Books to Treasure

This is the time of the year a lot of people are thinking about giving and/or receiving gifts. I was thinking abou a gift that my aunt gave me when I was 6 months old. The gift was a book, A Child’s Book of Prayers, selected by Louise Raymond and illustrated by Masha.  I still have the book today.

Books are probably at the top of most list of gifts that are most treasured by people. This book holds special meaning because I received it when I was very young and impressed by all new things. I still enjoy looking at the beautiful illustrations and reading the versus. This book is in very fragile condition. The colored paper boards are rubbed and worn around the edges. The spine of this book has been repaired in a very unprofessional manner with tape. The pages are separating from the boards at the hinges. I have to be very careful when I turn the pages. Some of the pages are lightly soiled.  The paper used in 1941 when it was published by Random House was not as good as the quality of paper used today in children’s picture books. I love this book.

I truly enjoy giving books as gifts to the young people on holidays and other special occasions. Someone told me recently that they believed most children will not keep a paper book very long because it is too easy to damage or destroy. I am impressed with the new paper books that are produced today for children. They are a lot sturdier than the books produced fifty or sixty years ago. I will continue to give books to young people as gifts and hope that maybe some of them will keep want to keep and read them for a long time. This book, A Child’s Book of Prayers, is a precious part of my childhood and I will treasure this book forever.


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Virtual Art

I think I am warming up to virtual art or at least I tell myself I am. I’ve have been reading a lot lately about some of the major artists turning to digital art as a way to provide art work to those who cannot afford their traditional work. I am not surprised by this new development. Electronic art – it had to happen sooner or later. There’s an app for almost everything. Why not art?

I will have to admit that I am not totally sold on this latest trend for all things digital. Although the publishing companies seem to have adopted this as a new way to do business in the future, I believe that everything digital is not good. I still read paperbooks and occasionally purchase a CD.

I suspect that this new trend to digital art work has taken off regardless of whether it will be a good thing for the art industry. It will be interesting to see in the next few years where this new venture takes us. Will we no longer have artist producing art work that you can feel, smell and hold?

Time will tell if the collectors and admirers embrace this new technology for the visual arts. As I slowly adapt to this new technology, I think as an art lover I will continue to visit as many galleries and museums as possible to view the real thing.



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Why Pop Art?

What makes Pop Art popular? I have often wondered why Pop Art has sustained its popularity throughout the years. Most large museums have had major shows featuring Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Jeff Coons, Ty Wobbly and others this year. There were numerous museums exhibiting Warhol all over the country this year. One of the major shows at the museum in the city where I live was Andy Warhol.

It seems that the when the Pop artists first became popular in 1962 and it was new many were acquiring this work and the prices began to skyrocket. Many who were early investors in Pop art compared their acquisitions to high priced stocks. Today, perhaps the same is true. At recent postwar and contemporary art auctions, the Pop art work is going for ridiculously large sums of money.

Some say Pop Art is for the masses. Most people enjoy Pop Art because of its simplistic style and perhaps because it reflects the soul of a society. Pop Art still rules today and you could probably say it has become as much of a commodity as gold and silver.

You can find a great selection of art books and auction catalogs at Nella’s Books and Collectibles.


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Time to be Creative

I love the fall season. Summer is over and there are a lot of things to get excited about.

1) There are new exhibits to view at art galleries and museums.

2) There are new movies to see and regional film festivals to attend in many locations. The Heartland Film Festival in my area is the annual film festival that introduces the Midwest to independent film-makers from around the world. The movies are always great.

3) The change of seasons brings to my part of the country cool crisp air and beautiful colorful foliage. There are also a variety of festivals to attend that pay tribute to the local produce, apple and pumpkins.

4) The one thing I like the most about the fall season is that it seems to be the perfect time to be creative.

I would guess that many of the great artists have been inspired by the change in seasons. It’s difficult to walk outside this time of the year and not be inspired by nature. You might be lucky enough to view a shooting star, a squirrel busy preparing for winter and the colorful crisp leaves blowing from the trees. All of these things help to inspire many of us to be creative.

This seems to be a popular time for art and craft classes. You can find many adds in the newspaper with craft stores announcing their big sales on all the supplies and items you will need to create.

This is the perfect time to become involved with the arts. You may just want to see a new exhibit at a gallery or visit a museum or maybe take in a great movie. I know I will be back in the studio creating my art after a long summer break. Now is the time to be creative.



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Jewelry as Little Works of Art

I have always had a great appreciation for art. Most recently I have developed a desire to express myself through creating jewelry. This has led be me to begin thinking about jewelry as little works of art.

There have been two major exhibits that displayed magnificent works of art that included jewelry. Catalogues of were available highlighting the major artworks included in the shows.

1) Power and Glory: Court Arts of China’s Ming Dynasty

This was the first major exhibit to focus on the court arts of the Ming Dynasty. Included in this exhibit were jewelry made with gold and jade which was considered the most ancient and the most luxurious materials in society. Small jewelry items for the forehead, arms, fingers, ears, chest and waist were common. A stunning pair of earrings in the shape of the Herbal Goddess in gold was presented in this show.

2) Dynasty and Divinity: Ife Art in Ancient Nigeria

This exhibit presented a major part of the body of ancient Ife art in terra-cotta, stone, and metal dating back to the ninth centuries.

Beadwork was one of the very distinctive artistic techniques of Ife. Beads mean a lot of different things for the Yoruba-speaking peoples. The color and how they were used took on a special meaning. Several of the terra-cotta and stone figures possessed strands of beads.

These are just a couple of great art exhibits that included jewelry. There are probably many more that do. If you are an admirer of jewelry as little works of art, be sure to look for these treasurers at you next art exhibit.

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The Artist and the Diary

A lot of visual artists keep a record of their thoughts and ideas along with sketches. In many art classes you are instructed to keep a note book and jot down any ideas you feel are significant. Sometimes the information in the diaries is of a personal nature. Often the information contains some creative thoughts for developing new art work.

We are fortunate that several great artists in the past have maintained diaries and many of them are accessible to us for viewing. Frieda Kahlo’s diary contains her personal feelings and expressions. Bill Brandt’s writings provide us with some background on the development and direction of his photography over the years. Edward Weston wrote diaries and called them the Day books. His written account of his thoughts on creative expression have guided many artists for years.

Perhaps for the same reason Weston and others felt the need to record their feelings on paper, many artists today are writing blogs. If the diary notes are personal I would guess that these writings will not appear on the internet. I would like to think that the artists that truly have something to share about their vision in art will continue to write about it via the internet or with pen and paper.


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An Artful Event

I love summer outdoors art fairs. Yesterday, I attended one of the largest art fairs held in the country. This was the 45th annual Penrod Art Fair. The weather for this yearly event was perfect. In previous years we have endured some extremely warm and wet weather on the one day it is held. Although the weather was overcast, it did not rain and temperature remained in the upper 70’s. This annual summer art fair brings together in one place some of the best performing and visual artists in the region. All this takes place at one of the most visually attractive places in the city, the grounds of the Indianapolis Museum of Art.

Penrod Art Fair is one of the nation’s largest single day art fairs. There were hundreds of artists participating this year. Painters, jewelry makers, individuals skilled in woodworking, pottery, sculpture, photography and more represented the visual artists. There was a variety of entertainment that ranged from jazz and blues musicians, performers representing various schools of dance, choirs and the culinary arts school participants. Of course, a variety of good food and drinks was available to round out this great event.

This art fair is made possible by the Penrod Society. The Penrod Society is a non-profit volunteer organization that supports cultural and arts educational activities in the local area. They raise awareness of the arts and provide funds for many arts-related programs.

One of the most enjoyable and delightful ways to view art is at an art fair. Judging from the large crowd that was present at the fair, I am sure a lot of other people share this feeling. If you are in the area next year and like to attend art fairs, you will not want to miss this event.


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