Off to See the World

Henry Mancini was born on April 16, 1924. I'm of mixed feelings towards his compositions. On one hand, he was fantastic at creating accessible and memorable tunes. The themes from Peter Gunn, the Pink Panter, Romeo and Juliet, and Moon River are all classics of the cinematic genre. They elegantly and powerfully express the mood of the movie. In my imagination, I can see Audrey Hepburn on her window or Peter Sellers bumbling along whenever I hear these tunes. That's the result of pure compositional brilliance.

On the other hand, I don't feel that he was very good at creating quality cinematic scores as a whole. It's as if he would spend his creative genius composing a single "highlight" piece, leaving the rest of the score to rely on repetitions of the theme and mood reinforcing "fluff" works. Now, nothing's wrong with pleasant "fluff" but it certainly isn't the sign of high artistry. Mancini was too talented to get a pass on "mailing in" the incidental music.

In sum, Mancini was like a poet who specializes in short works, such as sonnets ot haiku. However, his genre required the skills for long works, odes and epics. Nevertheless, I'm grateful for his music.

Here's a link to his Wikipedia page.

And here's the divine Audrey:

Enjoy!!!

A Flower for Friday Night

Gazania at the Madrona Marsh

Ah Sunflower

(William Blake)

Ah Sunflower, weary of time,
Who countest the steps of the sun;
Seeking after that sweet golden clime
Where the traveller's journey is done;

Where the Youth pined away with desire,
And the pale virgin shrouded in snow,
Arise from their graves, and aspire
Where my Sunflower wishes to go!

Art Is Never Finished

Virgin of the Rocks (Louvre) by Leonardo de Vinci

Again, we celebrate the birth date of another Old Master! Leonardo was born on April 15, 1452. He was an amazing thinker, great artist, and the archetype of the Renaissance Man. His influence upon subsequent artists was profound and far-reaching. Even into late Twentieth Century post-modernism, his ideas still bear fruit.

That being given, I'm not a big Leonardo enthusiast. To be honest, I generally prefer the works that bear his influence, such as some mid-period Raphaels, over the works of the Master himself. The Mona Lisa and the Last Supper are certainly masterpieces and are rightly held in high regard, but they don't ring my bell. For me, it is the Virgin of the Rocks and various sketches that capture the interest.

The appeal of the sketches are self-evident. They show the creative energy and unedited invention of the artist. But why the Virgin? I confess. I am enthralled by the "Madonna" genre. That's why I have such a passion for Raphael's works. I feel that the Virgin of the Rocks sets the stage for the High Renaissance exploration of the genre. When I look at it, I see those Madonnas that have come before and those that will come afterwards. It is a pivotal works within the genre. Moreover, it embodies Leonardo's aesthetic ideals as well as any of his other works.

In any case, here's a link to Leonardo da Vinci's Wikipedia page.

And here's a cool video inspired by his illustrations:

And, for today's inspiration, a quote:

"In rivers, the water that you touch is the last of what has passed and the first of that which comes; so with present time."

Enjoy!!!

Humiliation in Pink

When I was over in Torrance to check out the museum, I saw this pink car outside the Police department. I had to do a double take. Y'know, like it must be a joke. At the most, it must be some odd and obscure little bail business.

So, I looked it up and it's legit!!! Here's the Wikipedia page. And I quote:

"Lipstick Bail Bonds is a bail bonds company serving the state of California. Owned and operated by twin sisters Teresa and Lisa Golt, the company has garnered attention for its unusual characteristics and shattering of stereotypes. According to Good Morning America the company is one of the most successful bail bonds businesses in Southern California and the only bail bonds company known to be run by women."

Not only that, but they also do some bounty hunting. So if you skip bail on the Lipstick, you'll have some pink clad ladies on your trail. Check out this vid:

Yeah, on the Criminal Humiliation Scale, getting taken down by a pack of women and being slapped into pink cuffs is probably a 7 out of 10. A dramatic tasering would bump it to an solid 8 out of 10. LOL!!!

Wow. This is one of those "Truth is stranger than fiction" topics.

Here's a link to the Lipstick website. Hopefully, you don't need to use it. ;-)

Enjoy!!!

Freedom Found in Solitude

Unbound by Judy Nimtz

Although I love the company of others, I feel best when I am by myself. It's a peculiar sense of liberation, free from the expectations of social engagement. The pressure of delivering clever conversation, amiable attentiveness, and engaging prospects are lifted when I am in solitude. I don't need to be "on" or insightful. I have the luxury of being silent and contemplative, without seeming rude or arrogant.

Socializing requires a constant give and take. Sometimes I don't have anything convenient to give and am feeling too full to comfortably receive. Sometimes the energy just isn't there. I need the peace of isolation to reinvigorate my spirit. Then I can return to society and participate with the quality of insight and engagement that my friends and associates deserve.

In previous eras, we would call this the Contemplative Life.

That is what I feel when I look at these paintings of the Transfixed series by Judy Nimtz. The solitary figure is empowered by the contemplative isolation and simplicity of her environment.

Crux by Judy Nimtz

I was lucky enough to catch these works while they were on exhibit at the Koplin Del Rio gallery in Culver City. Their beauty and simplicity resonated with the yearnings of my soul.

I have great anticipation to see more from this promising artist.

Here's a link to Judy Nimtz's website.

Here's a link for the Koplin Del Rio gallery.

Enjoy!!!

Gateway: Japan at the Torrance Art Museum

It's easy to overlook small community museums and art galleries. The common image that many art enthusiasts have of such local small venues is one of being a location in which community amateurs get to display their earnest but unsophisticated aesthetic expressions. It's where the Watercolor Club holds their annual exhibition. The Torrance Art Museum is "Evidence A" in disproving this elitist misconception.

Gateway: Japan is a compelling show with an impressive range of pieces. The show's premise to to give a contextual comparison between contemporary Japanese and Japanese-American artists. With 21 different artists on display, there is plenty to assess and consider. Overall, I did a decent job of discerning the American from the Japanese, but a few pieces totally threw me. The globalized nature of contemporary aesthetic trends and influences has led to a fascinating synergy that transcends any attempt at localization.

Here are a few pieces that especially caught my attention:

Sumo Wrestling in Clay, Jocelyn Foye. Performance with clay, rubber casting artifact.

This is an intriguing work. At the exhibit's opening, a Sumo wrestling demonstration was performed upon a clay ground. After the event, Foye made a rubber cast of the impressions left upon the clay. The result is an engaging work that captures the energy and dynamic nature of the wrestling. My photo doesn't do it justice.

The Lookout, Macha Suzuki. Mixed Media.

This piece made me LOL. It has a serious pose, position and title that contrast with the whimsy of its appearance, provoking both amusement and confusion from the viewer. An engagingly ridiculous little figure.

Capitoline Donkey, Nobuhito Nishigawara. Clay, Iron, Bronze and Acrylic.

Another humorous work. No Romulus or Remus here! I'm a sucker for Classical references. ;-)

Yeah, I could go on and on, but you really ought to check it out in person. Here's a link to the Torrance Art Museum website.

And here are links to the websites of:

Jocelyn Foye

Nobuhito Nishigawara

Macha Suzuki

I highly recommend Gateway: Japan.

Enjoy!!!

He Who Knows Best

Jefferson Memorial, Washington, DC

Thomas Jefferson was born on April 13, 1743. In my assessment, Jefferson was the most important of the Founding Fathers. His egalitarian vision of democracy has gifted the American Experience with ever expanding social progressivism. If not for Jefferson's great influence, I believe US History would read like a neo-Roman oligarchy. That oligarchic state was the Hamiltonian vision, a pernicious economic elitism that still troubles the nation. The incredible liberties that the average American takes for granted may not have come into being, if not for Jefferson's influence.

That's not to say that he was without flaws. Even when enthusiasts white-wash his biography, there's plenty of deplorable behavior and attitudes. Just to hit the easy targets, his acceptance of slavery and his aggression against the Native Americans put him solidly on the wrong side of history.

Nevertheless, despite these failings, I still am grateful for his legacy. I celebrate Jefferson's Birthday because I celebrate Liberty.

Here's a link to his Wikipedia page.

And here is a quick vid on his presidency:

Enjoy!!!

Curiosity Is Beautiful

Pandora by Marta Dahlig

The Greek myth of Pandora is one of my “favorite” stories. I put the quotes there because I don't actually like the myth. In fact, it offends me. However, it is a story that inspires me towards contemplation. It revs my critical faculties and makes me think.

The Pandora myth has many facets to consider. Currently, I'm focused on the topic of intellectual pursuit, at the heart of which lies the human emotion of curiosity. It is from this emotion that we derive all knowledge. In the Pandora myth, it is from her undeniable curiosity that all human suffering and worldly evils arise.

And this is explicitly the Will of the Gods.

The Gods designed her with the inclination towards curiosity. The Gods gave her the sealed “box” which held within it the aforementioned evils. The Gods PLACED the evils within the box.

Therefore, if we take the emotion of curiosity as the seed of knowledge, then the Gods have punished the world for desiring knowledge. How loathsome is that?!! Presumably the Gods would rather that humanity lived in brutish ignorance and unquestioning submission. Such beings are unworthy of veneration.

I see Pandora as an inspirational figure. She yearned for knowledge. What is more admirable than that?

Here's a link to the Wikipedia page for Pandora.

Here's a link to Marta Dahlig's page: blackeri on deviantART. Please give it a visit. Such artistry deserves attention.

Enjoy!!!

Ignorance Is Evil

"Two Tahitian Women" by Paul Gauguin, 1899.

On April 1, a deranged imbecile attempted to destroy Paul Gauguin's painting “Two Tahitian Women” currently on display at the National Gallery in Washington DC. Apparently, there was no damage done to the 1899 painting and the crazy lady was subdued. The painting was on loan from the Met as part of an impressive exhibit entitled “Gauguin: Maker of Myth.”

The smooth-brained dolt has been quoted as saying that the painting was “very homosexual” and “This is Evil!” Fortunately, the technological wonders of plexiglass thwarted her attempt to pummel the $80 million artwork. Sadly, the mind-burning stupidity does not end with one pathetic lunatic's failure.

Televised news reports on the attempted vandalism have regularly blurred, blocked, or cropped the image of the painting. Why? It shows the exposed breasts of women!!! OMG, that's soooo indecent! Think of the Children....

Yeah. Classic works of Western Civilization can't be showed unedited on televised broadcasts because of indecency concerns. It must be true that “only stupid people are breeding.”

But enough of the “moral” mouth-breathers, what about the response from the cognoscenti? Well, some of them have had a good chuckle over the event. After a quick denouncement of the attempted vandalism, there has been a game played called “What artwork would you deface?” Post-modernists don't get mad. They get “funny.”

Obviously, this incident has made me very unhappy. Nearly two weeks later, I'm still angry over it. To me, this attack on Art is illustrative of our society's pathetic cultural values. I know that I'm not alone in feeling this way, but I suspect that I'm in a decisive minority.

It's very sad.

In regards to the artwork itself, “Two Tahitian Women” is not my favorite Gauguin. Nevertheless, it is a deeply beautiful work. I don't mean merely the representation of Tahitian femininity, but in regards to the overall composition. The curving and soft flow of lines, the tension between the “hot” and “cool” colors, the play of light and shade, and the weight of the figures within the ambiguous space, these are all noteworthy elements of design that Gauguin utilizes to provoke from the viewer an emotional response. It is masterful craft.

If you're going to be in the DC area, check out this show: Gauguin: Maker of Myth.

Here's Gauguin's Wikipedia page.

Fight against Ignorance!!!

Places to See: Fowler Museum at UCLA

Fowler Museum at UCLA

I visited the Fowler Museum. It's a nice venue with quality collections, especially in regards to the anthropologically inclined. Currently on exhibit are:

Central Nigeria Unmasked: Arts of the Benue River Valley. I don't have much of a background from which to draw in assessing the quality of this show, but it seemed really solid. A great collection of cultural artifacts, detailed write-ups explaining the Nigerian traditions and artforms, and engaging field recordings. I walked into the show in complete ignorance, and left it feeling informed.

His Masters' Tools: Recent Work by Allan deSouza. Interesting post-colonial contemporary work. Most of it didn't do it for me, but a few hit home. I especially liked the drunken monkey. ;-)

Jam Session: America's Jazz Ambassadors Embrace the World. I'm not a big photography buff, but this show captured me. It told a powerful story through the collected images. My knowledge of Jazz history is on the weak side, but I do recall how Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington would tour internationally for the State Department. This exhibit rounded out my knowledge and added compelling images to the dry facts. Moreover, the background music was FANTASTIC. I especially enjoyed Anita O'Day's version of "Take the A-Train." All in all, it was a superb show.

Art and the Unbreakable Spirit of Haiti: A small exhibit, but good artifact quality. It wouldn't stand on its own strength, but the quality of the other shows carried the weight. It was a "side dish" show, but a good one.

Intersections: World Arts, Local Lives. A nice general anthro artifact show. Scattered selection both in type and culture, but plenty of interesting material. I felt that the show was weak on narrative, but strong on material. All in all, well worth a viewing.

Reflecting Culture. An exhibit of silver works. Of course, that gets a big thumbs up from me. What type of lunatic doesn't adore silver? Heck, if I were to have any complaint, it would be that there wasn't enough silver. After all, there were only two silver ships. I'm wanting an armada. And just because Herakles had twelve labors doesn't mean we are limited to only twelve silver plates. More silver!!!!! ;-)

So, that's my take on the current shows at the Fowler. If this interests you, then I highly recommend visiting it. After all, admission is free. How can you beat that?!

Here's the link to the Fowler.

Enjoy!!!

And Scorn All Other Men

Septimus Severus at Glyptothek, Munich

Severus was born on Aprill 11, 145, in the Roman province of Africa. After a career of clever politics and charismatic leadership, he earned the position of Roman Emperor, reigning from 193 until his death in 211. This was an amazing accomplishment. First, he was an African NOT of Italian ethnicity (most likely Punic). Second, he had to fight his way to the Purple against four other contenders. This is known as the Year of the Five Emperors.

His reign was marked by constant warfare, expanding the African province, beating up on Parthia, crushing Usurpers, and finally launching an invasion into Scotland, known then as Caledonia. His reforms of the Imperial Army would have long-lasting ramifications. Likewise, the debasement of the coinage to pay for his military adventures would have an enduring impact of Rome's economic health.

It seems as though many historians give only cursory attention to his reign. This is outrageous! Severus' legacy for better or worse shaped all of Roman history to come. In my opinion, only Augustus, Constantine and Hadrian leave a deeper mark on Western Civilization.

Here's a link to the Wikipedia article on Septimius Severus.

Enjoy!!!

Umm, Okey Dokey???

(Painting by Simone Legno)

I came across this painting at the Lebasse Projects in a show called "SugiPOP!: The Influence of Anime and Manga." It was an interesting exhibit with a wide variety of memorable images. Some haunting, some humorous, and some erotic.

The image above stuck with me after leaving the show. For me, it hit all three of the emotions mentioned above. I feel a bit dirty looking at it. :-)

Here's a link to some more Simone Legno fun: Tokidoki

Enjoy!!!