Japanese Art - After The Disaster

Japanese art has made a tremendous impact on the art world over the years. I have been wondering if the art work we have been so accustomed to seeing from Japan will be somehow be altered due to the disasters this country has recently undergone. I have read that there has been some destruction to the museums in Japan due to the most recent earthquakes this spring. This along with the earlier tsunami and damage to nuclear plants will no doubt have some effect on the future production of great art works in this country.

Museums all over the world are having difficulty with attendance these days even without major disasters occurring in the city. It is not surprising that there has been an obvious decline in visitors to the museums and other cultural events in Japan this year. Fear of radiation has deterred many visitors this year. A major French show was cancelled this spring because what was thought to be fears of the nuclear power plant disaster.

Most often when disaster hits there is always an incredible amount of good that emerges. One positive step in the right direction may be the Polish led art show, Villa Tokyo, planned for later this summer. This may be the catalyst that is needed to get things going again. Also, the Japanese Society, an American non-profit organization has provided funds to the disaster victims.

It may take years for things return to normal in Japan. It may never be the same as before the recent disasters. There is hope that other countries like Poland will continue to provide assistance to Japan. Maybe the best art work is yet to come out of Japan.


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Divine Artisans

I had an opportunity this past week to view the exhibit, Dynasty and Divinity: Ife Art in Ancient Nigeria. This exhibit just opened at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. A lot has been written about these unique findings of cast-metal portrait heads in Ife, Nigeria. The exhibit contains over one hundred objects in metal, stone and terra-cotta. This remarkable exhibition has its only Midwestern stop at the Indianapolis Museum of Art.

Viewing this exhibit is like taking a class in art history with emphasis on Ife metal arts and sculpture from the 12th – 15th centuries. The images the royalty of the Yoruba people are captured in cast copper- alloy and terra-cotta heads and figures. The heads are life-size and the metal casting technology is thought to be very advanced for the time period. All of the Ife copper-alloy sculptures were made by a process known as lost-wax casting. Some of the small objects included in this exhibit have never been shown outside of Nigeria.

I did a quick walk through of the exhibit with a hand-held guide. There is a lot to see and a lot to learn about Ife art. I allowed an hour to view this exhibit and I did not have enough time. There is a catalog that accompanies the show and it beautifully illustrates many of the objects.

I plan to view the exhibit again perhaps with a docent guide before it leaves. This exhibition will be at the IMA through January 16, 2012. If you are in the area, and want to view the wonderful art objects of West Africa, you may want to make a special trip to the museum to view this landmark exhibition.


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Awarding Book Art

I am always excited each year to learn about the books chosen to receive awards for their artistic content. It is a habit of mind to note each year’s winners as well as runner ups. As a book collector, I have found many treasures studying these award lists.

There are several awards given for book art each year. Some are local, some regional and some international. The following are just a few of the awards that I feel are noteworthy:

The Caldecott Medal

This annual aware given by the Children’s and School Librarians Sections of the American Library Association each year is one of my favorites. If you have an interest in picture books for children that also contain excellent art, this is one award you will want to check out.

The Coretta Scott King Award

The purpose of this book award is for authors and illustrators to encourage through artistic expression the African American experience. This not only includes the graphic arts but also literature.


The Independent Publishers Book Award

This award also known as IPPY award is open for competition worldwide to all members of independent publishing industry who produce books in English for the North American Market. This award is sponsored by Independent Publisher and includes participation of about 2,000 university presses, museums and other small presses each year in the U.S. and Canada.


The Inkwell Arts Award

The Inkwell Arts Award organization promotes and educates the art form of comic book inking. They annual recognize and award the best ink arts and their work. The awards are given for inking, the art of enhancing an illustration through the means of redrawing pencil lines with ink and its related tools.


It is probably no coincidence that many of the top honored books have the same illustrator and author. Talented artists can also be great writers. A very simple method for discovering the best art work in books being produced today would be to look at the awards presented each year for excellence.



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Alexander Calder - Jewelry Maker

As my interest in jewelry making and metal crafting grows, I am finding new artists that have excelled in this area. When I think of Alexander Calder (1898 – 1976), I think about his famous moving sculptures, mobiles. I have learned that Calder worked in many different art forms. He produced oil paintings, drawings, watercolors, gouache and serigraphy. There are permanent sculptures in many cities in the country created by Calder.

You don’t’ see or hear a lot about the jewelry made by Alexander Calder. I recently discovered that he created some of the most beautiful jewelry for specific individuals as gifts or tokens. Calder’s hand-crafted jewelry seems to be very simple in design yet there is something bold and magnificent about each piece. I love that he used the simple basic metals, brass and steel to create masterpieces.

Last month, a few of Calder’s sculptural jewelry pieces were presented for sale in an auction. There were two stunning brass necklaces. Each were estimated to sale for $200,000 to $300,000. Both of the necklaces sold for over $500,000 each. Included also was a brass ring, a steel wire and silver brooch and a brass wire belt buckle up for sale. All the pieces were exceptionally beautifully and well designed. These pieces also realized exceptional sales.

Alexander Calder I believe made a tremendous impact on the world of design. If you have an opportunity to view some of the Alexander Calder’s jewelry, I am sure will agree that this multi-talented artist should be listed among the top jewelry designers.

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Saying Goodbye To Film

There has been a great deal of discussion about the demise of film for taking photographic images. The reality is that digital photography reigns. Film cameras have been on the decline for some time. The film for these cameras is slowly facing an inevitable death. It has been suggested that we will no longer have the availability of film for still cameras in about ten years.

I have to admit that being an amateur photographer I rarely reach for my film cameras today. This is mostly due to the fact the digital is more convenient and it does an adquate job of capturing the image. Today, I have a couple of digital cameras that will perform almost any task that I have a need for. Years ago, as a photo hobbyist, I attempted to reproduce the kind of work created by the great American and European photographers of the 20th century. Today, I am no longer inspired to create great works of art. I am proud of my digital images. They are quick, convenient and easily manipulated.

I think one the saddest parts about filmless photography is that most of the images taken today are not printed on paper. With the rise of use of cell phone pictures most pictures are captured for just short term viewing and in many instances deleted.

I will always enjoy viewing the work of the great photographers that have mastered gelatin silver prints like Robert Frank, Edward Steichen, Walker Evans and Edward Weston. I may still have some Kodachrome hidden away in my closet. Perhaps it’s time to say goodbye to a good old friend.


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Art Fair Time

The month of May marks the beginning some of the most wonderful art related events where I live—Art Fairs. We are fortunate to have three fantastic and art fairs here each year.

The first one, the Broad Ripple Art Fair, begins in May and lasts for 2 days. It attracts over 20,000 visitors each year and is a juried Art Fair. The event takes place in beautiful surroundings and is pretty much a visual art event. There are live bands and gourmet food available at this event.

The second one is in June and is a “street art fair” is reminiscent of art fairs that took place years ago. This is the Talbot Street Art Fair. There will be over 270 artists that will attend this 2 day event. This art fair is also a juried event and is held in the historic Herron Morton Place neighborhood. This fair is free so you always need to be prepared for a large crowd.
The last major art fair in my town is the Penrod Art Fair. If it were possible for me to pick a favorite, this would be it. This fair was created by the Penrod Society. The art fair has been held each year since 1967. The Penrod Society is a non-profit organization that supports the arts and activities in the Indianapolis area. The proceeds from the festival provide grants for the local area and scholarships for young artists. Over 30,000 attend this event and it takes place on the grounds of the Indianapolis Museum of Art.

These events are held rain or shine so don’t let the weather stop you. I hope that many of us who enjoy art will be taking advantage of viewing art in the open air in the coming months.


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Discovering Edward Hopper

I have been an admirer of Edward Hopper for some time. Hopper began as a commercial artist. He was an oil painter as well as a watercolorist. There is a collection of some important Hopper oil paintings residing in the museum in the city where I live. I have had an opportunity to view Hopper’s paintings of mundane subjects up close and in books. His appeal does not surprise me. He did not define or interpret his own work. He left this up to the viewer. His work is full of suspense which I find exciting if not mystifying. The more I study his work, the more I learn and like about this gifted realist.

His continuing popularity does not surprise me. Edward Hopper seems to magically attract new admirers each passing year. There have been and will be many exhibitions and books on the great artist. The Whitney Museum of American Art, Germany and the Netherlands recently presented an exhibition featuring this artist. His work touches us today in the same way it did more than many years ago.

If you have not had an opportunity to view what many believe is the”quintessential painter of modern American life”, you will definitely want to take a close look at Edward Hopper and his work.



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