Happy New Year from ArtSmacked
December 30, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Art of the American Civil War
December 30, 2011 by Leave a Comment
2011 marks the 150-year anniversary of the start of the American Civil War (1861-65). The Civil War officially began on 12 April 1861, when Confederate troops attacked Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbour. Though contention over slavery between the northern and southern states is the most commonly known protagonist for going to war, it was a bit more complicated than that. The election of … [Read more...]
Unicef Photo of the Year
December 28, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Each year, UNICEF Germany grants the “UNICEF Photo of the Year Award” to photos and photo series that best depict the personality and living conditions of children all around the world in an outstanding manner. This year UNICEF's patroness Bettina Wulff presented the award to Kai Löffelbei, a photography student at University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Hannoveron for his winning … [Read more...]
Nest Egg Gala Holiday New Years Auction
December 28, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Nest Egg Auctions, a family-owned premiere estate and antiques auction house, in Connecticut, USA is hosting their annual Gala Holiday New Years Auction on 7 January at 2pm. As I'm preparing to teach Term 2 of my American Art course for the WEA, American Art from Colonialism to Abstract Expressionism, I am particularly interested in the Guy Carleton Wiggins painting, New York Library in a … [Read more...]
Funding for the Arts in the UK & Europe
December 28, 2011 by Leave a Comment
The UK: In the lead up to Christmas, BP announced their plan to sponsor a handful of London's arts institutions. The lucky recipients of the proposed £10m donation include the British Museum, Tate Britain, the National Portrait Gallery and the Royal Opera House. The funds will be stretched out over a five-year period and will be allocated to each institution to meet their personal needs. For … [Read more...]
Turner Prize Winner 2011, Martin Boyce
December 22, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Okay, I have to admit this year's winner didn't piss me off half as much as winners from previous years - for example, Starling's shed in 2005 (wow, don't get me started). In the first place, the name of the prize itself holds very academic, traditional connotations whereas the prize itself is known for works that shock and at times, appall. Can't we just call it the 'British Contemporary Art … [Read more...]
Ellsworth Kelly at LA County Museum of Art (LACMA)
December 22, 2011 by Leave a Comment
The LA County Museum of Art is exhibiting a major retrospective by American abstract artist, Ellsworth Kelly in the new year. Born in New York, Kelly spent a significant amount of time in France during a stint in the US Army - from the late 1940s to the early 1950s - which greatly influenced his style. The exhibition, Ellsworth Kelly: Prints and Paintings is the first major examination of … [Read more...]
Diego Rivera: Murals for the Museum of Modern Art
December 19, 2011 by Leave a Comment
MOMA is currently exhibiting murals by Diego Rivera. The exhibition brings together works from the early 1930s which comprised Rivera's first solo exhibition at the museum (and were specifically created for that purpose). The works represent Rivera's output during his time in New York and comprise a selection of Mexican-themed mural panels and frescoes depicting scenes from The … [Read more...]
David Hockney at London’s Royal Academy
December 19, 2011 by Leave a Comment
To kick off the New Year, The Royal Academy is showcasing the first major exhibition of new landscape paintings by David Hockney. Having spent decades in California before returning to his native England, Hockney's recent series of paintings are inspired by the landscape of East Yorkshire. The exhibition, David Hockney RA: A Bigger Picture' will include works spanning 50 years, revealing the … [Read more...]
The Artist
December 19, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Golden Globe Award winning film, The Artist, written and directed by Michel Hazanavicius is set in 1927 Hollywood. The lead character George Valentin, played by Jean Dujardin contemplates his career as a silent movie star as the onset of the talkies threatens his livelihood. Meanwhile, he is romancing the young dancer, Peppy Miller, played by Bérénice Bejo who is on the brink of her 'big … [Read more...]
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