I feel nothing has changed in terms of congressional oversight over this matter. Like 30 years ago, I bet they will consider this more of a business dispute. Dave said it best in his column, "Getting tickets to the public at a fair price isn't just a business issue. Pop music is entertainment, but it's also culture. For a lot of us it's the most important culture, the only kind that speaks both to us and for us. By running up service charges, Ticketmaster, along with the venues and promoters that are its partners, are restricting access to this culture to those who can pay high premiums." 

Sources:

Marsh, Dave. "Ticket to Ride?" PLAYBOY, vol. 41, no. 11, November 1994, p. 52.

https://pitchfork.com/news/taylor-swift-fans-file-second-lawsuit-against-ticketmaster-over-eras-tour-debacle/

https://pitchfork.com/news/taylor-swift-concert-ticket-demand-culminates-in-ticketmaster-canceling-public-on-sale-date/