Looking Forward to Meeting Warhol

I am eagerly awaiting the upcoming exhibition at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. The Andy Warhol Enterprises, exhibition will open this fall. Everything I have read about this show leads me to believe that this show will be exciting.

Although pop art has never been my thing, I have never been disappointed with the presentations organized by IMA. I believe this show will be both entertaining and educational. I think there are many facets of Warhol’s career that have not been emphasized and this show promises to highlight some of his lesser known works.

Like many, I associate the name Andy Warhol with the commercial paintings that were primarily created during the ‘60s. Most art lovers can associate the images of the Campbell’s Soup Cans and the Dollar Sign with Warhol. Most of us, probably, know very little about his about his shop window designs from the 1950’s or the screen test films.

As I continue my journey to learn and appreciate contemporary art, I believe may discover something that intrigues me in the work of Andy Warhol. I can hardly wait until for the show to opens so I can expand my art education. Hopefully by the time I have experienced the show, I will be able to list more than the silk screen canvas on ink, Flowers, as my favorite Andy Warhol work of art.

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Artful Chinese Ceramics

The Chinese have been working at mastering the art of ceramics for some time. There is a long history of Chinese Ceramics. According to archaeologist, traditions in Chinese ceramics have existed for more than 8,000 years. It is no wonder that the work we see produced in modern times is exceptional.

There was a lot of experimentation with various techniques of pottery. History tells us that there were many different traditions that evolved over the years. Some of the ceramic masterpieces we see to day are a result of the development of this Chinese art form.

The early Neolithic pottery provided utilitarian and functional vessels that enhanced the everyday life for the Chinese. Eventually pottery was used for burial and ritual purposes. The Neolithic painted tradition formed in the Yellow Basin.

The Black Pottery from the Dawenkou and Longshan cultures. The black pottery is known for its characteristics shapes. This pottery was used for rituals and offerings.

One of the most significant techniques, hard glazing, was discovered probably around the 15th century. The hard glazed wares of Shang and Zhou are considered to be the forerunners to the true porcelains of later 7th century origin.

From the very primitive and simple vessels to the elaborately decorated porcelains, the Chinese have provided a foundation for all that have attempted to master this art. It’s no wonder that collectors and well as others are fascinated today in the art of Chinese Ceramics.

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Frida Still Making Waves

I just read about the Frida Kahlo retrospective in Berlin that continues to attract large numbers of art lovers. According to a recent article, over 300,000 have seen this exhibit so far. It is expected that thousands more will be standing in line to see exhibit that will be on display at until August 9, 2010 at the Martin-Gropus Bau in Germany.

Kahlo has always been very popular and exhibits have usually brought in lots of followers and admirers. What makes this exhibit different, I believe is that there is work being shown that has never been seen by the public before. I am always amazed that an art organizers state that the artist work that was “assumed to be lost” is now found and will be shown. It seems like a very convenient way to maintain interest. Some of her last paintings, supposedly, done late in her life are being exhibited.

A few years ago, in commemoration of the death of Kahlo over 300 works of art were presented at the Frida Kahlo: The Forest of Images exhibition. Some of the paintings from this exhibit portray Kahlos imaginative and personal world. Frida Kahlo provides an amazing colorful representation of the Mexican people and their lives and this is found in the complexity of her early work.

Mexican art has increased in popularity over the last few years and Frida Kahlo has been one of the major reasons. From all indications this new exhibit in Germany will delight all who are admirers of Frida Kahlo.



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Turner's New Price Tag

I just read where an auction house sold a painting by JMW Turner for a large amount of money. Turner's painting was sold to the J. Paul Getty Museum for a record amount . The painting was an 1839 masterpiece, Modern Rome- Camp Vaccino, and was part of a private collection until recently.

Always fascinated by nature, Turner surprisingly began painting with watercolors at an early age. He first exhibited at the Royal Academy of London at the age of 15. His landscape and rural scenes were popular from the very beginning. Later, in Turner's career, the abstract work became the primary focus. It has been reported that the great work produced by Turner in his years was not often offered for sale. This may explain why the recently purchased masterpiece of Rome has just now serviced and will be available for public viewing.

The work of this great master is amazing. I have had an opportunity to view up close several paintings by this artist. The Indianapolis Museum of art houses one of the largest collections of Turner’s paintings. The Panzer collection, a gift from an attorney, was acquired in 1957. One of the most outstanding in the collection, I believe, is the The Fifth Plague of Egypt, an oil on canvas. This large painting, in my opinion, sets Turner above all others. This painting reflects the imagination of the artist. Turner’s abstract watercolors have also been favorites.

If you would like to view more of Turner’s work and unable to visit a museum, there are several great art books available that offer not only insight into this great artist but provide a pictorial view of his major work.



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Art in the Park Collaboration

I previously wrote about the grand opening of 100 Acres: The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park at the Indianapolis Museum of Art and the evolving nature of art and nature. One of the most intriguing art installations in the art and nature park is Type A, a 2-man collaborative sculpture.

Type A Team Building (Align), consists of two 30 foot-wide metal rings suspended from telephone poles and trees. The sculpture is constructed so that the rings reflected shadows become one during the annual summer solstice. I viewed this structure 2 days before solstice. The shadows of the rings were close.

This piece of art work took a couple of yours to plan and is the result of the collaboration of the museum staff and artists to designate the time of alignment. This sculpture is very reflective of what the planners had in mine this site-a park where both the changing nature and art can be experienced. It will be interesting to view this art sculpture and others in different seasons of the year to see how the landscape, wildlife and artworks change.



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The Evolving Nature of Art and the Environment

I previously wrote about the grand opening of The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park in Indianapolis. This park made its introduction a couple of weeks ago as an extension of the Indianapolis Museum of Art. This is the second article in the series.

Since the grand opening of this Art and Nature Park, many of us have started to think more about the relationship of nature and art. As an art lover I have also been a lover of nature. My favorite past time years ago was photographing nature. I, like many others, have been delighted to be able to capture nature on film. Water was one of the most fascinating things I enjoyed photographing. The new Art and Nature Park has a 35-acre lake, known as “Hidden Lake”.

One of the eight inaugural installations is the Stratum Pier, a structure by female artists Kendall Buser that overlooks the Park’s 35-acre lake. This beautiful pier appears to drift over the shoreline, creating a layered look. You can even fish at the Hidden Lake. Stratum Pier reflects the artist’s interest in the merging of the natural and the man-made environment.

This new park is a wonderful example of horticulturist and artists working together. As we become more concerned with our environment, I look forward to seeing more art work that blends well with nature.

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Art and Nature

• This begins a series of articles about the Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park. The grand opening celebration for the art and nature park was this past weekend in Indianapolis. As a volunteer for the Indianapolis Museum of Art, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to participate in this historic celebration. The weather was unusually hot and muggy but most in attendance were excited and enjoyed this new contemporary environment.
  
  The Indianapolis Museum of Art, the 5th largest museum in the country, is now home of one of the largest museum art parks.
  
  Artists have spent several years working closely with the museum to develop projects for the park. The park is located near a river that runs close to the museum’s 52-acre campus.
  
  The following artists and works of art installations made an inaugural appearance at the grand opening.
  
  Free Basket, Los Carpinteros
  Team Building (Align), Type A
  Park of Laments, Alfredo Jaar
  Funky Bones, Atelier Van Lieshout
  Stratum Pier, Kendall Buster
  Eden 2, Tea Makipaa
  Indianapolis Island, Andrea Zittel
  Bench Around the Lake, Jeppe Hein
  
  
  Future articles will discuss the 100 Acres: The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park and the evolving nature of art and nature as well as the prospect of a new model for sculpture parks for the 21st century.
  
  
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