Charles Sheeler

Art Appreciation

Charles Sheeler, born on July 16, 1883, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is a pivotal figure in American modernism and a leading exponent of precisionism. He studied at the Pennsylvania Museum School of Industrial Art and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts under renowned impressionist painter William Merritt Chase, which laid the foundation for his distinctive artistic style.

Inspired by the geometric forms and structured compositions of Cubist artists like Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, Sheeler merged these influences to create artworks that celebrate the industrial landscape with meticulous detail and clarity.

Sheeler's precisionism is exemplified in his iconic paintings "Upper Deck" and "American Landscape." "Upper Deck," painted in 1929, captures the stark, clean lines of a transatlantic ocean liner, transforming the ship into geometric shapes bathed in light and shadow. Similarly, "American Landscape," completed in 1930, portrays the Ford River Rouge Plant in Dearborn, Michigan. Sheeler presents the factory as a modern cathedral, emphasizing the beauty of industrial architecture and its significance in the American landscape.

Upper Deck (1929)

American Landscape (1930)

Sources:

Wikipedia

http://www.arthistoryarchive.com/arthistory/precisionism/

https://sga-art-history.blogspot.com/2010/02/15-charles-sheeler-american-landscape.html

Body Art: Trina Merry - Ruminations On Memory at ESMoA

via Trina Merry

 

Nataliya Medvedeva

Modeling Appreciation 

Nataliya Georgiyevna Medvedeva is forever enshrined in pop culture as the face on the cover of The Cars' iconic self-titled debut album.

Born on July 14, 1958, in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg), Medvedeva graduated from a music school and starred in the role of Poplavskaya in the Boris Frumin film "Diary of a School Director" in 1975. Shortly after, she emigrated to the United States to pursue a modeling career.

In 1982, Nataliya married Russian writer and political dissident Eduard Limonov and moved to Paris. There, she became a piano bar singer, wrote poetry and essays for French magazines, and authored novels. Her relationship with Limonov ended in 1995. Now in Moscow, she began a relationship with metal rock musician Serguei Vysokosov, even recording two rock albums.

Medvedeva passed away in her sleep from a heart attack at the age of 44. It is believed that she had overdosed on heroin.

by Elliot Gilbert for The Cars 1978

by Valentin Til Maria Samarin (1983)

Sources:

Wikipedia

https://bdralyuk.wordpress.com/2021/09/16/off-you-roll-you-powder-keg-natalya-medvedeva-in-los-angeles/

https://exiledonline.com/the-medvedeva-woman/

https://ed-limonov.livejournal.com/1298628.html

Sananda Maitreya - Wishing Well

Music Appreciation

Released in 1987, "Wishing Well" was the lead single from Terence Trent D'Arby's debut album, "Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby." Now known as Sananda Maitreya, he co-wrote the song with Sean Oliver.

"Wishing Well" became an instant hit, reaching number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and staying there for a week. The lyrics capture the excitement and desire of a new relationship.

The music video, directed by Vaughan Arnell, features Maitreya and his band performing on a soundstage draped in brown fabric. Interspersed shots of Maitreya with a girl reflect the song's themes. The video received heavy rotation on MTV.

via Sananda Maitreya

Source:

Wikipedia

Fashion is DEFINITELY Art: Fendi Men's Spring/Summer 2025 Fashion Show

Creative Director: Silvia Venturini Fendi

via Fendi

Getting in Shape

Since being diagnosed with liver fibrosis, I’ve committed to working out more and cutting back on my alcohol intake. If you ask me how it's going, I'll be honest: it's a real struggle. I do sneak a drink or two on occasion, but not as often as before. Baby steps, right?

Setting aside time to work out requires planning. Sometimes it's tough to muster up the energy to get to the gym, especially when dealing with rush hour traffic. It's so easy to take the early exit to home sweet home rather than staying on and taking the following exit to the gym. After all, my couch and I have an unspoken bond that’s hard to break.

Luckily, my best friend and best man keeps encouraging me to make it to the gym, even when I'm tempted to get home, strip off my street clothes, and lounge my way to a catnap before dinner. Everyone needs a gym buddy for encouragement, especially someone as determined (and sometimes lazy) as me to get in shape!

By Nate Fakes @nate_fakes

RANDOM WEDNESDAY: Buck Rogers Lunchbox