Who Will Riddle Me the How and the Why

Detail of a sphinx from an Eight-Light Candelabra (c.1785) possibly by Francois Remond

Here are a couple more images from my recent trip to the Huntington. ;-)

In general, I tend to focus on the fine art, sculpture, and architecture, but the decorative arts on display are exquisite, very rich in detail. These images have a mythological theme, in a pseudo-Egyptian style.

As for the title of this post, it's a quote from Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem, "The 'How' and the 'Why'". I figured that it would be a nice nod to celebrate his birth date, August 6, 1809.

Detail of a lamia(?)from an Eight-Light Candelabra (c.1785) possibly by Francois Remond

The sphinx and lamia are quite charming, but I find it a bit twisted, even for rococo sensibilities, to put mythical female sociopaths on the furniture. ;-)

On the Hunt

Detail of Diana (1894) by Frederick MacMonnies

This past weekend, I got to visit the Huntington Museum, strolling through their collection of American art. I'm especially fond of the sculptures of the collection. I've shown a few of them with you all over the past few years, but the MacMonnies Diana has yet to grace Paideia.

And, now, the situation has been rectified. ;-)

Enjoy!!!

Dancing Ganesh

 Dancing Ganesh, the Lord of Obstacles

Bangladesh, Dinajpur District

11th-12th century

Los Angeles Museum of Art



Starting off my year-long photography project, I figured it would be auspicious to showcase Ganesh, the Lord of Obstacles. I have two reasons for this. First, it stays to the theme set last time, when I featured a few photos of Shiva Nataraja for the New Year, thereby establishing a Hindu spin to the calendar change. Second, since I'm trying to get this blog back into steady production and high quality, it seems only appropriate to honor a being who legend claims can remove difficulties from my path or, alternatively, set obstacles before me that will help me grow as a thinker and writer.

Moreover, although I did not intend for this to be an “Art” blog, featuring artworks has been an essential part of Paideia since I began, nearly two years ago. So, it seems fitting that the first of 365 photo posts features a lovely work from my local museum. Yeah, we'll see plenty of the normal fare, landscapes and still life, scenes from my daily travels.

But, for today, we have Ganesh. And you can't beat a dancing elephant for an interesting way to start a project. ;-)

But There on the Shining Metal

Detail from Shield of Achilles (1821) by John Flaxman

Yeah, I'm still sick and tired. Feeling really awful today. . .

But it takes little effort to post a "Photo of the Day" and share a few words. ;-)

Anyways, I recently visited the Huntington Museum. I'm not a big fan of Neoclassicism, but I'm starting to develop a fondness. It still feels slightly inauthentic and pretentious, but the beauty wins me over. For instance, nothing can be more inflated in self-importance than Homeric pastiche, yet I can't help but appreciate this sculpture for its craftsmanship and lovely detail.

Hopefully, I'll get back to the Huntington sometime soon to snap a few more detailed images for you all. It's a real beauty, hidden away in the corner of one of the upper parlours.

Isle of the Dead

Detail of Island of the Dead III (1883) by Arnold Bocklin


Sergei Rachmaninoff was born on April 1, 1873.

I'm not the biggest fan of his work, but there are some memorable compositions. My favorite piece is Isle of the Dead, Op.29, a symphonic poem written in 1908. It captures the late Romantic aesthetic perfectly, with heavy orchestral sounds and a focus on the Sublime.

In my youth, I was very ambivalent about Rachmaninoff. Sometimes I would dismiss his music as "schlock" or "overweight and overwrought" or some over such insult, but, upon hearing Isle of the Dead, I noticed the artistry in the thickness of sound, the lyricism that can only emerge from lush orchestrations.

I can't say that it converted me into an enthusiast, but I looked upon his work anew, appreciating the unique vision for its own values, for its own approach to art.

So, take a mental trip on Charon's ferry across the River Styx. But don't drink of the River Lethe; you will want to remember this music. ;-)

Painted on the Ceiling

Detail of the Triumph of Virtue and Nobility over Ignorance (1750) by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo

More Venetian baroque for today.

This time we celebrate the paintings of Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, born on March 5, 1696. He is best known for his amazing ceiling frescoes, which feature the elaborate staging of figures floating in luminous spaces over the viewer's head. They convey a powerful sense of space, a feeling of ascendance.

Out here in LA, we're lucky enough to have a nice sampling of Tiepolo's work. At the Norton Simon Museum, it is always a pleasure to see the Triumph of Virtue and Nobility over Ignorance. It commands the view of the Baroque wing. Likewise, the Getty and LACMA have a few nice works as well.

But to really appreciate Tiepolo, you need to see the works in their original context and site. Alas, I haven't the time or resources to take a trip to Italy any time soon. ;-)

Detail of the Miracle of the Holy House of Loreto (1743) by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo

So, lets look at some vids instead.

Friday Flowers: Anemones Purple and Red

Anemone Coronaria: Purple Buttercup

Afternoon on a Hill
(By Edna St. Vincent Millay)

I will be the gladdest thing
   Under the sun!
I will touch a hundred flowers
   And not pick one.


I will look at cliffs and clouds
   With quiet eyes,
Watch the wind bow down the grass,
   And the grass rise.


And when lights begin to show
   Up from the town,
I will mark which must be mine,
   And then start down!


I grew up under the shadow of Modernism, the Beats, and Confessionalism, all of which instilled within me a disdain for "old-fashioned" rhymes and meters, silly sing-song poetry. Although very well-regarded during her lifetime, Edna St. Vincent Millay was no longer an American literary luminary when I started to learn how to handle verse. But, as contemporary poetry sloughs off the automatic bias against traditional styles and forms, her reputation is again on the rise.

And, since I like her writing, I think this is a good thing.

Anemone Coronaria: Mona Lisa Wine

As for the anemones, I figured that they were too pretty to not share with you all. So lovely, even Adonis would have to gaze upon them with appreciation. ;-)

Beauties in Bronze and Stone

Benediction (1922) by Daniel Chester French


My previous post about Barbara Hepworth got me thinking about beautiful sculpture and the ability to capture a mood and personality within the material, expressed through texture and form. And since I recently visited the Huntington Museum, I went looking for a few images that caught my eye.

You might remember that I have a love/disdain relationship with neoclassical, emulationist sculpture. However, I totally confess to finding the works of Daniel Chester French and Chauncey Bradley Ives very beautiful. Yeah, the mental stimulation of Hepworth's abstract work keeps me excited and engaged, but sometimes superficial "pretties" will do the job just fine. ;-)

And who can resist this lovely Pandora?

Pandora (1858) by Chauncey Bradley Ives

So very lovely. . .

Friday Flowers: Fuchsias For Proserpina

Fuchsia: Mendonoma Belle


A Glimpse of Proserpina
(By John Hollander)

Clear, early mornings as I stride
Westward, the usual brick street
Grows meadow grass from its concrete:
The neighborhood turns countryside.

Huge structures hovering across
The river like excluding shades
Collapse into the Palisades;
The river burns away its dross.

If I went up a nearby hill
You would be there in sight, bent down
To gather flowers at the crown
Of my hill's twin against the sky;

We'd meet where, as in fields of wars
Forgotten, stones and daisies swarm,
Then turn back, arm in flowers in arm,
And bring them quietly indoors.


Almost missed our weekly Friday Flowers post, which would have been a shame because today marks the birth date of John Hollander, born in 1929.

Fuchsia: Bonnie Doan

As is the usual case with holiday weekends, I'm expecting posting to be erratic until Tuesday. Have a great weekend!!!

Gigantopithicus Sasquansis

Image of Bigfoot from the Patterson-Gimlin film

Cryptozoology is a field of many strange creatures, but one of the most pervasive in popular culture is the Sasquatch, Bigfoot, a large hairy hominid that resides deep in the wilds.

Cryptid researchers have put vasts amounts of time and resources into finding the elusive creature, but have come up with little more than blurry photographs, suspicious footprints, and diverse animal droppings. As a person who loves a good story, I enjoy hearing the reports of "sightings" and the subsequent investigations. Even when it turns out to be an overt hoax, as in the Dyer-Whitton case of 2008, it still makes for an enjoyable tale.

The belief in "giants" has been a part of human mythology since ancient times, across numerous cultures. There seems to be a psychological yearning for such creatures, which some might ascribe to a racial memory of the times when our brethren hominids still existed, such as the neanderthal.

Sasquatch from the Jack Links Messin' with Sasquatch ads

Today marks 44 years since the Patterson-Gimlin film took our folkloric furry friend into the collective unconscious of popular culture.

Picking Up Where We Left Off

Breaking the Girl by Yoskay Yamamoto

I always enjoy art shows that involve the blending of multicultural influences. LaBasse Projects in Culver City has been the "go to" place for me to enjoy such exhibits. Currently, LaBasse is exhibiting a solo show of Yoskay Yamamoto's work, entitled "Picking Up Where We left Off." Blending themes and images from both traditional Japanese art and contemporary Los Angeles pop culture, Yamamoto creates a rich "dream space" that makes the mundane take on otherworldly qualities.

The textured quality of the paintings create a strong sense of space in which the mental or spiritual states of the subject manifests as perceptible force, form or color. Be it the wind in ripping though the hair or a haze of snow, the psychological state dominates the space in which the subject figure resides. It's a very powerful presentation.

Snow by Yoskay Yamamoto

And there is a refreshing sense of humor, a lightness of mood, that pervades Yamamoto's work. I especially enjoyed the image above. The title and white hair bring to my mind the legendary Yuki-onna. It's delightfully ironic that she seems entranced by music. ;-)

Dragon, Goddess, and Osprey at the Library

Frank Mando's Pele - Fire Goddess on display at the Manhattan Beach Civic Plaza

Continuing on my public art viewing, I visited the sculpture garden at the Manhattan Beach Civic Center. Over the past couple of years, there have been year long exhibitions of sculptures in front of the library, police department and at the entry to the civic plaza. It really enhances the public space.

Here are some photos of the five at the plaza.

Osprey by Maria T. de Castro



Triumph of Strife

Pluto, formerly the ninth planet of our solar system, was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006.

It's been five years since the International Astronomical Union established the current planetary definition. These rules knocked Pluto from its planetary status and into the new category of dwarf planet. This was an extended debate that actually began in 1801 when Ceres was discovered and became the first asteroid. However, it was the discovery of the Eris, named after the Greek goddess of Strife, that set off the finalization of the great planet debate.

The end result was the controversial demotion of Pluto. So now the Solar System has eight planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune) and five dwarf planets (Ceres, Pluto, Haumea, Makemake, and Eris).



Artist's concept of the Pluto System (Credit: NASA, ESA and G. Bacon)


Of course, astronomers are still scanning the heavens. These numbers and definitions are best considered works in progress. ;-)

Enjoy!!!

Paying the Piper

Pied Piper of Hamelin by Gustave Spangenberg

In 1384, the town records of Hamelin records:

"It is 100 years since our children left."

That is our earliest documentation of the "Pied Piper" incident of the German town of Hamelin. Details regarding a piper, the infestation of rats, and the fate of the children get introduced in later eras. For instance, the Lueneburg manuscript (c. 1440-50) documents:

In the year of 1284, on the day of Saints John and Paul
on 26 June
130 children born in Hamelin were seduced
By a piper, dressed in all kinds of colours,
and lost at the place of execution near the koppen.

That's more detail, but it remains vague. What does the text mean by "seduced"? How were the children "lost"? Moreover, it's nearly two centuries after the event. Given the standards of the era, can their history be trusted?



Pied Piper of Hamelin by Kate Greenaway


Regardless of the historical particulars, the story has been a source of inspiration of writers and artists over the centuries.

Palmam Qui Meriut Ferat

Palm trees are ancient symbols in Western spirituality. Initially, they represent fertility. Then they become symbols of victory. Finally, in the Christian era, they are representative of the triumph of the Spirit over the Flesh. In the early Islamic tradition, the Call to Prayer was made from the top of a palm tree, later replaced by the minaret.

From Palm Sunday processions to the kabbalistic Tree of Life, I know of these associations and symbols. But as a native Californian, they've always felt foreign. They don't ring true in my internal symbolic language. I have lived most of my life within 500 feet of a palm tree. The various places that I have worked, the places that I hang out, my living areas, they all have palm trees nearby. When a harsh wind blows off the Pacific Ocean, I have to remove palm fronds from the windshield of my car.

Yeah, familiarity has removed all Mystery from these trees, except for the feeling of being Home. I remember attending Palm Sunday services when I lived in New England. When I received my palm, I had a thrill of excitement go through me. It was like holding a bit of California in my hand. Sunlight and comfort entered my soul, and I felt happy to be reminded of home.

I have often wondered what my favorite tree is. Is it the oak, ash, or yew? Those are all fine trees, but my choice has been hiding in plain sight for so many years. The Palm Tree.

Here's a link to the Palm Tree (Arecaceae) Wikipedia page.

Here's a link to Moby's website and his Wikipedia page.

Enjoy!!!

Hellhound on My Trail

Devil at the Crossroads by Bill Sienkiewicz (1991)

Today marks the hundred years anniversary since the birth of Blues legend Robert Johnson. His music had a great influence upon the development of the Blues and, by extension, Rock & Roll. Sadly, his career was a short one. He died at the age of 27, supposedly by drinking some whiskey laced with strychnine.

Aside from his music, another aspect of Johnson's career that has lived long after his brief life is the legend of the Crossroads. According to this story, Johnson viewed musical greatness as the route by which he could escape the crushing poverty of his life in rural Mississippi. So, he went out one night to the Crossroads and called forth the Devil, with whom he made a Faustian deal for mastery of the Blues.

Johnson would make comments about his "deal with the devil" but that was probably just in reference to the view within the Black community that any secular singer was "doing the devil's work." It was a pervasive attitude. If were were not singing spirituals or Gospel, then you were singing in sin. Moreover, any style of music that encouraged close dancing was de facto diabolical.

In any case, Johnson lived a rough and wild life and died young. His music is powerful and haunting. These facts tie into the Crossroads legend perfectly. The story may have absolutely no basis in reality, but it rings true in our subconscious where these archetypes of existence hold validity. The Crossroads catch our imagination.

Here are a few vids:

Here's Robert Johnson's Wikipedia page.

And here's the Wikipedia page for the artist of the wonderful image at the top of this post, Bill Sienkiewicz, and his official website.

Enjoy!!!

I am Vengeance! I am the Night!

Detective Comics #27 (May 1939). Cover art by Bob Kane.

I have been an avid reader throughout my life. I have read widely across genres of fiction and nonfiction. However, one of my favorite narrative forms is comic books (or graphic novels, if you prefer.) Yeah, I don't read them much anymore, but that's not because I've "outgrown" them. Like all art forms, comic books have aesthetic trends and fads that come and go. I'm not a dedicated fan of the genre, so when a trend arises that I don't appreciate I have no problem jumping ship. There is seemingly an infinity of material to read and there is no excuse to waste our precious time on things we dislike.

But this post is about something that I like very much. BATMAN!!!!!

On this date in 1939, Batman was introduced in the pages of Detective Comics #27. I wasn't around for this grand occasion, but I pay homage to it. Batman is one of my favorite characters in all fiction. He is like a mythic hero of the 20th century. Yeah, you can make interesting arguments in favor of the other "superheroes" like Superman, Captain America, or Spider-man, but I would argue that Batman has a greater mythic depth than all the others.

It isn't just in the character of Batman, but in his environment and antagonists. His iconic stories carry a richness of Jungian archetypes. His conflicts are Campbellian in their underlying structure of conflict and resolution. His character has been reimagined on numerous occasions, but the core concept has remained unchanged.

Anyways, I might return to this topic at some later date. Today, I just want to celebrate a classic American Icon. Here's the intro to the 1989 film:

And here's a link to the Batman Wikipedia page.

Enjoy!!!

Demons of the Wind

A marble sculpture of Pazuzu, fused with his double, by Roberto Cuoghi

While I was visiting the Hammer Museum, I had to opportunity to see their exhibit Hammer Projects: Roberto Cuoghi. It's a small but interesting show. The exhibition space is in a U-shaped room. Along the arms of the "U" are alternate-ego portraits of the artist, images of what might have been or what might be. Here's an example:

Untitled (2010) by Roberto Cuoghi

At the focal point of the curve of the "U", there is a large black marble statue of the Assyrian demon, Pazuzu, King of the demons of the Wind. It is actually a sculpture of two Pazuzus, merged together as though stepping through each other. It's a very disturbing sight.

Moreover, the exhibit space has the feel of a chapel. The portraits on the wall are like devotional paintings, while the double Pazuzu is the alter or idol to whom this space is dedicated. All in all, I felt a bit disturbed.
Nevertheless it is an interesting show.

Since we're on the topic of Pazuzu, here's some music:

Here's a link to the Hammer's Roberto Cuoghi page.

And here's a link to Pazuzu's Wikipedia page.

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!!!