JoAnn Santangelo

Photography Appreciation

I recently read this fantastic article by Christopher Carbone in Lstyle Magazine of the very talented photographer originally from Boston named JoAnn Santangelo.

Santangelo's photojournalistic images tells stories. For example, her Walking the Block photo series of New York City’s West Village covers the night life of its gay residents strolling along the streets.

She is also known for her Proud to Serve series where she captured images of openly gay men and women who have served our country in the military, which was presented and well received by the U.S. President.

You can see more of her work at her website HERE.

Walking the Block 20 via junglegymmagazine



Proud to Serve 1 via forwardthinkingmuseum

Source: http://www.lstylegstyle.com/uncategorized/a-moment-in-time/; http://junglegymmagazine.com/2011/06/16/jo-ann-santangelo-walking-the-block-christopher-st/; http://english.mashkulture.net/2011/06/15/jo-ann-santangelo-walking-the-block/




 

Francois Boucher

Art Appreciation

Born on September 29, 1703, Francois Boucher was a French Rococo painter known for his "pastoral and mythological scenes"-- a departure from the symmetric form of the Broque era--and considered two-dimensional.

You can see more of his paintings HERE.

Halt at the Spring (1765) via leahmariebrown

Portrait of Marie-Louise O’Murphy (1751) via 18thcenturylove

The Toilet of Venus (1751) via mommywithapenis

Sources: Wikipedia; http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/boucher/; http://www.francoisboucher.org/

Robot, Monster and General

One of my son's doodles.

c. 2012

 

Willem de Kooning

Art Appreciation

As a 22 year old, Willem de Kooning emigrated to the United States as a stowaway on a coal ship. De Kooning is best known for his paintings of women. Like other abstract expressionists, De Kooning uses color and the application brushstrokes to express feelings.

He was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1986 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1964.

Woman I (1952) via madmarwalker

Excavation (1950) via modernart2011



Interchange (1955) via poulwebb

Pink Lady (1944) via thebootedexquisite

Sources: http://madmarwalker.blogspot.com/2009/11/de-kooning-i-perception-or-projection.html#!/2009/11/de-kooning-i-perception-or-projection.html; http://www.willem-de-kooning.com/; Wikipedia

Erasure - Chains of Love

Music Appreciation

As I've indicated in previous posts HERE and HERE, I am a big fan of Erasure. I remember purchasing Pop! 20 Hits in 1993 as a senior in high school. It was around the same time I was dating two girls at the same time. Both girls liked Erasure, so I made it a point to always have that cassette tape playing.

Released in May 1988, Chains of Love is considered Erasure's mainstream breakthrough. The song is perhaps more recognized for its lyrics that seeks acceptance of homosexuality.   

Watching the music video, one might wonder whether Vince Clarke and Andy Bell were part of the Cirque du Soleil. What's funny is watching Bell in a rumba costume hoisted by metal chains.




Sources: Wikipedia

Sandro Botticelli

UPDATED - 6/6/2022

Art Appreciation

Sandro Botticelli was an early Renaissance painter from Florence, Italy. He is best known for his masterpiece, Birth of Venus, which many believe depicts a love interest considered during her time to be the most beautiful woman in Italy, Simonetta Vespucci. Interestingly, the same model appears in Botticelli's representation of spring called Primavera.

Primavera is further explored by art historian Amanda Matta in her Art of History podcast, which you can hear HERE. 

In 1480, he was commissioned alongwith other Florentine painters to paint frescos in the Sistine Chapel in Rome. One of his frescos was The Temptation of Christ.

You can see more of his paintings HERE.

The Birth of Venus (1486) via Pavellas

Primavera (1482) via fallingoutofmyemptynest

The Temptation of Christ (1480-1482) via public-domain-photos.org

Sources: http://www.sandrobotticelli.net/; http://pavellas.com/tag/piero-the-unfortunate/; http://www.public-domain-photos.org/sandro-botticelli-the-temptations-of-christ.html

Fernando Botero

Art Appreciation

The Colombian-born abstract artist, Fernando Botero, is known for his trademark figurative style--inflated humans and animals. He has gained international recognition for his paintings, drawings, and sculptures.

Although many of his art can be fun and lighthearted, there are some that are controversial, such as the series titled Abu Ghraib. The series, which was first exhibited in Europe, depicted the abuse of prisoners at Abu Ghraib by American forces.

You can see more of his art HERE.

Mona Lisa (1959) via museedart.tumblr.com

Presidential Family (1967) via pic2fly

The Left Hand (1992) via friko-fridgesoup.blogspot.com

Abu Ghraib 52 (2005) via dreamdogsart.typepad.com

The Bath (1989) via artezandt.blogspot.com

Sources:
http://www.fernando-botero.com/; http://www.artnet.com/artists/fernando-botero/; http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/75073/Fernando-Botero; http://www.fernandobotero.com; http://youtu.be/VoleMx-sxqQ