The Museum of Modern Art, February 21, 2009

I will be writing my paper on Tehching Hsieh. "One Year Performance 1978-1979"I was impressed with Hsieh's work. Can you imagine living in a cage (by choice) for a full year without talking, reading, writing, or the things you enjoy most. Well, this is exactly what Hsieh did. From 1978 to 1979, when he was 28 years old, Tehching Hsieh spent a year in a cage, about the size of a prison cell. The only person Hsieh has contact with was a friend who took pictures of him everyday and brought him food and tooked away his pee and poop. This display has the original cage that he lived in for that year and the sink, bed, mirror, and lamp that he used. Tehching Hsieh was 23 years old he came to the United States. Putting himself in jepordy he took his chances. When he arrived in the states he first lived in Philadelphia, but he was afraid thatimmigration might find him, so he took all the money he had left and took a cab to New York. Hsieh had been never been trained in the arts, but he painted abstract art Taiwan. Hsieh became known in the art world after he jumped out of a window before he left Twian. He knew nothing about performance art, but this is where his career was heading. His first work in New York was called, One Year Performance 1978-1979. Hsieh shaved his head and started on his one year isolation journey in a 11 1/2 x 9 x 8 foot cell in his apartment on September 30, 1978.
Hsieh vowed not to talk, read, write, listen to the radio or watch TV for a year. Hsieh friend placed flyers about the performance. He wore a white prison-like jumpsuit with his name and dates he would remain in the cell on it. Pictures were taken of him from the time he was ball on day one up until the last day with shoulder lenght hair. These photos show him relaxing on the bed, there was not much to do. Hsieh marked on the wall the days he had spent in this cage. This act of art takes lots of courage and will power.










Sol LeWitt, "Broken Bands of Color in Four Directions" 2004

Robert Delaunay Simulataneous Contrasts: "Sun and Moon" 1913, Oil on Canvas.

Henri Rousseau, "The Sleeping Gypsy" 1897 Oil on Canvas.

Tom Wesselmann, "Still Life #30" 1963.

The Metropolitan Experience!

Today was my visit to the Met! I have been here many times before, but every time is always like the first. As many times as I've been there I don't think I have seen everything. Upon my arrival my main goal was to find that perfect piece of art, and guess what, I did! I chose to write about this sculpture Capresse des colonies (Negress of the Colonies) by Sculptor: Charles Cordier (1827 - 1905)Bronze Algerian Onyx-Marble. Cordier was admired by many artists for his work but he had to defend the people he chose to sculpt and the materials he used. Cordier chose not to use the standard white marble, but instead he traveled to places like Greece and Egypt to get black onyx and marble with blue, peach and red tones. The artist paid great attention to details and beauty of his models. As a man who was in a league of his own in mid-19th century France, Cordier viewed people of color as beautiful and proud. He chose people from all parts of Africa as his subjects, he often found that he had to defend the peoples he chose to sculpt against racist attitudes. Cordier viewed Africans as human beings, which caused controversy, because some people still saw Africans as a lower race. The first sculptor he displayed was of a Sudanese man, outraged everyone at first, but the work was soon looked at for what it really was. Cordier died in 1905. His sculptures,were made out of onyx, giled bronze and rare translucent marbles and oxidized silver. I found this sculpture to be perfect from the skin tone to the fullness of her lips. I was so impressed with the Sculptor's ability to capture the beauty of an African woman.

This display is oil on canvas by Ellsworth Kelly, Spectrum V, 1969. I was in awe by this, by now everyone knows I have a thing for colurs. When I first saw this display about a year ago I thought to myself, I could do this; it's just bright colurs on canvas, or could I? Even though we may view some art as amature work, I believe that anything someone creates comes from the heart and my reason for duplicating it may not be the same reason for the Artist who originally created it. I love it!

This painting is by Bridget Riley, Blaze 1, 1962. Elmusion on hardboard. DIZZY YET!

"The Wadsworth" February 7th Hartford, CT

Today my son and I visited the Wadsworth in Hartford. This was my very first vist; I found it to be very enjoyable. The museum cost $5 per peroson if you are students so don't forget your I.D.s. In order to take pictures you must sign in and get a badget, and remember to turn off your flash! We made our way through the gallery trying to find the most interesting paintings, the first one that cought my eye was "The Lady of Shalott" by William Holman Hunt, oil on canvas. I did a little research on this painting and gave a little more indept information about the painting. The painting by William Holman Hunt (1827-1910) The Lady of Shalott painting was inspired by a poem about a magical being who lives alone on an island near King Arthur's Camelot. The Lady of Shalott was only allowed to weave everything she saw into a tapestry by looking at the outside world through her mirror. There was a curse on her that didn’t allow her to look at the outside world directly. She loved to sing; she was heard throughout the land, but no one ever saw her. Throughout the day she would see everyday people, couples in love, and knights reflected in her mirror. One day, she saw the reflection of Sir Lancelot. As Sir Lancelot passed by she turns and looks directly out of the window at him, even though it was not allowed. When she turns to look at him the mirror breaks, and the tapestry flies off on the wind, and the cruse is placed on her. Her hair is a deep red that is blown about. The colors are so bright and vivid it looks as though it was painted only a few years ago. In the background is the window that she was not allowed to look out of. William has painted Sir Lancelot and camelot outside her window. Can you imagine living your life through the reflections of a mirror. It took a handsome man like Lancelot to come along for her to realize that she was not living her life completely. There are a lot of "Lady of Shalott" paintings, but I think this one is the best by far. I took lots of pictures of painting that I like but this was my favorite.


Below is the celing inside the museum that is above the entrance into another room; I had to take this photo,only because i'm obsessed with colors!

"The Italian Straw Hat" Peter Blume, is a painting that seems so real. As I took the picture it looked as though I was actually in room. I love the bright colors. I wouldn't mind having this in my home. I may just try to find a print. (Notice the "Italian Straw Hat" hanging to the left.)

Here I am taking a break in front of the fountain.

As I continued on my journey I got to see some great quilts! I really loved this one. It reminded me of the video game Q-bert...Remember that one.



Well, that's my vist to the Wadsworth, I took many more photos, but I won't over due it. I will be taking my next trip to the "Met" in New York next Saturday. What could be better than a trip to New York and a great museum. I hope y'all enjoy my post....until next time.






oooh I almost forgot...check out these tiny vases; they are so cute! It's called "2000 Vases.

Close up.

Picasso's Seated Woman

First Steps, by Picasso

I will be writing my first paper on Picasso's painting "First Steps" This painting is on display at The Yale Art Gallery. Picasso’s “First Steps” oil on canvas is on display at The Yale Art Gallery. Picasso has caught everything: the glance, the position of the hands escaping the mother's authority, the foot, the soles of the feet, the toes ready to crush the soil, ready to crush the whole world. For Picasso this was the most important moment in a person's life. Alone at last! It was the conquest of the self that pointed to the future conquest of others. This painting brings back lots of memories for me. I can remember my son’s first steps; as he struggled to stand on his own discovering a world of many possibilities. When a child takes those first steps it is a new found independence for them; also it is a day that parents love, I no longer have to carry you, we think. As a mother I realize that we never stop carrying our kids. My son is 14 and he still gets on my back; but the most amazing thing is, he can now carry me! Picasso was a Spanish painter and sculptor generally considered the greatest artist of the 20th century. He was unique as an inventor of forms, as an innovator of styles and techniques, as a master of various media, and as one of the most creative artists in history. He created more than 20,000 works. Picasso's genius manifested itself early; at the age of 10 he made his first paintings. Throughout Picasso's lifetime, his work was exhibited on countless occasions. Most unusual, however, was the 1971 exhibition at the Louvre, in Paris, honoring him on his 90th birthday; until then, living artists had not been shown there. In 1980 a major retrospective showing of his work was held at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Picasso died in his villa Notre-Dame-de-Vie near Mougins on April 8, 1973.