Idea Generation Gallery Presents Brian Duffy: A Photographic Genius

Written by Homer Glidden Wednesday, 06 July 2011 21:53

LONDON.- Idea Generation Gallery presents the first ever full retrospective of Brian Duffy - a man who changed the face of British photography. The first ever full-career retrospective of the legendary British photographer Brian Duffy will open July 8th at Idea Generation Gallery, coinciding with the publication of Duffy – the first and only book of his work. Duffy infamously quit photography in 1979 when, at the height of his career, he took the majority of his photographic work into the back garden and set it on fire. Featuring more than 160 images painstakingly rediscovered by Duffy’s son after years of searching through archives and publications around the world, this exhibition has truly risen from the ashes.

Read more: [[Idea Generation Gallery Presents Brian Duffy: A Photographic Genius]]

Devotion by Design: Altarpieces Before 1500 at the National Gallery in London

Written by Francis Davenport Wednesday, 06 July 2011 21:09

LONDON.- Altarpiece: An image-bearing structure placed upon or behind an altar in a Christian church. Usually forms the focus of devotion for worshippers and is normally decorated by painters and/or sculptors. Altarpieces can vary considerably in size and in complexity of construction, ranging from simple dossals (a horizontal panel or cloth either fronting or set at the back of an altar) to huge polyptychs (a painting divided into multiple sections or panels). They are decorated with a range of imagery which often reflects the circumstances of their original commission and location. As part of a new series of summer exhibitions drawn from the National Gallery’s permanent collection, 'Devotion by Design' focuses on Italian altarpieces ranging from the 13th century to the end of the 15th century. This exhibition of over 40 works will investigate the original functions and locations, as well as formal, stylistic and typological developments of altarpieces, drawing on the wealth of scientific examination and scholarly study undertaken in this field over the past 30 years. On view 6 July until 2 October.

Read more: [[Devotion by Design: Altarpieces Before 1500 at the National Gallery in London]]

This Week in Review in Art Knowledge News

Written by Editor, Art Knowledge News Tuesday, 05 July 2011 21:00

This is a new feature for the subscribers and visitors to Art Knowledge News (AKN), that will enable you to see "thumbnail descriptions" of the last ninety (90) articles and art images that we published. This will allow you to visit any article that you may have missed ; or re-visit any article or image of particular interest. Every day the article "thumbnail images" will change. For you to see the entire last ninety images just click : here .

When opened that also will allow you to change the language from English to anyone of 54 other languages, by clicking your language choice on the upper left corner of our Home Page.  You can share any article we publish with the eleven (11) social websites we offer like Twitter, Flicker, Linkedin, Facebook, etc. by one click on the image shown at the end of each opened article.  Last, but not least, you can email or print any entire article by using an icon visible to the right side of an article's headline.

Long-Dead Celebrities Can Now Breathe Easier

Written by Elizabeth Rhinewold Sunday, 27 November 2011 21:28

 

LOS ANGELES, CA - She may have been a candle in the wind, but Marilyn Monroe still knew how to dye her hair, pout her lips and exploit what nature had handed her. And when she died, in 1962, without natural heirs, she bequeathed her assets — including, presumably, her publicity rights — to her acting coach, Lee Strasberg.

Read more: [[Long-Dead Celebrities Can Now Breathe Easier]]

The Jane Sauer Gallery To Show Irina Zaytceva's Fantastic Porcelain

Written by Andrew Sangstrom Wednesday, 06 July 2011 00:48

Santa Fe, NM.- The Jane Sauer Gallery is proud to present "Irina Zaytceva: “Sense and Sensuality”, on view at the gallery from July 15th through August 9th. Born and raised in Russia, Irina Zaytceva immigrated to the United States in 1990 with her ex- husband and 3 year old son. Her art work today still speaks of her Russian heritage and excellent art education, graduating from the prestigious Art Institute of Moscow with a B.A. and M.F.A. in Book Illustration. Soon after graduating Zaytceva began experimenting with the sculptural possibilities of ceramics combined with her paintings. Porcelain had a particular attraction for Irina because of its historical importance and the finer grain this material offered. She developed several unique techniques, which opened more doors for her creative talents.

All of her works are created using high fire porcelain, overglaze as well as underglaze colors, and 14 carat gold. Irina says of her work over the last 20 years: ” My colors and powers came together to help me to speak, to tell my stories, to harvest the fruits and flowers of the garden of my mind and soul, sculpting my works and adding to the further meaning of  them by painting the surfaces with colored pictures.”

Zaytceva describes her process as “I begin sculpture without knowing how the story ends. I mean, I almost never do sketches for the piece, and if I do them, the piece still manages to surprise me, turning out a bit different than my plan. I explore a story using sculpture, feeling my way around. First, I build an object in clay. It could be as simple as almost conventional tea pot with a visible spout and lid or it could be a figurative sculpture where the position of the spout or the lid is not yet obvious. At this stage my task is to create a plastically intriguing shape. Most of the time I do not think how I will decorate it. When the object is done, then I try to see what its shape suggests in terms of colors, space, painting, and gold luster. It is always an improvisation.” Surrounded by over 2,500 books, Zaytceva works in a small converted garage studio listening to CD’s of still more books while creating her exquisite worlds.

The products of her inventive imagination defy belief in their meticulous detail and striking beauty. They are fairytales, mythical illusions, and a celebration of the majesty of nature. The porcelain clay allows her to paint in much greater detail than other clay bodies as she adds layer upon layer of paint followed by firing after firing. The gold luster reminiscent of Byzantine icons is the last application. The magnificent detail of each piece keeps the viewer deeply engaged, making discovery after discovery. Zaytceva’s work creates its own language. The pieces bring together her origins as a book illustrator making visual a story, a lifetime as an avid reader and her desire to tell the stories flowing from her brilliant mind. She is an artist with an engaging story to tell and has extraordinary technical ability to visually display these tales for involvement of the viewer. Her talents are immediately arresting whether Irina is painting delicate faces and hands or lyrical scenes from nature. In each work there exists beauty, tension and a hint of erotica.







The Jane Sauer Gallery is known for its excellent reputation among art admirers, collectors, museum curators, art critics, and artists. Jane brings to the gallery 34 years of wide experience as a highly recognized professional in art. She is known nationally by museum curators and collectors for her work as an innovative studio artist, and is often requested to serve as guest judge or curator for exhibitions. Artists and collectors throughout the country continue to seek her advice and remember her for her continuous activism in promotion of the arts. Jane brings her lifelong experience, training, and artistic eye to bear on the selection of artists she represents in the gallery. Her selection process is rigorous: “I seek to present work that is conceptually sound, meaningful, and captures the essence of intellect and creativity. Although each work must be technically accomplished, I look for a quality in the work that reveals ‘the hand of the artist'.” Throughout her long career, Jane Sauer has been at the forefront in supporting creative artists who are not limited--in their vision or in the materials they use:  “The field of art is ever-expanding, limited only by the range of the human imagination. Contemporary artists are redefining our notion of art, creating a fluid field that is not tied to traditionally recognized techniques or media.” Visit the gallery's website at ... http://www.jsauergallery.com

The Royal Academy of Arts Shows Albert Irwin's Vibrant Abstract Prints

Written by Nicholas Botham Thursday, 19 April 2012 22:13

London.- The Royal Academy of Arts is presenting a selection of Albert Irvin’s vibrant abstract screen prints dating from the late 1980s to present. "Albert Irvin: From Hollyrood to Stratford" will include many works which have not previously been displayed at the Royal Academy of Arts and works on show will be a mix of editions and monoprints. The exhibition title evokes a wide geographical spread, which in turn is evident in the broad range of work which will be exhibited. ‘Holyrood’ is a street in SE1, London and ‘Stratford’ is a road in a small town outside Boston, USA. Irvin’s titles always have a connection with a cartographical reference. The exhibition remains on view until September 25th.

Read more: [[The Royal Academy of Arts Shows Albert Irwin's Vibrant Abstract Prints]]

Plymouth City Museum Acquires 17th Century Painting with Local Connections

Written by Karen Wethersfield Tuesday, 05 July 2011 23:59

PLYMOUTH, UK - A 17th century painting that was part of one of the most important collections of historical portraits in England has been acquired by Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery for the city’s permanent collections. The ‘Portrait of Johann Friederich, the Elector of Saxony and the Reformers’ was purchased thanks to funding support from the Art Fund (£5,344) and the V&A/MLA Purchase Grant Fund (£6,120). The painting is a copy of an original 16th century work and shows the leaders of the Protestant Reformation – a movement that aimed to reform the Roman Catholic Church in Northern Europe during the 1500s. At the centre of the portrait is Johann Friederich, the Elector of Saxony - a powerful supporter of the Reformation movement. The painting also includes portraits of Martin Luther and other German and Swiss reformers.

Read more: [[Plymouth City Museum Acquires 17th Century Painting with Local Connections]]

The Famous Abstract Expressionist Painter Cy Twombly Dies at 83

Written by Matthew Schudel Tuesday, 05 July 2011 23:27

ROME - Cy Twombly, a controversial American artist whose deceptively simple scrawls, smudges and sculptural shapes made him one of the most significant artistic figures of the past 50 years, died July 5th in Rome. He was 83 and had cancer. Mr. Twombly, a native of Lexington, Va., spent most of his adult life in Italy, where he forged an original artistic path in spite of early criticism and outright mockery. Along with artists Robert Rauschenberg and Jasper Johns, Mr. Twombly was considered an heir to the mantle of Abstract Expressionist painter Jackson Pollock.

Read more: [[The Famous Abstract Expressionist Painter Cy Twombly Dies at 83]]

"Cities of Gold and Mirrors" on View at the Julia Stoschek Collection

Written by Willie Durand Tuesday, 08 May 2012 22:59

DUSSELDORF, GERMANY - The Julia Stoschek Collection is presenting selected works in a newly designed exhibition. The show features 44 works by 35 artists in all, including many that have never been shown before, works acquired in the past few years and site-specific spatial interventions. Each work is presented in its own, carefully elaborated setting. Rather than being organised around a single theme, the exhibition picks up on several content strands and reflects current themes in contemporary art. Its title, CITIES OF GOLD AND MIRRORS, taken from a film by Cyprien Gaillard shown in the exhibition is a metaphor for the fact that the pieces on display explore socio-political questions relating to urban development, humankind's relationship to architecture, and our own personal vanities and desires. The first exhibition area presents artists like Gordon Matta-Clark, Tobias Zielony, Cyprien Gaillard and Francis Alÿs, whose works reflect on the relationship between humankind and architecture. On view until summer of 2012.

Read more: [["Cities of Gold and Mirrors" on View at the Julia Stoschek Collection]]

Martin Schoeller's Portraits of Celebrities at The Kennedys in Berlin

Written by Eugene Nugent Tuesday, 05 July 2011 22:18

BERLIN.- With the beginning of the Showroom Days Berlin, the Museum The Kennedys will temporarily turn into a photographic catwalk for trendsetters, style icons as well as fashion rebels of the international fashion world. The exhibition »Behind the Mask« shows one of the most fascinating portrait series of the last couple of years worldwide. Whether pop stars, athletes, actors, or politicians: It is the people from the public sphere who influence the public opinion and create a socially acceptable consensus out of short-lived lifestyle trends. Not only do they perfectly master the art of self-representation in the media – the high society also creates an impression of all-encompassing perfection and flawless beauty. In combination with their omnipresence in the media, public figures thus appear as inaccessible, seemingly surreal figures. To break through this masquerade and to present the person behind it is the self-proclaimed goal of internationally renowned photographer Martin Schoeller. On exhibition 6 July through 31 July.

Read more: [[Martin Schoeller's Portraits of Celebrities at The Kennedys in Berlin]]

University of Sydney Exhibition Offers Clues on the Mysterious Etruscans

Written by William Fitzgerald Tuesday, 05 July 2011 21:19

SYDNEY, AU - A new exhibition at the University of Sydney's Nicholson Museum offers insight into a once dominant but enigmatic ancient Italian civilization. The Etruscans – based in what is now known as Tuscany – were the most powerful Mediterranean people in the 6th century BC before being conquered by the Romans and incorporated into the Roman Republic. Their empire was built on mineral wealth, enabling the development of elaborate cities and a powerful oligarchy which greatly influenced the Roman Empire.

While the Etruscans’ early dominance is undisputed, little is known about who they were and where they came from. There language is like no other spoken then, or since, in Europe. No Etruscan literature or major buildings survive, and much Etruscan art – mostly made from stone, wood and terracotta - was summarily destroyed by the Romans.

The Nicholson Museum’s The Etruscans: A Classical Fantasy sheds light on what little is known about the Etruscan people, their history and their lifestyle. It features sculpture, jewellery, bronzes, pottery, terracotta figurines and body parts, and funerary urns. The urns, date to the 2nd century BC, offering some of the best available clues about life in Etruria.


“Now, we know nothing about the Etruscans except what we find in their tombs,” wrote D.H. Lawrence in Etruscan Places, published in 1932. “There are references to them in Latin writers. But of first-hand knowledge we have nothing except what the tombs offer. So to the tombs we must go: or the museums containing the things that have been rifled from the tombs.”

Successors of the early Iron Age Villanovans (900-700 B.C.), Etruscans built such cities as Tarquinii, Vulci, Caere, and Veii. Each autonomous city, originally ruled by a powerful, wealthy king, had a sacred boundary or pomerium. Etruscan homes were mud-brick, with timber on stone foundations, some with upper stories. In southern Etruria, the bodies of the dead were buried, but in the north, the Etruscans cremated their dead. Much evidence about the early inhabitants of Italy comes from Etruscan remains.

The Etruscans exerted a heavy influence on early Rome, contributing to the line of Roman kings with the Tarquins. The possible, but debated dominance of the Etruscans ended with the Roman sack of Veii, in 396 B.C. The final stage in the Roman conquest of the Etruscans was when the Volsinii were destroyed in 264 B.C., although the Etruscans maintained their own language until about the first century B.C. By the first century A.D. the language was already a concern for scholars, like the Emperor Claudius. Most consider the Etruscans as a great mystery.

Though Etruria may have been an ancient civilization, all societal and artistic evidence reveals how very open-minded the Etruscan people were. They repeatedly demonstrated that the concept of gender and sexuality in Etruria was a pervasive and acknowledged part of daily life, so integral to the mores of the society that it was incorporated through murals, reliefs, and statues that adorned not only domiciles, but entire cities. From the brothels of Pompeii to dwellings located in strongholds such as Tarquinii, the theme of intense sexuality and women in Etruscan art is always a common theme. It clearly indicates a comfort with said theme that has certainly not been integrated into modern-day tradition. Today, modern tradition is shy and prudish, unwilling to open their eyes and enjoy the simple beauty of sexuality and see the human body for what it is; a work of art.

The Etruscans curator Michael Turner says present day fascination with the Etruscans in part derives from the magnificent painted tombs which, being underground, survived the worst excesses of the Romans.

“The Etruscans built cities of the dead outside the walls of their cities of the living in the Tuscan hills,” he says. “Within these cities family tombs were built into mounds, carved into hills or cut into bedrock. They were painted and decorated as if inhabited and filled, for instance, with dining and drinking accoutrements. Illustrated imagery reflected the important rituals of life: dancing, feasting, games, sex and death.

“Several urns on display in The Etruscans: A Classical Fantasy feature customised lids depicting the deceased, with writing on the front giving the dead person’s name and family.”

Photographs from the Legendary Mexican Suitcase at Les Rencontres d'Arles

Written by Jacques Coronado Tuesday, 05 July 2011 21:39

ARLES, FRANCE - Sometimes, even in the world of photography, miracles happen. On 19 December 2007, three battered, commonplace cardboard boxes arrived at the International Center of Photography in New York. Within these boxes the so-called Mexican Suitcase was a treasure trove of photographic history believed lost since World War II: the legendary Spanish Civil War negatives of Robert Capa, Gerda Taro, and David Seymour (known as Chim). The Mexican Suitcase contained 126 rolls of film, mostly shot between May 1936 and spring 1939, that are an inestimable record of innovative war photography and of a definitive episode in Spanish history. The photographs include Capa's images of the Battle of Rio Segre, Chim's famous image of a woman nursing a baby at a land reform meeting in Estremadura, and Taros last photos at the Battle of Brunete where she was killed in 1937.

Read more: [[Photographs from the Legendary Mexican Suitcase at Les Rencontres d'Arles]]

Nike Gallery In Lagos Presents Dele Jegede's First Nigerian Exhibition In Over 20 Years

Written by Emmanuel Agozino Tuesday, 22 November 2011 21:46

Lagos, Nigeria (Nigerian Compass).- An exhibition, opening in Lagos on Wednesday, April 30, will feature works by the US-based Nigerian artist, and art history scholar, Professor Dele Jegede's. Comprising recent works, this will be his first solo show on home soil for more than 20 years. One of Nigerian leading artist on the international scene, the widely respected art scholar stages the show in the Nike Art Gallery, in Lagos. His research interests straddle the two worlds of studio practice and art history. As art historian, his research is concerned with the contemporary and popular arts of Africa, with particular focus on the seamlessness of creative boundaries in the city of Lagos, Nigeria, possibly Africa's craziest city. As a painter, his creative research draws on iconic elements in African and Western cultures. The exhibition in the Nike Gallery will be an opportunity for Nigerians (and others) to view the works of one of Nigeria's most prolific artists for the first time since he emigrated to the USA.

Dr. Dele Jegede earned his Ph.D. degree in Art History at Indiana University, Bloomington, where he studied with Roy Sieber. He obtained his first degree in Fine Art from the Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria. Since the seventies, he has taught in diverse environments and served in academic, professional, and leadership capacities locally and internationally. He was Fulbright Scholar at Spelman College (1987); Director of the Center for Cultural Studies, University of Lagos (1989-1992); President, Society of Nigerian Artists (1989-1992); Senior Post-Doctoral Fellow at the National Museum of African Art, the Smithsonian Institution (1995); President, Arts Council of the African Studies Association (ACASA), (1996-1998); and professor and Chair, Department of Art, Indiana State University, (2002-2005; Interim Chair, 2001-2002). From 2005 to 2010, he was Chair of the Department of Art, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. Dr. Jegede is active on visitation assignments for the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, NASAD.




He has had numerous solo and group exhibitions and participated in several conferences at national and international levels. As a teacher, he has developed and taught courses in African and African American art, and his teaching approach promotes experiential and hands-on learning. Jegede also carved a reputation for himself as a graphic illustrator and vibrant newspaper cartoonist in the hay day of the Daily Time Newspaper.

In 2000, he curated two major exhibitions. "Contemporary African Art: Five Artists, Diverse Trends," opened at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, and featured Magdalene Odundo, Ezrom Legae, Mariam Aleem, Twins Seven Seven, and Kane Kwei while "Women to Women: Weaving Cultures, Shaping History" was held at the University Gallery, Indiana State University. It featured Sokari Douglas Camp, Ndidi Dike, Marcia Kure, and Iyabo Abiola. Both exhibits were accompanied by exhibition catalogs. The innovative DC-ROM, Five Windows into Africa, which contains Dele Jegede's window on "This is Lagos," was published by Indiana University Press. (The remaining four windows feature contributions by Patrick McNaughton, Ruth Stone, Brian Winchester, and John Hanson). Dr. Jegede has published extensively on diverse aspects of African art. His most recent book, Encyclopedia of African American Artists: Artists of the American Mosaic, his new book was published by Greenwood Press in 2009.

From the 1970s through to the mid 1990s Jegede was one of the most widely exhibited Nigerian artists in his home country, he has expressed his delight at being able to exhibit in Lagos again for the first time in more than 20 years, but also emphasised the political nature of his work, stating in his blog: "Equally important is a personal project of mine. My solo exhibition in Lagos, Nigeria, comes up on April 30th. It is exciting to be able to go back fully into the studio. I realized that my paintings provide an outlet for pent-up emotions regarding the state of the Nigerian nation. Issues pertaining to environmental degradation, as in the case of the Niger Delta, and corruption, simply continue to dodge my work. Much as I tried not to be consumed by what appears to be largely uncomplimentary thoughts about Nigeria, I have found it difficult not to share the trauma that comes from avoidable mismanagement by the political class in Nigeria, self-aggrandizement and unpardonable insensitivity to the plight of the marginalized seems to trump reason.




My paintings are, to a large extent, an excoriation of a systemic plundering of a nation that is blessed with so much and yet has been laid waste by a handful group of individuals. Given what is happening in the Arab world at this point, it does appear that something has to give with respect to Nigeria. Perhaps the coming elections might nip the issue in the bud. Or it might exacerbate it. The choice is the politicians". Visit the artists website at http://www.dele-jegede.com

The Nike Gallery is part of the Nike Centre for Art and Culture which was opened in 1983 by the Nigerian artist Nike Davies Okundaye in order to create jobs for young Nigerians and to encourage Nigerian women in the arts. The original idea was similar to the workshops held by Georgina Beier in Osogbo in the 1960's that led to the creation of the "Osogbo School" for artists. Nike acquired her skills as an artist through her parents and great grandmother, who was a cloth weaver, Adire maker and Indigo dyer, and was (Iyalode) head of the village women. Her father was a basket weaver, leather worker, and traditional musician. Nike started her art work young, the way in those days education was passed on to younger members of the family by their elders in a traditional manner. She had the first of many International Exhibitions in 1970 and has had Exhibitions and workshops in Nigeria, Africa, Europe, and North America. The Centre currently enrols students, while others are at present making a living selling their work, some have volunteered to stay on and teach up and coming students. The Nike Gallery's permanent display is at 2 Elegusi Road, Ikate 2nd Round-about, Epe Expressway, Lekki near Lagos. Visit the gallery's website at www.nikeart.com

New York State Museum Biologists Map Strategy to Save Adirondack Spruce Grouse

Written by Denny Newcastle Tuesday, 05 July 2011 21:20

ALBANY, NY (AP).- Genetic analysis at the state museum confirms what biologists squishing through Adirondack bogs already knew: New York's population of the Spruce Grouse, a chicken-like bird of the boreal forest, is nearing extinction. Avid birders travel great distances to glimpse rare boreal species in the cool, moist forests of the Adirondacks and other Northeastern mountains. While boreal species — including the boreal chickadee, Bicknell's thrush, blackpoll warbler and gray jay — are plentiful further north in Canada, biologists say global climate change and habitat loss are driving them out of the southern reaches of their range.

Read more: [[New York State Museum Biologists Map Strategy to Save Adirondack Spruce Grouse]]

Art Knowledge News Presents "This Week In Review"

Written by Editor, Art Knowledge News Monday, 04 July 2011 21:04

This is a new feature for the subscribers and visitors to Art Knowledge News (AKN), that will enable you to see "thumbnail descriptions" of the last ninety (90) articles and art images that we published. This will allow you to visit any article that you may have missed ; or re-visit any article or image of particular interest. Every day the article "thumbnail images" will change. For you to see the entire last ninety images just click : here .

When opened that also will allow you to change the language from English to anyone of 54 other languages, by clicking your language choice on the upper left corner of our Home Page.  You can share any article we publish with the eleven (11) social websites we offer like Twitter, Flicker, Linkedin, Facebook, etc. by one click on the image shown at the end of each opened article.  Last, but not least, you can email or print any entire article by using an icon visible to the right side of an article's headline.

London Fields Gallery Launches with "Hackney Hoard" Exhibition

Written by Beatrice Kinderman Monday, 04 July 2011 21:29

LONDON.- Coinciding with their summer launch, GALERIE8 will be opening their permanent space with the exhibition Hackney Hoard, 22nd July – 28th August, 2011. The exhibition is an inquiry into the value and status placed on contemporary art and the role it plays in society, regardless of its literal monetary value in terms of the materials from which it is made. For this project, GALERIE8 will be working with artists Adam Dant, Gavin Turk, Terry Castle, LE GUN artists, Annabel Tilley, Matthew Killick and the Last Tuesday Society. On the 12th July 2007, whilst re-landscaping their back garden, four residents of Hackney, East London , unearthed eighty mystery gold coins.

Read more: [[London Fields Gallery Launches with "Hackney Hoard" Exhibition]]