ART!!!

[fabrisse]

I've been hearing little whispers of a "Renoir Sucks at Painting" movement. This morning, I finally read a detailed article on them at Salon. I happen to like some Renoirs, not all, but that's because I don't like all the works of any artist. I also don't think vilifying one artist is the way to get more people to appreciate their local museums. Although, with troll culture, I could be wrong about that.

I'll admit, Desert Island Discs (which ten pieces of music would you want on a desert island along with three books (complete works of Shakespeare and the Bible are already included) and a luxury) is enjoyable, but Desert Island Discards (which ten pieces of music would you want to leave on a desert island permanently) is much more fun at parties. (I am not advocating censorship, just for the record. It's an interesting way to see where your tastes overlap with your friends' tastes, and the best part is advocating for the ones you like that they don't and vice-versa.)

What I'd like to do is see who my friends (hell, anyone who finds this post is welcome) would like to see more widely known at artists. Women and people of color would be great, but it's not zero sum. Anyone you think is under-represented or who should be in more museums as an inspiration to others is welcomed.

April Gornik is an artist whose work I love. She does landscapes and plays with light.

Lightning on Water
Green Shade
Full Moon Rise

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the Louise Bourgeois exhibit at the Hirschhorn a few years ago. The artist died soon after. If spiders alarm you, don't randomly click on her work. The link below has spiders.

Her "Cells"

Comments

[tediousandbrief.livejournal.com]

There was a Polish-American artist that I really liked whose work was on display and for sale at the Polish Museum a few weeks ago. I took a card since I knew I'd forget her name, but I should still have it at home.

I got introduced to Polish painter Jan Matejko in Poland. I liked his works, but had not really heard of him outside of Poland.

[fabrisse.livejournal.com]

Matejko certainly does epic canvases. Thank you for introducing him to me, and I hope you find the card for the other artist, too.

[tediousandbrief.livejournal.com]

A lot of Matejko's stuff had to be hidden during the War since a lot of his epic things were on the list of paintings to be destroyed by the Nazis.

I found the card! Her name is Lidia Wylangowska (www.lidiawylangowska.com)

[fabrisse.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the link. She has some interesting ideas.

[sienamystic.livejournal.com]

I didn't know about April Gornik until I started working at a museum that had a large drawing of hers that quickly became one of my favorite works. I don't know how she captured this moment of light - one that I recognize and remember - in a drawing (http://contentdm.unl.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/sheldon/id/428/rec/1) but she did it.

I don't think he's really an unknown, but I love Enrique Chagoya.

two works (http://thefuturelab.org/tag/chagoya/)
Part of one of his codexes (http://publications.newberry.org/aztecs/s5i6.html)

[sienamystic.livejournal.com]

I tried to leave a comment but because I put in links, it was marked as spam! Oh, well. I was going to say that I hadn't known of April Gornik until I started working at my museum and encountered her drawing "Late Palatine Light," which makes me happy whenever I look at it. And while I don't think he's unknown, an artist I love who isn't a household name but who I find wonderful is Enrique Chagoya, who blends pop culture, Christianity, and Aztec influences brilliantly.

My other comment has popped up! Apologies for the double post.

[fabrisse.livejournal.com]

Just viewing Chagoya's images via Google, I don't think he's to my taste. Having said that, I'd love to experience the works in person. I've found that makes a huge difference.

That Gornik drawing is beautiful. My "win the lottery" dream is to own some of her work.

Thank you for posting a second time. The other still hasn't popped up for me.