Basquiat

This is a Basquiat painting. It is an untitled skull made in 1984. Basquiat was a graffiti artist. I liked this painting because it shows elements of urban life. It is interesting because of the use of bright colors in the background and darker colors inside the skull. There are many sections inside the skull which can be a representation of many thoughts. The top of the skull has darker colors which can represent darker thoughts while the bottom may represent happier thoughts.

Scene on Catskill Creek by Frederick Edwin Church

 This piece is a "Scene on Catskill Creek" by Frederick Edwin Church.  He was a central figure in the Hudson River School of American landscape painters.  I picked this painting because I'm from Catskill and it reminds me of how beautiful the area near me can be.  The details in the painting are incredible and I think Frederick Church was one of the greatest landscape painters.

Standing Girl Wrapped In Blanket

   This piece of art titled, "Standing Girl Wrapped in Blanket" was created by Egon Schiele.  Egon Schiele is an Austrian artist who practiced expressionism.  This is a water color and pencil on paper created in 1890.  He is known for expressing psyches and sexuality through his artwork.  This was one of my favorite drawings that I saw when I visited the MoMA. She is a beautiful woman warming herself in a dark blanket mixed with colors of black, green, purple, yellow, and red.

Artist

poppies

This painting is by Georgia O'Keefe and it's called 'Poppy'. It was done in 1928 and is an oil on canvas. This photo is one of my favorites because of the colors she used. Although they are all extremely similar she used contrasting colors in ways that make the flowers pop, hence the name and flower type. Not only is this flower extremely pretty but I love the way she has zoomed in on the flowers. She allows the viewer to see the poppy as if we were a creature in nature.

--Artist

Norman Rockwell Girl Missing Tooth (the Checkup)

This oil on canvas painting was done by Norman Rockwell in 1957 for the Saturday Evening Post. His painting was done using real children as models, depicting a scene in which a little girl lost her tooth, and her friends look to see the result. His paintings vary in severity and seriousness in each, but the ones he does with children are usually light and humorous. I love this painting because I an remember being in all three of those girls' shoes when I was little and my friends and I were looking teeth. I also love the look of excitement on the girl's face.  MoMA.

Spring by John LaFarge

 John LaFarge was a nineteenth century American artist. He was well know for his many stained-glass windows like this one. This is Spring created by LaFarge in 1900. I first came across this window while browsing through the collection of art found in the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Spring stood out among all the other artworks. The magnificent deep colors caught my eye instantly. It is amazing how much detail he was able to put into the angel's wings and the folds of her skirt. I like how he used many smaller pieces of glass to make up the majority of the window while the woman's head and torso consist of one large glass panel. It creates a stunning contrast allowing the woman to stand out more. The use of smaller glass sheets to show that the petals of the flowers are falling was a simple yet beautiful touch.

Starry Night Over the Rhone

I chose the painting “Starry Night Over the Rhone” by Vincent van Gough.  The painting is a landscape of the Rhone River in France.  The painting was done in September 1888.  The medium is oil on canvas.  The size of this painting is 28.5 by 36.2 inches.  It is located at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris, France.  I like the way that van Gough makes it look like the stars are glowing.  I also like the way he portrays the light reflecting off the water.  My favorite part of the painting is that he used big brush strokes.  At the time, using big brush strokes was unconventional.  I like that he was doing something unusual and ahead of his time.

The Fog Warning

This is The Fog Warning by Winslow Homer painted in 1885 it is located in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.  My dad owns a print of this image I really like all the details within it.  There is something about the details in the waves that make them seem so real.  With a closer look through out the painting you can see an immense amount of work and detail put into the painting down to the buttons on his jacket.

The Old Guitarist

The Old Guitarist is an oil painting by Pablo Picasso, done in 1903. It picture an old, haggard playing the guitar on the streets of Spain.This piece is from Picasso's blue period, a time in which the color blue was most prominent in his paintings.I like this piece because of the color scheme, and the way the old man is positioned.His position makes you ask is something troubling him or is he just sick.
MoMA

"The Last Supper" by Marisol Escobar

“The last supper” is one of the most famous scenes ever to be depicted. This scene has been recreated by countless artists, many of them world renowned. This particular depiction of the last supper was created by an artist named Marisol Escobar, and was displayed at the modern museum of art in 2000. This interpretation of the supper is carved completely of plywood, and sits thirty feet in length.

I discovered this sculpture in my last art class, and found it very interesting and beautiful in its own way. This modern interpretation of the last supper invites its audience to view the supper up close and in person, while standing amongst its lifelike figures, with a modern artist’s interpretation to them. What I also found very interesting about this sculpture, was the fact that Escobar carved a statue of a viewer sitting off to the side of the scene. This sculpture was carved to symbolize the artist viewing and reflecting on the work of art that she created. Escobar also states that this figure symbolizes the importance of reflecting on artwork, and creating one’s own opinion regarding the piece in any way they choose to.

I chose to share this piece because of how different it was than any other work of art I had ever seen. Along with the carvings symbolic meaning, I found the detail and dimensions of the sculptures to be astonishing, and innovative, opening new doors to the world of art.

The Persistence of Memory

The Persistence of Memory is a surrealist painting done by Salvador Dali in 1931. The medium is oil on canvas and it is currently located in the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. I chose this work for multiple reasons. Walking through the gallery in Aquinas I've often stopped and looked at many of his paintings and found them interesting and if I remember correctly, this painting is not there. I always found the melting clocks interesting, but had no idea what they were supposed to represent. There are many different things to look at in the work, such as the ants on the orange clock that symbolize death, and the the mountain in the background which was inspired by Dali's life in Catalonia.

MoMA film

Dancers By Edgar Degas

This is Dancers by the artist Edgar Degas dated back to 1884-1885. Medium: Pastel

It's displayed in the Musee d'Orsay in Paris, France. It was aquired by the museum in 1997. Edgar Degas has always been an artist that stuck out in my mind, particularly for his work on ballet dancers. I love how he uses one form of art as a muse for another. I have always been fascinated with the world of a ballerina and I think it's lovely how Degas displays them in every aspect of their craft. Here in particular we see the dancers resting.

Andy's House

Andy's House 

2005

Oil on canvas

Robert Sparrow Jones

"Andy's House" a painting by Robert Sparrow Jones is one of my favorite paintings. I enjoy the colors of this painting and it also reminds me of when I was a child. It brings me back to playing in my backyard and having my treehouse in the woods, which was a place that I considered my second home. 

Victorian Christmas II

This painting is titled "Victorian Christmas II" by Thomas Kinkade.  I like this piece of artwork because the home looks very inviting, as well as warm and comforting.  It is set during the holiday season, which I think adds even more cheer to the work.  There are carolers outside and a horse drawn carraige, which adds to the historical feel of the painting as well.

Dancers in the Wings by Edgar Degas

Dancers in the Wing created by Edgar Degas in France, 1876, done in mixed mediums of pastels, gouache and distemper. Degas frequently used ballerina dancers as subjects for his works of art. He used various mediums on this particular piece which gives it a lot of detail and texture, which is why I was so taken with it. The piece is currently on view in the Norton Simon Museum of Art in Pasadena, California.

The False Mirror by Rene Magritte

The False Mirror by Rene Magritte was created in Paris, France and was completed in 1928. It can be found in The Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) In Manhattan New York. It is an oil painting on a canvas. I chose this piece of art because i really like it, i think its very creative. I first saw it over winter break when i went to MOMA with my dad, the shading and detail is really nice.

The Son Of Man by Rene Magritte

"The Son of Man" by Rene Magritte was painted in 1964. The painting itself portrays a normal man standing by the water. The only difference about this painting is the man's face is covered by a green apple, but you can see that one of his eye is peeking out. Also it seems that his left arm is backwards.  I choose this painting because of the meaning behind it. It shows us humanity. We see things we want to see but they are not visible. It also promotes human conflict with every day while it is right in front of us. I personally want to see what the man's face looks like. I thought this painting had a very good message.

The Arnolfini Portrait Jan Van Eyck 1434

This painting is called "The Arnolfini Portrait" accomplished in 1434 by Flemish painter Jan Van Eyck. I chose this painting because it was my favorite painting that I analyzed while taking a Medieval Art and Architecture course last semester. I love all of the disguised symbolism and religious meaning throughout the portrait. I also love how the colors are intensified from the different layers used to make the painting so vivid.

The Starry Night by Van Gogh

The Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh can be found in the Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan. It is an oil painting that was made in 1889 and was one of Van Gogh's masterpieces that brought him a lot of fame. Van Gogh was always an artist that I was taught about growing up and this painting is one that has stuck out in my mind the most because of his use of vivid colors.

Water Lilies by Claude Monte

This is Water Lilies by Claude Monet painted in 1908. It is one of Monet's many oil paintings. The reason why I chose this painting was because it is one of those paintings I see many different places, whether it be in a movie or a magazine. Last semester I took a class that required us to read a book on painters, and Monet was one of those painters. It was interesting to connect the name to the painting.

This marble sculpture, Perseus With the Head of Medusa, is a  replica of artist Antonio Canova's late 18th- early 19th-century work. While at The Metropolitan Museum of Art last summer, I came across this incredible depiction of a story I have always been very much fascinated by. Perseus, the tenacious Greek hero, can be seen here holding the wrathful Medusa's severed head, a feet attempted by many but successfully executed only by Perseus. I was struck by the sheer size of the statue (it's roughly 8 ft.) and the elegant yet audacious craftsmanship, both traits evident when taking Perseus' unforgiving stare at Medusa's head into account. This is, as far as my limited experience with art has been, the greatest and most profound art I have known.

(dates and artist name compliments of http://www.metmuseum.org/Collections/search-the-collections/120020491)

Is this art?

Fountain is one of Duchamp's most famous works and is widely seen as an icon of twentieth-century art. The original, which is now lost, consisted of a standard urinal, laid flat on its back rather than upright in its usual position, and signed 'R. Mutt 1917'. The Tate's work is a 1964 replica and is made from glazed earthenware painted to resemble the original porcelain. The signature is reproduced in black paint. Fountain is an example of what Duchamp called a 'readymade', an ordinary manufactured object designated by the artist as a work of art. It epitomises the assault on convention and good taste for which he and the Dada movement are best known.

excerpt


Sophie Howarth
April 2000

http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/duchamp-fountain-t07573/text-summary

Syllabus

Mount Saint Mary College

Enjoying Modern Art Course Syllabus

Course Number:       ART4017                                                        Credits:          3         

Course Title:              Enjoying Modern Art            

Professor:                   Gary Jacketti

Office Hours:             Monday, Wednesday before or after class

e-mail:                         jacketti@optonline.net

                                    gjac4166@msmc.edu

blog:                            http://modernart2011.blogspot.com

Class Times:               Monday/Wednesday, 5:15 to 6:40

Required Text:          Sam Hunter, John Jacobus and Daniel Wheeler. Modern Art, New

                                    York, The Vendome Press

ISBN:                         0-13-189565-6

Course Outcomes:  The objective of this course is to introduce and understand the concepts, theories and movements associated with modern art.  They will develop an understanding of the reasoning and time in the context of art history.  This will occur with slide presentations, documentaries and movies associated with the period and artists.  The students will be introduced to the various techniques and mediums and explore projects related to the various Modern Art movements.  They will also be able to recognize the difference between modern and contemporary art through readings, discussions, blogs, presentations and field trips.

Grading and Evaluation Students will need to complete 8 projects, post weekly to the class blog, and take a mid term and final examination covering the materials and history in the text.  Attendance is mandatory.  Three unexcused missed classes will result in the dropping of the letter grade by 1, 5 absences the grade will be lowered by 2.  I will evaluate the content as follows:

Midterm Exam            25%

Blog Posts                   15%

Projects                       25%

Final Exam                  35%

Division of Arts and Letters Grading Policy

Points	Grade Equivalent	Quality Points	Meaning
100-95	A	4.0	Superior
94-90	A-	3.67	Outstanding
89-87	B+	3.33	Excellent
86-83	B	3.0	Very Good
82-80	B-	2.67	Good
79-77	C+	2.33	Above Average
76-73	C	2.0	Average
72-70	C-	1.67	Below Average
69-65	D+	1.33	Poor
64-60	D	1.0	Passing
59-0	F	0.0	Failing

Blog

This is a group experiment, and this will be a work in progress.  The idea is to be actively involved in the reporting of the arts in the media, i.e. newspapers, magazines and the web.  We will then post these ideas to create a body of research and ideas directly published on the web.

Projects

The students will be introduced to projects using a variety of mediums designed to synthesize, understand and interpret the movements associated with the movements of Modern Art.

Exams

There will be two exams in this course which will cover materials from the text and the lectures.   

Course Schedule and Readings

Week 1                                                Introduction, Review of Syllabus, Q & A

                        Overview of Western Art

Chapter 1: Modernism and Its Origins in the 19^th                                                      Century

Media: Vincent and Theo

Week 2                                                Chapter 2; Seurat, Cezanne and the Language of                                                                  Structure

                       

Week 3                                                Chapter 3: Gauguin and Van Gogh, and the                                                                          Language of Vision

                                   

Week 4                                                Chapter 7: Expressionism in France,

                        Matisse and The Fauves

                                                            Media:  Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo

Week 5                                                Chapter 8:  Expressionism in Germany, The Bridge                                                               and the Blue Rider

                                                                                               

Week 6                                                Chapter 9:  The Cubist Revolution:  Braque and                                                                    Picasso

                                               

Week 7                                                Studio Week

                                                            Mid-Term Review

                                                           

Week 8                                                Mid-Term Critiques and Exam

Week 9                                                Chapter 11: Dada and Fantastic Art

                                                            Media: Jackson Pollock

                                   

Week 10                                              Chapter 12: Surrealism: The Resolution of Dream                                                                                         and Reality

Week 11                                              Chapter 16: American Art in the Wake of the                                                                                                Armory Show

Week 12                                              Chapter 17: The New York School: Abstract                                                                                                 Expressionism

Week 13                                              Chapter 19:  American Art of the Sixties: Pop Art                                                                                        and Minimalism

                                                            Media: Basquait       

Week 14                                              Studio Week

                                                            Final Review

Week 15                                              Final Critiques and Exam