Classical Art History
- Chinese Characters
- City Symphony
- Words of Delacroix from 1854
- Philadelphia Meets Baltimore
- Two Artists to Watch
- Nation at Risk for Reading
- Understanding Opposing Sides
- Art Teacher in Baltimore Attacked
- Absinthe Legal After 100-Year Ban
- Unique Map by Leonardo
Posted by
Suzanne Hill
Suzanne Hill
I recently attended a presentation given by a retired journalism professor that introduced us to some vocabulary and informal history of the Chinese language.
Dr Kim informed us that Chinese is a “picture language” and is totally graphic. It has 50,000 characters and is very easy to understand because the people could “get” the pictures and didn’t have to read. At some point the government simplified the language to 2500 characters. When they went to English letters, now they are down to 26 characters. He believes English is the most difficult language to learn: Chinese is efficient where English is not (witness the many uses of the word “get”). In a humorous moment, he admitted that he had been an SOB professor who decided to retire because the current generation of American students have such frustratingly poor English writing skills.
We learned the meaning of several Chinese characters like water, river, moon, and sun. The symbol for human – shown as two curved lines leaning in toward one another – represents the idea that people don’t survive alone but must depend on others to thrive. The character for man begins with the angular-shaped concept of power and adds above it a square symbol for ten mouths, showing that men should be able to feed 10 others and thus are strong and protective.
It was fascinating to hear the uniqueness of some Chinese characters and has inspired me to learn Chinese calligraphy.
We learned the meaning of several Chinese characters like water, river, moon, and sun. The symbol for human – shown as two curved lines leaning in toward one another – represents the idea that people don’t survive alone but must depend on others to thrive. The character for man begins with the angular-shaped concept of power and adds above it a square symbol for ten mouths, showing that men should be able to feed 10 others and thus are strong and protective.
It was fascinating to hear the uniqueness of some Chinese characters and has inspired me to learn Chinese calligraphy.
Posted by
Suzanne Hill
Suzanne Hill
A city symphony pays media tribute to unique and striking features of a metropolis.
An acquaintance visiting from England mentioned his involvement in the study of electronic media and film. His interest had led him to edit an eight-minute video titled Eboracum, the ancient Roman name for the medieval city of York, England [viewable by clicking here]. The film is set up as a typical day for a tourist visiting York and features the city’s diverse architectural features and archaeological sites. It literally pays tribute to York by focusing on its varied looks and views. As a backdrop we hear songs by Icelandic band “Sigur Ros.”
A classic example of a city symphony is a film like “Berlin: Symphony of a City,” a silent 50-minute black and white film from 1927 that similarly features a typical day in the city. Instructor Allan Thomas on sensesofcinema.com tells us that the film takes the viewer “into Berlin by train as the sun rises, and follows the life of the city as it wakes, goes to work through the morning and into the afternoon, moves from work to play, to sport and dancing and drinking deep into the night.” He goes on to say that between “trains, trams, horses, bustling crowds, spinning wheels and fairground rides, boat races, horse races, dog races, dancing and pounding machines,” we see the excitement and vitality of the city.
Check it out on Netflix. Perhaps this art form can be rediscovered as a means to capture our memories of trips to favored vacation spots.
A classic example of a city symphony is a film like “Berlin: Symphony of a City,” a silent 50-minute black and white film from 1927 that similarly features a typical day in the city. Instructor Allan Thomas on sensesofcinema.com tells us that the film takes the viewer “into Berlin by train as the sun rises, and follows the life of the city as it wakes, goes to work through the morning and into the afternoon, moves from work to play, to sport and dancing and drinking deep into the night.” He goes on to say that between “trains, trams, horses, bustling crowds, spinning wheels and fairground rides, boat races, horse races, dog races, dancing and pounding machines,” we see the excitement and vitality of the city.
Check it out on Netflix. Perhaps this art form can be rediscovered as a means to capture our memories of trips to favored vacation spots.
Posted by
Suzanne Hill
Suzanne Hill
On July 19 in 1854 Eugene Delacroix muses on the temperament required of those who would lead us politically.
Delacroix’s July 19 entry from his famous “Journal” reads:
I can’t help but consider the nearing presidential election. What kind of man are the candidates? When a man becomes a seeker of power to that extent, and thereby a tool of those who put him into power, and allows himself a limitless exposure to and scrutiny by the media, how difficult must it be for him to retain his self-respect and sense of balance? Does he indeed, as Delacroix hints, lose sight of the simple pleasures of life?
How interesting to me that artist Delacroix shares with his readers his contemplation on such a vast array of topics, including this one.
- “…Men scarcely ever base their happiness on the real blessings of life…As they mount, so do their ambitions…As for true happiness, they draw further and further away from it; the blessings and peace of mind, and independence based on modest and easily satisfied aspirations, are denied to them. Their time is at every man’s command and they waste their lives in futile occupations. So long as such men can feel the dignity of wearing ermine and silken robes, and provided that the wind of favour blows in their direction and supports them, they will wear themselves out among dusty papers, gladly devoting themselves to other people’s business. To be a minister of state or a president is a risky position, for it not only endangers a man’s peace of mind but his reputation as well, and puts his character to a severe test. Unless he can rely upon his conscience, he will come to grief amidst the every-increasing dangers to which he is exposed.….”
I can’t help but consider the nearing presidential election. What kind of man are the candidates? When a man becomes a seeker of power to that extent, and thereby a tool of those who put him into power, and allows himself a limitless exposure to and scrutiny by the media, how difficult must it be for him to retain his self-respect and sense of balance? Does he indeed, as Delacroix hints, lose sight of the simple pleasures of life?
How interesting to me that artist Delacroix shares with his readers his contemplation on such a vast array of topics, including this one.
Posted by
Suzanne Hill
Suzanne Hill
Abstract art on display through July 2008 in Baltimore opened to celebrate and promote Artscape.
Today I’ve been for the second time to the Philadelphia meets Baltimore abstract art show – called “Conceptions and Perceptions” – at the art gallery at the Center for the Arts at Towson University.
In particular I was mesmerized by the warmly-colored and intricately-detailed bead and stitching art by Baltimore fiber artist Karin Birch.
The first time I saw the show, I was the lone attendee. Today, again, I was the only person present. I asked the young art student behind the counter if the show has been crowded. He said, no, there haven’t exactly been huge crowds. In fact I was the second person that day to view the art. I shook my head in a puzzled way and he said perhaps the attendance fee kept them away [as a joke since of course there is no fee]. I’ve been asking others if they want to see the art, too, but they don’t seem too interested. The art student intoned sadly, “No one is interested in culture anymore.”
In particular I was mesmerized by the warmly-colored and intricately-detailed bead and stitching art by Baltimore fiber artist Karin Birch.
The first time I saw the show, I was the lone attendee. Today, again, I was the only person present. I asked the young art student behind the counter if the show has been crowded. He said, no, there haven’t exactly been huge crowds. In fact I was the second person that day to view the art. I shook my head in a puzzled way and he said perhaps the attendance fee kept them away [as a joke since of course there is no fee]. I’ve been asking others if they want to see the art, too, but they don’t seem too interested. The art student intoned sadly, “No one is interested in culture anymore.”
Posted by
Suzanne Hill
Suzanne Hill
There is superb art being made today, but it doesn't seem to generate much public interest.
Although it seems to generate little public interest, there is a lot of superb art being made these days. Check out these two contemporary artists featured in the August, 2008, issue of Fine Art Connoisseur.
Jeremy Lipking (b. 1975) paints landscapes and still-lifes, but specializes in the female figure both indoors and out. Working from quick paintings and photographs, the artist completes his paintings in his studio without the model. Lipking’s skill lies in capturing the realism of flesh against the outdoor colors of the sun of California. He counts among those artists he admires as 19th-century French Realists Jules Bastien-Lepage, Emile Friant, and P.A.J. Dagnan-Bouveret. His work is handled by American Legacy Fine Arts in Pasadena.
In his art, Paul Panossian (b. 1965) depicts his fascination with natural beauty, frequently painting the coastlines of his hometown, Santa Barbara, where he likes to sail. Panossian was trained in traditional classical art and rounded out his education by exploring the museums of Europe. He particularly likes to show us familiar scenes like waterfalls, cliffs, and walkways from unfamiliar angles. Panossian is represented by Cambridge Art Gallery in Santa Monica, California.
Jeremy Lipking (b. 1975) paints landscapes and still-lifes, but specializes in the female figure both indoors and out. Working from quick paintings and photographs, the artist completes his paintings in his studio without the model. Lipking’s skill lies in capturing the realism of flesh against the outdoor colors of the sun of California. He counts among those artists he admires as 19th-century French Realists Jules Bastien-Lepage, Emile Friant, and P.A.J. Dagnan-Bouveret. His work is handled by American Legacy Fine Arts in Pasadena.
In his art, Paul Panossian (b. 1965) depicts his fascination with natural beauty, frequently painting the coastlines of his hometown, Santa Barbara, where he likes to sail. Panossian was trained in traditional classical art and rounded out his education by exploring the museums of Europe. He particularly likes to show us familiar scenes like waterfalls, cliffs, and walkways from unfamiliar angles. Panossian is represented by Cambridge Art Gallery in Santa Monica, California.
Posted by
Suzanne Hill
Suzanne Hill
National Endowment for the Arts provides funds for reading campaign to advocate appreciation of literature and reading.
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) commissioned a study to note just how popular reading reigns among the populace. Their report “Reading at Risk” shows that indeed the incidence of reading is declining for all age groups. Dana Gioia, chairman of NEA, states that this report is one he is not happy to produce; it demonstrated to him that something needed to be done to preserve and promote the pleasurable activity of reading.
According to Gioia, The Big Read gives communities the opportunity to come together to read, discuss, and celebrate readings [over 23 varied selections] from American and world literature. I applaud this effort. Locally, the community that will take part in The Big Read for next year is Hagerstown, MD. They report that their featured programs will highlight F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby.
The website for The Big Read is www.neabigread.org and offers more information.
According to Gioia, The Big Read gives communities the opportunity to come together to read, discuss, and celebrate readings [over 23 varied selections] from American and world literature. I applaud this effort. Locally, the community that will take part in The Big Read for next year is Hagerstown, MD. They report that their featured programs will highlight F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby.
The website for The Big Read is www.neabigread.org and offers more information.
Posted by
Suzanne Hill
Suzanne Hill
Because college writing students apparently have trouble with concepts of logic, controversy, and truth, their final research paper may need to be rehashed.
Recently I read with great interest an article by James Bowman in “The American” about the flagrant spreading of misinformation. He notices how people used to assume that a writer wanted to uncover truth; today they expect him to create a constituency to back his ideas no matter whether they are truthful or not.
I teach composition to first-year college students whose final project is to write a persuasive research paper in which they prove a controversial statement. The first few semesters I noticed they had trouble composing a one-sentence statement of their controversial stance so I added lessons on thesis statement. They must consider their opposition and refute those stances. Then I added lessons on logic.
They tend to focus on a few commonly-held yet often-disputed sentiments: the traditional family is not necessary to a child's well-being; global warming is ruining our planet and must be stopped; professional athletes are ruining their health using steroids; our drinking age should be lowered to resemble the European model; illegal immigrants should be given amnesty.
I used to think that, sadly, the occasional student has been firmly indoctrinated. Nothing I could say would encourage him to consider the opposing points of view. If I insist that Al Gore is not a valid research source because he is an activist not an expert, still the movie "Inconvenient Truth" shows up on the bibliography. Then I began to see that with this research project I am only helping in further spreading misinformation.
Now I wonder if the bigger problem is that the truth doesn’t matter. A firmly-held belief is retained even in the face of information to prove it doubtful or even wrong.
Must I now help them with acclimation to a time-honored yet perhaps unfamiliar thought process: the quaint idea of "truth"?
I teach composition to first-year college students whose final project is to write a persuasive research paper in which they prove a controversial statement. The first few semesters I noticed they had trouble composing a one-sentence statement of their controversial stance so I added lessons on thesis statement. They must consider their opposition and refute those stances. Then I added lessons on logic.
They tend to focus on a few commonly-held yet often-disputed sentiments: the traditional family is not necessary to a child's well-being; global warming is ruining our planet and must be stopped; professional athletes are ruining their health using steroids; our drinking age should be lowered to resemble the European model; illegal immigrants should be given amnesty.
I used to think that, sadly, the occasional student has been firmly indoctrinated. Nothing I could say would encourage him to consider the opposing points of view. If I insist that Al Gore is not a valid research source because he is an activist not an expert, still the movie "Inconvenient Truth" shows up on the bibliography. Then I began to see that with this research project I am only helping in further spreading misinformation.
Now I wonder if the bigger problem is that the truth doesn’t matter. A firmly-held belief is retained even in the face of information to prove it doubtful or even wrong.
Must I now help them with acclimation to a time-honored yet perhaps unfamiliar thought process: the quaint idea of "truth"?
Art Teacher in Baltimore Attacked
Posted by
Suzanne Hill
Suzanne Hill
In Baltimore, Maryland, art teacher Jolita Berry was attacked by high school girl as other students cheer on the attacker and no one offers assistance.
The outrageous thing about the attack – posted on the Internet – was how art teacher Berry said her principal responded to the incident. She said her principal told her she'd provoked the attack by telling the student she would defend herself [thus using a so-called “trigger” word] instead of defusing the situation and calming the student. Say what?
Marietta English, president of the Baltimore union's teacher chapter, stated that her office typically receives two or three complaints a day of assaults on teachers. When I first heard this statement, I thought I heard it wrong. Two to three attacks a day??
Evidently many of the attacks aren’t reported to the school system or the police. I’ve heard teachers say in interviews that they believed the school would take care of the situation by transferring them or punishing or expelling the student. But the administrators aren't reporting these violent incidents or doing anything to punish the violent children for fear their schools will be doomed to a "persistently dangerous" label under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.
The use of a cell phone to videotape the attack and post it on myspace will no doubt egg on other students to tape violent acts and post them as well. But ironically the recording allowed us to see how bad the situation in the schools really is.
Why wasn’t the student who beat down the art teacher arrested? Are we powerless to take possession of our city schools and demand that students behave?
Marietta English, president of the Baltimore union's teacher chapter, stated that her office typically receives two or three complaints a day of assaults on teachers. When I first heard this statement, I thought I heard it wrong. Two to three attacks a day??
Evidently many of the attacks aren’t reported to the school system or the police. I’ve heard teachers say in interviews that they believed the school would take care of the situation by transferring them or punishing or expelling the student. But the administrators aren't reporting these violent incidents or doing anything to punish the violent children for fear their schools will be doomed to a "persistently dangerous" label under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.
The use of a cell phone to videotape the attack and post it on myspace will no doubt egg on other students to tape violent acts and post them as well. But ironically the recording allowed us to see how bad the situation in the schools really is.
Why wasn’t the student who beat down the art teacher arrested? Are we powerless to take possession of our city schools and demand that students behave?
Absinthe Legal After 100-Year Ban
Posted by
Suzanne Hill
Suzanne Hill
In Baltimore, Maryland, absinthe, known as “La Fee Verte” (The Green Fairy), has made a comeback; it is served at Brewer’s Art and is available at Chesapeake Wine Co.
The romantic green drink – absinthe – is back after a 100-year ban.
Absinthe is often captured in artwork because of the seduction of its rumored psychoactive properties and its connection to a bohemian lifestyle. Famous artists who imbibed the spirit known as “The Green Fairy” include Toulouse-Lautrec, Manet, Gauguin, and Degas. The most famous of all absinthe drinkers has to be Van Gogh, although he suffers from a misconception that it caused him to go mad and cut off his ear. But notice how he frequently uses ochres and pale greens (the colors of absinthe) and how many of his paintings feature the bar where he drank the spirit.
The elixir was favored by artists and writers seduced by its “secondary effects” whereby the imbibers become intoxicated and are subject to hallucinations that they felt enhanced their art or suited their eccentricism. But in truth these qualities are no more marked than a buzz one gets from drinking tequila. Generally, it can be described as a heightened clarity of mind and vision warmed by the effect of the alcohol; some users insist the drink also produces unusually vivid dreams.
Absinthe tastes refreshingly like anise and is flavored by fennel and wormwood. It’s very strong – 70% alcohol – and is served diluted in a ritual involving a sugar cube placed on a flat decorative slotted spoon resting on the rim of the glass. Iced water is slowly dripped through the sugar cube, dissolving it and causing the green liquor to louche into white opalescence.
In Baltimore, absinthe can be enjoyed in this traditional ritual at The Brewer’s Art on Charles Street and can be purchased by the bottle at the Chesapeake Wine Company in the Can Building in historic Canton. Enjoy! I intend to!
Absinthe is often captured in artwork because of the seduction of its rumored psychoactive properties and its connection to a bohemian lifestyle. Famous artists who imbibed the spirit known as “The Green Fairy” include Toulouse-Lautrec, Manet, Gauguin, and Degas. The most famous of all absinthe drinkers has to be Van Gogh, although he suffers from a misconception that it caused him to go mad and cut off his ear. But notice how he frequently uses ochres and pale greens (the colors of absinthe) and how many of his paintings feature the bar where he drank the spirit.
The elixir was favored by artists and writers seduced by its “secondary effects” whereby the imbibers become intoxicated and are subject to hallucinations that they felt enhanced their art or suited their eccentricism. But in truth these qualities are no more marked than a buzz one gets from drinking tequila. Generally, it can be described as a heightened clarity of mind and vision warmed by the effect of the alcohol; some users insist the drink also produces unusually vivid dreams.
Absinthe tastes refreshingly like anise and is flavored by fennel and wormwood. It’s very strong – 70% alcohol – and is served diluted in a ritual involving a sugar cube placed on a flat decorative slotted spoon resting on the rim of the glass. Iced water is slowly dripped through the sugar cube, dissolving it and causing the green liquor to louche into white opalescence.
In Baltimore, absinthe can be enjoyed in this traditional ritual at The Brewer’s Art on Charles Street and can be purchased by the bottle at the Chesapeake Wine Company in the Can Building in historic Canton. Enjoy! I intend to!
Posted by
Suzanne Hill
Suzanne Hill
Map of Italy drawn by Leonardo da Vinci displays his propensity to conceive of ingenuities centuries before their adaptation.
On Sunday I visited the Maps exhibit at the Walters Museum. What a spectacle! This was the most engaging and interesting show I’ve seen in months. The maps on display cover a wide variety of subject matter from celestial and make believe terrains to terrestrial locations in all corners of the world to charts showing literacy rates in the U.K. and language distribution in the Balkans before the area was carved up after World War II. The maps are made of materials ranging from typical ones of parchment or cloth to more unusual surfaces like a glass globe, an African memory board, and a map of London on a glove.
One map of chalk and pigment on paper [by Leonard da Vinci c. 1502] is a topographical study of central Italy. It was the first map to indicate elevation with color – in a technique known as hypsometric tinting – rather than small cone-shaped ink lines typically used by his contemporaries to depict terrain. The higher the elevation the darker the brown pigment. The map was conceived as an engineering tool for negotiating the Arno River as part of the war invention services he offered the Duke. In creating the map, Leonardo developed a cartographic technique 300 years before its time.
The exhibit Maps: Finding our Place in the World remains at the Walters through June 8, 2008. Though admission to the Walters is currently free, the exhibit costs $12 admission.
One map of chalk and pigment on paper [by Leonard da Vinci c. 1502] is a topographical study of central Italy. It was the first map to indicate elevation with color – in a technique known as hypsometric tinting – rather than small cone-shaped ink lines typically used by his contemporaries to depict terrain. The higher the elevation the darker the brown pigment. The map was conceived as an engineering tool for negotiating the Arno River as part of the war invention services he offered the Duke. In creating the map, Leonardo developed a cartographic technique 300 years before its time.
The exhibit Maps: Finding our Place in the World remains at the Walters through June 8, 2008. Though admission to the Walters is currently free, the exhibit costs $12 admission.
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