3rd Art Blog

Art to me is anything that catches my eye and makes me want to learn more about that certain piece of artwork. There is so much beauty in our lives, from looking into a mirror to catching a glance at a wonderful skyline as the sun sets. I was fascinated with a print done in 1936 during the Great Depression. This picture shows a beautiful women hopeless with two young children hiding on each of her shoulders, and a baby in her arms.

Artist: Dorothea Lange
Title:  Migrant Mother
Date: March 1936
Location:  Nipomo, California
           
Process:
The images were made using a Graflex camera. Digital file was made from the original nitrate negative for "Migrant Mother" (LC-USF34-009058-C). The negative was retouched in the 1930s to erase the thumb holding a tent pole in lower right hand corner. The original negatives are 4x5" film.

The image's formal qualities:
This black and white photo shows the shadowing from the tent, and the wrinkles on the subjects clothing. This image beautifully displays a young women in her thirties who has been through some rough times. Her face shows well earned wrinkles, worry lines, and as she squints from the sun the lines deepen around her eyes. She has torn clothing, unkempt hair, and rests her soiled hand on her chin.The woman seems ashamed as do the children resting their faces against their mothers shoulders.

Subject:
The identity of the subject in the photo was not known for 40 years. Her identity was discovered when  a letter Florence leona Thompson wrote was published in The Modesto Bee and the Associated Press sent a story around entitled "Woman Fighting Mad Over Famous Depression Photo." Florence was quoted as saying "I wish she [Lange] hadn't taken my picture. I can't get a penny out of it. She didn't ask my name. She said she wouldn't sell the pictures. She said she'd send me a copy and she never did."Thompson's daughter Katherine (to the left of the frame) said in a December 2008 interview that the photo's fame made the family feel shame at their poverty.




Meaning:   
This photo became the icon of the Great Depression. It displays a real life experience of poverty, hunger, and despair. This is what poor economy does to Americans.  Florence's husband had lost his job, and as they traveled along with others looking for hope of jobs, he became ill and died. Knowing she had to feed her children and there was nothing where she was at, she move on, she drove until the car broke down and there was no hope of driving further, hence the name "Migrant Mother." No work, no food, no hope, this picture exhibits the loss and hoplessness during the great depression.


Artist: 
Dorthea Lange  (May 26, 1895 – October 11, 1965)
A photographer who captured the impact of the Great Depression in her photos. Educated in New York City then moved to San Franscico and opened her own studio. Her studies of unemployed and homeless people captured the attention of local photographers and led to her employment with the federal Resettlement Administration (RA), later called the Farm Security Administration (FSA). When the Great depression began she searched for photos of real life families, and found 'Migrant Mother'.

 My Response:
Being a mother myself I can almost feel Florence's' pain in this picture. I have been fortunate that I have always had a home and never had to live on the streets. I think it would have to be terrifying to live under a tent and know you have nothing to eat. This photo is so beautiful in so many ways. It has the deep feeling of fear that is in-bedded on her face. The details of the photo are so vivid, the wrinkles on the clothes and the mothers face is genuine.
 

3rd Concept Blog

My third Concept blog is about military poems. I feel poems about military experiences are genuine, true pictures of the circumstances experienced by people brave enough to express the misfortune of war. I was deeply disturbed when I read Wilfred Owen 's poem DULCE ET DECORUM EST, it was beautiful, yet emotionally touching. The poem was written by a military soldier during World War I, he demonstrates the fear and realization of what is really happening to our young military lives. The poem expresses fear and enlightening which also haunts his dreams clearly influenced by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. He states toward the end of the poem 'Dulce et Decorum est Pro Mori', which means it is sweet and right to die for your country. The poem is one of many written called "war poems"most popular during WWI. Wilfred's previous poems were different compared to the poems he wrote about during the war. Influenced by his doctor to write about his experiences and nightmares, his poems draw pictures of mental anguish for those who were not involved with the war, and comprehensive details for those that had been touched by the pain of war.

 His poem unfortunately sounds a lot like the poems written about any war since WWI. Young soldiers fighting over seas, at home and for freedom some do not even understand.  Expressing fear and loneliness like this Vietnam war poem.  Poems are a way to express feelings you sometimes can not put to words through speaking. There are many examples of soldiers crying out for help through poetry. This poem seems to have the same pattern as the one written during WWI. Scared young men expressing their experience on paper.  So much emotion expressed for so many military lives.

 

SOLDIER'S ROLE

The sun burns down with scorching breath As trudging men seek out their death
Which lies ahead.  In single file They hump the jungle, mile on mile
In halting, cautious tread. The fuzz-cheeked leader up ahead
Guides them on. The heavy packs Rub and chafe their aching backs

The wet boots suck from clinging mud And rub great blisters full of blood
On swollen feet.  The thrill is gone!

War no one wants to be in it, and no one wants to talk about it. Yet war seems to always be present some where. The generations of poem writing about war has a familiar ring to it indeed, what soldiers see and feel have not changed, the faces may be different, uniform may have evolved, but war remains the same. We are more aware of PTSD now involving young men and women, because there is so many with it returning from battles.  Military equipment changes, but still lives are broken, and displaced. War becomes news, topic of discussion at offices, different branches of military men and women are deployed across the sea, parents raise children to fight for our country.

Dulce et decorum est pro Patria Mori....it is sweet and right to die for your country............Times haven't changed much when it comes to war.

 

Second Art Blog

To One in Paradise

Thou wast that all to me, love,

For which my soul did pine--

A green isle in the sea, love,

A fountain and a shrine,

All wreathed with fairy fruits and flowers,

And all the flowers were mine.

Ah, dream too bright to last!

Ah, starry Hope! that didst arise

But to be overcast!

A voice from out the Future cries,

"On!on!"--but o'er the Past

(Dim gulf!) my spirit hovering lies

Mute, motionless, aghast!

For, alast! alast! with me 

The light of Life is o'er!

No more-- no more-- no more--

(Such language holds the solemn sea

To the sands upon the shore)

Shall bloom the thunder-blasted tree,

Or the stricken eagle soar!

And all my days are trances,

And all my nightly dreams

Are where thy grey eye glances,

Are where thy footstep gleams--

In what ethereal dances,

By what eternal streams.

~Edgar Allan Poe 1834~

Edgar Poe was born January 19, 1809. He was adopted  by Mrs. John Allan after his mother died. When his new father John Allan's business became productive enough, they sent Edgar to two different schools where he was taught Latin, French, history and literature, he was known at these schools as Edgar Allen.  Edgar Allan Poe has written several poems, and tales throughout his life. I have picked a poem I have never heard of, but enjoyed and wanted to share.

Author:    Edgar Allan Poe

Title:        To One in Paradise

Genre:      Lyric Poetry

The poem's sound:  

      Meter and rhyme scheme:   To One in Paradise has a musical rhythm when spoken aloud, it has every other sentence rhyming to give it a rhythmical beat.

     Sound: The poem consists of a soft musical flow of words and different tones. Certain sentences have placed emphasis where the author expresses excitement, giving it the pleasant effusion of words. 

      Alliteration:  The passage has several words like "fountain," "fairy," "fruits," and "flowers."  Poe also repeats, "No more" three times, when one would suffice.

The poem's form:  

     This poem portrays the poets own feelings, thoughts, state of mind and perception. Unlike Edgar Allan Poe's other poems more known poems that reveal a more of a Gothic genre.  His use of "fairy fruits and flowers" seems as if it were a love ballot lyric.  Every other line written ends with a rhyme and continues into the next sentence. The poem has a Stanza form, because it is consistent with each line grouped together with a rhyme scheme. It also portrays an image of a  beautiful island, and qualities of an imaginary love.

The poems meaning:

     Metaphor: Poe says the woman's love was, "A green isle in the sea, love.....A fountain and a shrine....All wreathed with fairy fruits and flowers...which seems as if he does not want to believe she has died. The dreams he has illustrates images of his love, which seems as if he would prefer dreaming,  instead of living without her.  He is comparing the one he loves to beautiful objects, and tries to convince himself everything is fine, but he knows he will not be seeing her again. He dreads going on without her in his life, this may be why he states "no more" several times.
He says, "And all my days are trances...And all my nightly dreams.....Are where thy grey eye glances...And where thy footstep gleams--," Poe indirectly refers to his love's everlasting presence, even in death, as memories of her and in his dreams.

    Symbol:  "And all the flowers were mine'" The flower is a symbol for the dreamer's feelings. "Ah starry Hope!" is the light which guides us, when all doors are closed. "Shall bloom the thunder-blasted tree" means everything good must come to an end, or nothing last forever. He is tricking himself in believing he is ready to move on to be happy again.

   Imagery: This poem describes the reality regarding the circumstances in honest imagery and languages, this leaves the readers to discover what the speaker should do.  The image of a fruitful green island makes one think of seclusion, and loneliness.   
"The garden does indeed contain a fountain and is bounded on one end by an arched brick loggia in which a bust of Poe has pride of place; it is known as the Poe Shrine (as the entire museum was once called). The shrine’s bricks, like those of the garden wall, come from the demolished building of Richmond’s magazine The Southern Literary Messenger, where Poe found his first early success. The granite columns come from the same building. And according to Mr. Semtner, some of the soil used to grow the “fairy fruits and flowers” of the garden came from Poe’s mother’s grave." When Edgar Allan Poe says "(Dim gulf)....my spirit hovering lies" he feels as if his supernatural being or rather his spirit, lingers in a hollow dull and subdue place.

The purpose for this poem, is to share a wonderful experience in life that after having loved for such a short time, leaves him scared and alone. The poet expresses a deep love he misses who is now buried under the ground and covered with  flowers and fairy fruits. He explains their time together as paradise. It all begins with a sadness and fear, but ends with his own mental images of him trying to move on.  He has dreams of his love and what she meant to him, wishing the dreams were real. It seems as if he is forcing the subject that it is alright to move on by using explanation points and words like "Hope, Life, and Past," capitalized to strongly suggest important realizations. I can relate to the poem with images of childhood playing in trees, flowers, and being in love.  Losing someone hurts and once we accept the lost we can than make the transition into a new beginning. 

To One in Paradise to me is a romantically musical poem illustrating a beautiful relationship that blossomed into many years of love and longing. The "love" he spoke of had past away and left him miserable. He gave us a picture in a way of their relationship and her loveliness. He is desperately trying to move on, stating the future is waiting for him, he has to put away his sorrow, and face new challenges that arise, in life, love, and happiness. This poem would fit right in with modern day poems and songs, loving someone so deeply and than trying to regain our own feelings in a healthy way, too once again smile and enjoy life.
I enjoyed this poem it is a different side of Edgar Allan Poe. I found it difficult to find much about this poem, because it wasn't one of his famous ones. That is one of the reasons I enjoyed it so much.

Concept Blog 2

I begin my blog by saying there are certain women in history who have made me proud to be a women. Today women are allowed to vote, drive, teach, go to school, buy a house, work, choose who they marry, and are equal with men, although there are women in most countries, still struggling for their freedom.  There was a time in history that all the choices we have now (and take for granted) were not part of the woman's benefits. Imagine struggling to bite your tongue when it was time to vote, or if you are too tired to wash the dishes and laundry, it would not get done. Thank goodness there were women that took a stand, even though some were executed, they changed our lives today.

 There was one women who began the battle for women in the 1700's, she was very vocal about her feelings and wanted the other women to open their eyes.  Her name was Olympe de Gouges the name she was born with was Marie Gouzes, a playwright, political activist, and a  pamphleteer, took her chance at making changes with woman's rights. When the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen (Aug. 1789), was written, it was to be a prelude of the French constitution, which had not been written yet.  Olympe was dissatisfied, because the men did not address the political and social limitations women were facing in the French state.  She began her battle by portraying the revolutionary administrators as selfish bigots, and demanded fair rights also for women so they can be educated, and do whatever the men had rights to do. She continued her battle by writing a pamphlet  to the Queen Marie Antoinette the wife of King Louis XVI.  The letter states ".........When the whole empire accused you and held you responsible for its calamities, I alone had the strength to take up your defenses....This revolution will happen only when all women are aware of their deplorable fate, and the rights they have lost in society. "De Gouges's devotion to the cause of woman's rights led to her being charged with treason under the rule of the National Convention. She was arrested, tried, and later, in November of 1793, executed by the guillotine.

 

Declaration of the Rights of Woman  written by Olympe De Gouge had received attention from the Society of Revolutionary Republican Women, with their power and many complaints sent to the Convention (government) they were able to get the Convention to reevaluate Woman's rights. 

I am very interested in Women Rights and to compliment the women of the 1700's, I now move on to our rights as women today. It is very hard to picture not having rights, I am grateful those strong willed women who stepped up and had their voices heard.  The first women who began fighting for woman's rights was Elizabeth Cady Stanton in 1848, her and Lucretia Mott  formed the "First Women's Rights Convention" at Seneca Falls, New York. 

 

From there our rights as women continues yet today, several women have wreck havoc with the government making sure women have a voice like Susan B. Anthony, and  Nellie McClung, only to name a few. Our rights to vote, gives us a voice in the government, there are certain jobs only men were allowed to do and now the military is another right for women. The list continues with each year there are people protesting for their rights, and not just women. Times have changed with each passing moment, women can be astronauts, teachers, soldiers, scientist, fire women, nurses, doctors, engineers, auto mechanics, and the list continues.

Women have come a long way from being dominated by men who had all the control in a marriage, and politics, we are now equal in a marriage, free to express our own opinion politically, and stand up for women's rights. Our daughters/grandchildren have no idea how privileged they are to vote, work, and go to school. It is up to us to share the history of the women's with them.

1st Art Encounter Blog

I have enjoyed Art from the first time I was able to draw. The fascination of art brought me closer to understanding artist, and the meaning of their beautiful displays. I had always been fascinated by one particular artist Leonardo da Vinci (1452 - 1519). He was an Italian ideal example of the 'Renaissance Man'. He is most famous for his paintings, but was very talented in science, sculpture, math, and literature, just to name a few.
The first painting I had ever seen of Leonardo's was The Mona Lisa, a wonderful oil painted profile of a women, with several layers of color demonstrating shadows, textures, and beauty. The painting is half length, meaning it only shows the upper half and hands of  a person, and is considered the most famous painting in the world. It is also called 'la Gioconda' which means "the laughing one." The women that posed for the picture was Lisa del Gioconda, a wife of a wealthy Florentine Silk merchant. Leonardo began this painting in 1503 and ended painting it in 1504, which he said was unfinished, a contentious pattern in most of his artwork. There is some questionable possibles that he had worked on this painting in France several years, but finished sometime before his death.


 
 The painting seems dual and boring as if Mona Lisa was bored, but the way Leonardo shaded her facial features demonstrates the illusion that she is smiling. She is considered an average size women placed in a chair at an angle facing the artist. With her hands crossed upon the chair she is sitting, she is properly placed to demonstrate the alignment of her body.  There are lines framing her silhouetted frame from the top of her head and hair, down her back and front area of layers of clothing. The outlines on her hands are perfectly proportioned with the lines and dimples as natural as can be on each hand that is painted.     The background demonstrates a softness of colors, arranged to outline a colorful mountainous  area behind Mona Lisa, bringing her features of lightened skin into view. The clothing she wears is dark and covers almost every stitch of her body, except the small cleavage displayed modestly. The dark colors are painted beautifully to suggest several layers are worn. She is not completely centered, but is brought forward by the way Leonardo balances the background in the distant with her facial features outlined in the humanistic art. Her face catches the lighting in the room and you can't help but look into her eyes, almost hauntingly, straight into your soul. Her dark hair frames the face of a child, not yet ready to become a women, there seems to be no makeup, only the shadows from the light cast any subdued coloring. The softness of her hands are present only because of the superficial lighting and shadows presented. The reappearance of shades and lighting across the figure in the picture, gives the painting a feeling of reality.

There are several stories about the painting and questioning about Mona Lisa's smile. In my opinion the smile is almost flirty, Lisa spent several months with Leonardo there could have been some sexual tension between them. I also came across this interesting piece.

"The truth behind the smile is, this style of smile was not invented by Leonardo da Vinci. It can be found in a number of sculptures from the fifteenth century, one of these being Antonio Rossellino's Virgin; it is somewhat reminiscent of Greek funerary statues and Gothic statues in medieval cathedrals. The mysterious smile can also be found very widely in the works of Leonardo's master, Verrocchio and Leonardo used the same smile in a number of his paintings."  http://www.lairweb.org.nz/leonardo/mona.html. 

The reason why the painting was done is a mystery, but the capturing of Leonardo's skill is not. This painting has brought about many questions, some of which seem ridicules. Several scientist have suggested that Leonardo had actually painted himself and turned the painting into a women. Others have said his assistant posed for the picture. It also seems as if there are small numbers and symbols stored in the eyes of Mona Lisa. The painting resides in Louvre Museum in Paris.
It has survived thief, vandalism while displayed, and 500 years of weathering.  In 1809 the painting went under it's first intense cleaning, involving re-varnishing, and water coloring of one of her eyes.  The painting is protected in a wall of bullet proof glass, as seen below.
                                                                       

 Leonardo da Vince used lighting, shading and different effects to illuminate the face of Mona Lisa, he had several other artistic creations like the "Last Supper", "Virgin and Child, with St. Anne", "Virgin of the Rocks", most of which were about religion in different forms. The Mona Lisa however; does not demonstrate any religious aspect, or does it? This historical creation by Leonardo da Vince, has been copied several times, and even made into cartoons, has changed hands across the centuries, framing has been removed and replaced, but still the Mona Lisa smiles. I have enjoyed learning more about Leonardo and his painting of Mona Lisa. As I have said before and in my own opinion, she is giving Leonardo a smile of lust. The smile becomes the focus when we think of Mona Lisa, Leonardo left us in suspense when he painted her.

First Concept

The Renaissance between the 14th and 17th Centuries was considered a time of Rebirth, a time of growth, prosperity and change. It was a time when Art was the main focus. A need for change that lasted throughout four centuries. In Modern day times, we also have had Rebirths, several it seems, lets take a look at Modern day changes and the changes centuries ago.

"David"

                                

The Renaissance was a time for everyone to look at everything around them with new eyes. The flourish for literature, Art, poetry, philosophy, and culture had arrived. The change took shape with statues such as "David" by Michelangelo, portraying freedom and strength. Printing began a whole new way to communicate, explore philosophy, and change science.  Studying and exploring, became the new pass time, this satisfied their thirst for new things. Art was a way to make money, to expand the mind and make it create  more beauty. Art became real, an image of our own bodies, explored by famous artist like   Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo.  

Do we have anything that comes close to the Renaissance era? How about Woodstock during the 60's? The changes that took place was more about the Music, but the Music was about Art. The year was 1969, it began with a young man who had a dream to make money. He wanted to have a concert in a corn field in Bethel, New York. Big artist like Bob Dylan, Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young played for the 500,000 people that arrived looking for freedom. It was about change, Rebirth, and Peace. Does it compared to the Arts of the Renaissance, not really, but it was a time of Rebirth, freedom, and exploring.

http://woodstockny.org/content

 Lets try this again, when would we have a chance to make changes and explore new ideas like they had in the Renaissance era? It seems to me that we do it every day. We have scientist who discover  cures for the different diseases as they arise, come up with new medications, and create new machines to explore Mars. We are in a time of machines, discovery, and Rebirth. There are so many discovers still to be found, like uncovering disasters or treasures, explore dinosaur bones, and climb the tallest mountains. It seems as though we can go down in history like the Renaissance Era, and one day a Humanities class will be studying our era.

The Picture posted

I just wanted to introduce my rescue dog on my profile picture, Scout, he is a Louisiana Catahoula Leopard dog. I have had him now for 2 years he was 9 months when I first got him at the Humane Society. He has become my son's best friend, but he knows who to come to when he gets spooked! lol We also have a Great Swiss Mountain dog we rescued 3 years ago, she had been abandoned at a campsite, she was dirty, skinny, thirsty, hungry, and obviously lonely, my husband fell in love with her the minute he saw her. We thought at first she belonged to someone camping there, but no one would claim her. My husband gave her water from his hands, and she was timid with him at first, but grateful for the water. We were driving away and she followed. Bless my husband's heart he stopped and put her in the truck. She spent the night with us in the tent and slept like a baby. We think she had to have been abused she was fearful of everything. My patient husband took the time to work with her and believe me this dog is his best friend.  I believe rescue dogs are the best kind of dogs to get, they know they are home, and never wonder off. These two have been a big part in our family. They love each other and you can see them "beating" each other up quit often. They sleep together on one dog bed even though there is two beds. I hope you have enjoyed part of my family on my first blog.