90 Years and Counting: Homecoming Through the Ages

This year's Curatorial Studies exhibition will present a history of Homecoming, a tradition that began at GC in 1923. Stay tuned for details.....

Film reel from 1963 Homecoming

Field Trip: The Golden Age of Painting in Europe

View from above of the main floor of the exhibition

Earlier today, students in Modern Art and two special guest stars went to the University of Kentucky Art Museum to visit the exhibition "The Golden Age of Painting in Europe," a travelling show that was originally titled Rembrandt, Rubens, Gainsborough, and the Golden Age of Painting in Europe from the Speed Art Museum, Louisville, KY. Each student selected a painting or two to present to the rest of the class (and a few other people in the museum, as well). Such close examination of single works enabled students to focus their study and to learn much more about brushwork and technique, as well as content and subject.

Site Visit: The Royal Seat—El Escorial, Madrid

 

The things you learn in the classroom haunt you for life...

Ok, I know that I have already posted something for the day, but I wanted to share this with all of you.  My last semester as a Graduate student at UK I took a class called Visual Culture in the Enlightenment with Dr. Anna Brzyski.  Probably the BEST class I took over the 2.35 years of my Masters program.  My final paper was focused on Louis XIV's court and how he was able to control the mass of France with the development of eating habits... long story short I learned a lot about how to eat, with what, and when and what that has to do with power.  AWESOME.

Any who, today, while trolling through my daily art blogs I came across this little gem, a public art exhibition on Louis XIV's famous gardener.

As I watched the video I recalled all the knowledge from that class and could pinpoint why each piece was chosen for the exhibition.  Why some pieces were cunning while others explored political ideas.

I wanted to share this with all of you to remind you that sometimes we take classes and we think, when am I EVER going to use  this again, (for me that was algebra) BUT YOU WILL! Pay attention to the knowledge that you are getting while you are here.  It will help you in the long run in either your job, to understand important cultural references, or to just help your trivia team get the right answer to win the free appitizer.  TRUST ME!

Peace,
Jeanette

Opportunities: Competition, Art Therapy, Open Studio

FROM CALLING & CAREER CENTER ON CAMPUS:  

I wanted to share an interior design competition that my company is working on with a client in case you have had any students express interest in interior design opportunities. We are working with the Habitat for Humanity ReStore on their new store launch in Richmond.  As part of the grand opening, they are hosting the Life ReStored Design Competition.  This competition will allow aspiring interior designers to compete for one of three design spots where they will have $500 to decorate a 10x10, 3-sided room on opening day using items from the ReStore. Here is the information for the competition: http://bit.ly/15ltUCD.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to let me know. We would greatly appreciate your help in promoting the competition!

Paintings that Revolutionized Art

Mark your calendars everyone.  A new art book is about to hit the shelves.  On September 16th, look for a new book called Paintings that Revolutionized Art edited by Claudia Stauble and Julie Kiefer.  Think of this a an art history book on steroids (not that I condone the illegal use of medications).

'This beautifully illustrated, delightfully informative collection of 100 of the world's most significant paintings covers nearly every period, culture, and style. What makes the Book of Kells such an extraordinary example of the illuminated manuscript? Why is Dürer's self-portrait so iconic? How did Turner's Rain, Steam, Speed turn the art world on its head? What's so great about Jasper Johns's Flag? And who was Whistler's mother, anyway? Art history is filled with paintings that shocked, intrigued, enraged, and mystified their audiences--paintings that exemplified the period in which they were created and forever changed the way we think. Here, 100 examples of these icons of art are presented in beautiful, high-quality reproductions. Each spread features comparative illustrations and details as well as an engaging text that explains why that particular painting belongs in the pantheon of world-changing art.' -says Amazon

The Huffington Post also has a nice article about this book with 14 pieces selected from the book to you super excited about buying yet ANOTHER art book!

I do have to say that I am pretty interested in to see what made the list of 100 and what didn't.  I wonder if they will have volumes like a VH1 countdown...

Here are couple of teasers for you:

Ludwig Kirchner's "Potsdamer Platz" (1914)

 Jan van Eyck's "The Arnolfini Portrait" (1434)

 Peace,
Jeanette

On Display, Two Upcoming Shows in Louisville

 Unforeseen Visions: Untitled, #12

Two events coming up in the near future to check out. One serious event is the Louisville Photo Biennial. It is a month-long series described as "Louisville's premier photographic festival." I really encourage you to attend at least one of the events. There are shows, lectures, and more throughout the month of October focusing on three topics: Exchange/Generation, People, and Historic Processes. I was invited by Lee Ann Paynter to participate in a group show at Spot5 Art Center titled Process : Effect : Reconsider. It will feature seven regional photo faculty including myself, Lee Ann, Doreen Maloney, Ruth Adams, Rob Dickes, Keith Barker, and Rob Sewell.

Our show will be on display September 23–November 2 at Spot5 Art Center, 2005 Frankfort Ave, Louisville, KY. There will be receptions on October 4, 6:00–9:00 PM and October 25, 6:00–9:00 PM. I will be showing some of my old botanical mordançage work, Unforeseen Visions, to go along with the theme of historical processes.

Snowy Morning, BMW GS, Cincinnati, OH

In addition, I'll have a photograph on display this weekend in Louisville as part of the inaugural Kentucky Kick Down motorcycle show. There are all sorts of things happening, including a bike show, pool tournament, vendors, bike ride, and more. I'm planning to ride up with my old buddy Brian to check it out and see what sort of trouble we can get into. Granted, my sort of trouble is typically quite modest and reserved. If you're there, look for my photo at either The Monkey Wrench or The Barret Bar (age permitting). Should be interesting.

Senior Thesis: A Weekly Update

If you find yourself lacking a little inspiration (*cough *cough... senior art majors), I have some tips that might help you expand the boundaries of your imagination box.  

1. If you don't already, start carrying a sketchbook/notebook/journaling device around with you everywhere you go. Emphasis on everywhere... There is no way I can really explain the benefits of doing this, except that it is like having a visual conversation with yourself. It becomes easier to decide which ideas don't make a lick of sense between the ideas that are actually worth something or may lead you to something more awesome. And trust me, for some reason you always forget the more awesome ideas so write them down while you can!

If you are not as artistically gifted as you would like to be or can never keep up with a notebook, you can cheat and use your camera phone to take pictures of inspiring things (I do it all the time). 

For me a mini notebook was more convenient and fun for
compiling my thoughts for fall Senior Thesis. 

2. To build upon #1, just accept that for every good idea, you will have to go through 20 terrible ideas. So get over the fact that your sketchbook may be full of ugly sketches, don't erase them (If you're like me, you may just have to resort to using permanent marker). You never know what is going spark your imagination later on down the road. Just don't forget to revisit... just think of it as research.  

A few of my many doodles and notes. 

3. Read the book "Steal Like an Artist" by Austin Kleon. It is a book every art student/artist should have.  If you would like to borrow my copy, hunt me down and I'll gladly share. :)

This book is a New York Times Bestseller for a reason.
It is the best combination of artistic inspiration and general life advice.

4. Share ideas with somebody, anybody... It doesn't have to be an artist or professor, although those kinds of people are the best kinds to get advice from. If you're not a people person, start a blog or connect on Pinterest or Tumblr. 

Just 2 of the 2,239 items I have pinned on Pinterest.

5. If you're on a time crunch for inspiration, or you still are having trouble, set some wild restrictions on yourself. If you're anything like me, you may not do well with total unlimited power and possibilities. Try some blind contour drawing, some fast 60 second portraits, using a medium you have never used before, collaborating with some friends on a exquisite corpse sketch, listen to a song and create something visual from it, try to recreate an image several times using different mediums, create a new invention by combining existing inventions, enter a local art contest, and another easy way to get inspiration is to visit nearby exhibits and shows.

Whip out that ol' dusty sketchbook of yours and give it a good scribbling.  Doesn't matter whether it's cool stuff or bad stuff... stop thinking and just start making! 

Hope you're inspired :)
-Maddy Fritz

Hello and Goodbye, part 2

Dr Decker and Becca
before departing for a drink
and conversation in the Mulberry.

Becca Babel, art history major from the class of 2009, came back to campus today to check in and to let us know what she's been up to.

Many of you know that Becca pursued graduate work in art history and art ed at the University of Cincinnati, finding her love in art and museum education. She's now working in the field of outdoor education — she's full-time outdoors, in the mountains of California.

Becca also visited with Daniel to learn more about how to screen print at home, send-away-places to get film developed, and the amazing CSA(rt) project that's been chronicled on our blog.

Thank you, Becca, for making time to visit campus, check in with us, to meet the new faces on campus—students, faculty, and staff. It was great to see you, to catch up, and to see your passion for art and the outdoors materialize in your current work. Keep in touch, and best wishes:)