ART AFICIONADO

Thursday, September 11, 2025

Stephen Etnier

Art Appreciation

Stephen Morgan Etnier was born on September 11, 1903, in York, Pennsylvania, into a family of privilege. Although he initially followed family expectations to enter the manufacturing business, he instead pursued art. His education was varied and somewhat irregular -- attending institutions such as Haverford School, Yale's School of Art, Haverford College, and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. He apprenticed under artists including Rockwell Kent and John Carroll in the mid-1920s.

Etnier launched his solo exhibition career in New York in 1931 and later showed at Midtown Galleries through the 1960s. During World War II, he paused paintings to serve in the U.S. Navy as an officer aboard convoy and troop ships from 1942 to 1945. After the war, he settled in South Harpswell, Maine, building his studio-home "Old Cove" in 1948. The 1950s and 60s marked his most productive period -- he exhibited widely, won awards such as the National Academy of Design's Saltus Medal and Samuel F.B. Morse Gold Medal, and received honorary doctorates from Bates and Bowdoin Colleges.

Etnier painted in a realist and luminist style -- his scenes often showed coastal and industrial subjects with precise composition and an emphasis on atmospheric light. He worked mostly en plein air, rising early to capture morning light on Maine waterfronts, boats, buoys, wharves and select tropical locales during winter voyages. Among his well-known works are Still Morning (1960), Fort Popham (1981), Storefront, Nassau (1957), the mural Waiting for the Mail (Spring Valley, NY, 1938), and Mail from New England (Boston, 1940).

Still Morning (1960)

Fort Popham (1981)

Storefront, Nassau (1957)

Sources:

Wikipedia

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Etnier-2

https://daviddike.com/portfolio/etnier-stephen-morgan/

https://www.invaluable.com/artist/etnier-stephen-morgan-8vrpm8rz5i/sold-at-auction-prices/

https://www.artbrokerage.com/Steven-Etnier

https://fineart.ha.com/artist-index/stephen-morgan-etnier.s?id=500049429

https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/wall-decorations/paintings/stephen-etnier-modernist-painting-harpswell-maine-seascape-circa-1940s/id-f_31780172/

https://yorkblog.com/universal/york-native-artist-stephen-m-etnier-painter-of-maine-and-the-tropics/

https://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/interviews/oral-history-interview-stephen-etnier-12692

https://www.islandinstitute.org/working-waterfront/stephen-and-david-etnier-a-legacy-of-place

https://artfacts.net/artist/stephen-etnier-1903-us

https://www.si.edu/es/object/archives/sova-aaa-etnier73

https://www.tfaoi.org/newsmu/nmus12f.htm

Wednesday, September 10, 2025

WALK THE MOON - Shut Up and Dance

Music Appreciation

"Shut Up and Dance," released on September 10, 2014, is a standout track by American pop rock band Walk the Moon from their third studio album, Talking Is Hard. The song draws inspiration from a real-life experience of lead singer Nicholas Petricca at a Los Angeles nightclub, where his girlfriend's spontaneous invitation to dance sparked the song's theme of embracing the moment and letting go of inhibitions. Petricca envisioned it as an anthem encouraging listeners to release frustration and enjoy themselves.

Musically, "Shut Up and Dance" is characterized by its upbeat tempo and fusion of pop rock, new wave, and synth-rock elements, reminiscent of 1980s influences. The track features energetic guitar riffs, vibrant synthesizers, and a driving rhythm section. Lyrically, it narrates the story of a young man being pulled onto the dance floor by a woman, capturing themes of spontaneity and youthful exuberance.

The music video, directed by Josh Forbes, complements the song's lively spirit with a retro, 1980s-inspired aesthetic. It depicts lead singer Petricca engaging in dance sequences alongside actress Lauren Taft, embodying the song's narrative of carefree dancing and romantic spontaneity.

Sources:

Wikipedia

https://www.videostatic.com/watch-it/2014/10/23/walk-moon-shut-and-dance-josh-forbes-dir

https://americansongwriter.com/inside-shut-up-and-dance-walk-the-moons-number-one-hit/

https://imvdb.com/video/walk-the-moon/shut-up-and-dance

https://lbbonline.com/news/the-work-that-made-me-josh-forbes

RANDOM WEDNESDAY: Wolverine Vol. 1 (1982) Written by Chris Claremont, Cover by Frank Miller

Frank Miller/Cover Artist

Source:

https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Wolverine_Vol_1_1

Tuesday, September 9, 2025

Pieter Bruegel the Elder

Art Appreciation

Pieter Bruegel the Elder was born around 1525 in or near Breda (now in the Netherlands) and died on September 9, 1569, in Brussels. He came of age during the early Reformation, a time of religious upheaval in the Low Countries, and trained under Pieter Coecke van Aelst, whose humanist circle likely influenced him. Seeking broader perspectives, Bruegel traveled to Italy in the early 1550s before settling in Antwerp by 1555, where he became a master in the painters’ guild and began working as a designer for print publisher Hieronymus Cock.

During his career, Bruegel rose to prominence by focusing on everyday life and landscapes rather than traditional religious or portrait subjects. He dropped the ‘h’ from his name in 1559 and signed as “Bruegel,” marking a shift in self‑branding. His style often features panoramic “world landscapes” with high viewpoints populating vast, realistic scenes with common folk engaged in farming, festivals, and work.

He brought wit and social commentary into his genre paintings—depicting Proverbs, winter scenes, and communal celebrations—grounding them in tangible cultural detail. Among his most celebrated works are The Hunters in the Snow (1565), a poignant winter landscape symbolizing the harsh conditions of the Little Ice Age, and The Peasant Wedding (1568), a vivid portrayal of rural festivity. He also painted the Tower of Babel which is recognizable for its portrayal of the biblical story of human's goal to build a tower to reach the heavens.

The Tower of Babel, 1565

Hunters in the Snow, 1565

The Peasant Wedding, 1568

The Harvesters, 1565

Sources:

Wikipedia

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Pieter-Bruegel-the-Elder

https://totallyhistory.com/pieter-bruegel-the-elder-paintings

https://www.teravarna.com/post/the-intricate-compositions-of-pieter-bruegel-the-elder

https://www.metmuseum.org/essays/pieter-bruegel-the-elder-ca-1525-1569

https://www.masterworksfineart.com/artists/pieter-brueghel-the-elder/biography

https://www.nga.gov/artists/1031-pieter-bruegel-elder

https://www.boijmans.nl/en/collection/in-depth/bruegel-s-tower-of-babel

Monday, September 8, 2025

Kylie Minogue - Can't Get You Out Of My Head

Music Appreciation

Ever since Kylie Minogue's infectious rendition of "The Loco-Motion" in the late '80s, I've harbored a not-so-secret crush on the Australian pop princess. Her bubbly energy and captivating performances were hard to resist. Fast forward to 2001, when she released "Can't Get You Out of My Head," and my admiration for her skyrocketed. The song's hypnotic beat and that unforgettable "la la la" hook had me—and countless others—entranced.

"Can't Get You Out of My Head" was written and produced by the talented duo Cathy Dennis and Rob Davis. Released on September 8, 2001, as the lead single from Kylie's eighth studio album, Fever, the track became an instant global sensation. Its dance-pop and techno-pop elements, combined with Kylie's sultry vocals, created a timeless hit that still gets people moving on the dance floor.

The lyrics includes theme of obsessive love, with Kylie repeatedly confessing that she just can't get someone out of her head. The song's minimalist yet catchy composition emphasizes this fixation, drawing listeners into its rhythmic allure. Interestingly, the track was initially offered to other artists, including S Club 7 and Sophie Ellis-Bextor, before finding its perfect match in Kylie's distinctive style.

The music video, directed by Dawn Shadforth, features Kylie in a futuristic setting, donning a now-iconic white hooded jumpsuit with a plunging neckline. Her mesmerizing dance moves and the video's sleek aesthetic perfectly complement the song's entrancing vibe. Filmed in various locations, the video showcases Kylie's effortless charisma and has become a defining visual of her career.