Comments for Venetian Red Art Blog

Comment on Barnett Newman—”The First Man Was an Artist” by Woody

Woody — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 23:34:30 +0000

I remember the controversy here in Canada when The National Gallery of Art purchased Newman’s “Voice of Fire” for 1.6 million dollars: there was a great hue and cry about the acquisition. It was so controversial that a public forum was organized by the gallery about 5 months after the announcement, and experts from across Canada and the United States – including contemporaries of Newman from that era – were gathered in Ottawa to discuss everything from the theme of the work to the choice of colour to a scientific analysis (including photographs taken at a microscopic level of the layers of paint and gesso that had been applied to the canvas!) to how the paint was applied. The sculptor Robert Murray remarked that “If Barney were alive and here to see this controversy he would find it amusing, but he would be overjoyed that discussions about art – serious art – were now part of daily conversation.” Having said that, I can only agree with you, Astrid, that a continued rational and civil discussion about art is the best we can hope for until a definitive definition about what is and isn’t art (and why we create art) is finally arrived at – which, personally speaking, I hope never happens… The mystery of art, and the kaleidoscopic grandeur of our efforts to create it, are what makes it so exciting and dynamic…

Comment on James Leman and Anna Maria Garthwaite: Silk Weavers of Spitalfields by Muriel Beckett

Muriel Beckett — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 20:40:42 +0000

I am interested in tracing my ancesters who were weavers in the Liberties in Dublin. William Beckett was a manager of the silk weavers Atkinsons in Dublin, this company is now in N. Ireland but all their records were lost in a fire. My family are French Huguenots and are thought to have come to Ireland via London. The name may have been Becket, Becet or Bequet. I have been weaving floor rugs and wall hangings myself since he mid 1970′s.

Comment on James Leman and Anna Maria Garthwaite: Silk Weavers of Spitalfields by Phil Rapps

Phil Rapps — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 07:57:21 +0000

I am too descended from Pierre Latreille. My mohers uncle has traced the family tree back to Pierre but not beyound.Thanks for the extra details. Presumablly we had some money in those days!!

Comment on Hannah Höch: The “Quiet Girl” with a Big Voice (Part I) by Karin Doleske

Karin Doleske — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:27:12 +0000

Thank you for the information and images. i really appreciate. Are there more fabric pieces to see? I’m using my painting canvas as fabric and was told I should check Hannah Hoch’s work. Thank you very much. – Karin Doleske

Comment on Barnett Newman—”The First Man Was an Artist” by Astrid

Astrid — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:51:19 +0000

Yes, it is a complex thought; yes it is a complex issue. And there are no ‘solutions’, there can only be discussion, sparks for thinking and endeavours to understand, continuing the journey and keeping the discourse alive.

Comment on What is Venetian Red? by Susan james

Susan james — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:47:19 +0000

Lovely lovely pieces on this site. Thank you, Ive jsut subscribed. The spiral jetty, and the fellow who weaves real growing trees- makes you wanna live this kind of thing.

Comment on VR Film Review: “The Art of the Steal” by Carol Gehring

Carol Gehring — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:16:33 +0000

I was born and raised in Bryn Mawr, and later our family home was built in Ardmore, PA. The Barnes Foundation was about 10 minutes from my home. I spent my childhood at the Barnes Foundation, and later as a budding artist, spent as much time there as possible. The Barnes Foundation was in a beautiful location on gated grounds in Merion. Sometimes when I arrived early, I had to wait until the gates were opened. I remember waiting with such anticipation to get in there. The collection was just amazing. It was a really special and intimate time: to be so close to those works of art was just an amazing experience. Mainly because it was like being in someone’s home, not a museum. That is what made it so special to everyone that walked through its doors. That is what Barnes had in mind, and why he made the will. There were also classes and art booklets you could buy that were used in the classes that thoroughly discussed the paintings. I still have some of them.

I think it’s a travesty that Barnes’ will was not honored. This is about greed and profit as usual. I actually did not see the film yet, but will do so. I think the perpetrators who initiated the idea to bring it to Phila. as they say, ‘so more people could view the collection’, is just idiotic. Merion is about 15 minutes from download Phila, and very easily accessible by car or public transportation. If you cannot drive 15 more minutes outside of the city to see this collection, then you shouldn’t be able to see it in the first place. I’m crushed by this entire idea. Instead of spending the money to help the Barnes Foundation to continue on, when they were having hard times, they opted to take the collection from them. Really philanthropic of you all whoever you are. Instead of honoring the collection, and the man that made it all possible, you chose to ruin one of the most intimate places on the planet for art.

Comment on Hannah Höch: The “Quiet Girl” with a Big Voice (Part I) by Alex Mortensen

Alex Mortensen — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:59:41 +0000

Thanks very much for your useful and interesting information about the Dadaists, Liz. I am referring to it in an essay that i am currently doing on Hannah Hoch as part of my university course in fine arts.

I wonder if you could direct me towards any web images of some of her earliest works such as Night under a Tree (1907) or any others pre-World War I as I would like to include these in my essay.

Comment on The Content of Stripes: Frank Stella & Diego Velázquez by beth

beth — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:46:07 +0000

hello i really enjoy your blog , just wondered if you had the full version of rosalind krauss’s a view of modernism ? i cant find it anywhere online and really need it !

Comment on VR Sees RED by Christine Cariati

Christine Cariati — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:08:03 +0000

i’d like to see another production — Alfred Molina really inhabited his part, as did Eddie Redmayne, it’ll be interesting to see what Berkeley Rep does with it. By the way, at one time turpentine didn’t have an odor, which was much more dangerous — they gave it one so you’d be aware of what you were dealing with and be careful.

Comment on Death and the Maiden: The Execution of Lady Jane Grey by Goetz Kluge

Goetz Kluge — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 07:49:07 +0000

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bonnetmaker/6155520341/in/set-72157624303810154/ is about how J.E.Millais may have quoted from the 1570 painting "Edward VI and the Pope" shown by you in the article above. Regards fro Munich Goetz

Comment on The Paradox of Henri Fantin-Latour by Greg Linington

Greg Linington — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 20:22:53 +0000

Enjoyed reading your article on Fantin Latour.I think that two of his best portraits are the ones he did of Marie Yolande de Fitz-James and her sister in 1867.He also painted their grandmother the dowager Duchess of Fitz-James in the same year.( She is always incorrectly referred to as their mother ).Fantin Latour was going to do a group portrait of the family of the Duke of Fitz-James ,but for some reason the project was abandoned.I don’t suppose you would know why? Fantin Latour did a preparatory sketch.Perhaps the Duke ( a direct descendent of the exiled James II ) did not like the artist’s portrait of his son ( Marie Yolande’s brother ), which is not one of Fantin Latour’s best works.I wish I knew more about his relationship with the Fitz James family.

Comment on A History of Lace in Seven Portraits: Series Prologue by cloudoflace

cloudoflace — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:37:20 +0000

Hello Liz,

Such a nice artistic layout of the history of my favorite craft! Really you did a great job!

I’m writing an article about the history of lace myself, that’s how I discovered yours. I’d like to ask your permission if I can link to your articles.

Thank you.

Best Regards,
Hiba

Comment on Hannah Höch: The “Quiet Girl” with a Big Voice (Part I) by Inspiration: Hannah Höch. | Whuffling.

Inspiration: Hannah Höch. | Whuffling. — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 03:10:36 +0000

[...] Hannah Höch is not just one of my favorite collage artists, but she’s one of my favorite artists, period. Full stop. During my senior thesis “Cut With the Kitchen Knife” – a collection of her work – lived in my studio space and not a day went by that I didn’t soak in it. She seems to be a bit obscure outside of the world of art nerds, which is unfortunate as she’s nothing short of amazing. [...]

Comment on VR Sees RED by Lisa and Robb

Lisa and Robb — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 04:09:49 +0000

I fell across your blog’s doorstep while home with a cold, and it brought some happiness to my groggy stupor.

We’re working on a production of Red at Berkeley Rep. The designer has still to work out which (if any) of the Rothko paintings we’ll be replicating. Given the anti-fragrance sentiment at Bay Area theaters, I doubt we’ll be wafting turpentine out over our audiences.

Comment on Hope and Despair (and Géricault) in 2012 by Liz Hager

Liz Hager — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 21:27:25 +0000

Hazlo
Thank you for returning! I am hoping to post more frequently this year, thinking that shorter posts may equate to greater frequency. I love the “scholarship” that goes into longer posts, but, honestly, have my hands full with other activities.

PS Congratulations on what looks like a beautiful show, the frescoes in Gordes. http://www.hazlotopics.com/blog/pictures-at-an-exhibition-gordes-2011-2/

Comment on Hope and Despair (and Géricault) in 2012 by Hazlo

Hazlo — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 18:59:32 +0000

Hello Liz
It’s great to hear from you again and to come back to the V.R. columns. Resolutions for 2012 ? Yes, Patience seems to be a magic word for many of us. I’m also meditating on those voices pulling us this way and that. I just wonder if being connected to many inner voices does not belong to the artist nature? to human nature as well?
Another card, from the “Tarot of Marseille” this time, is number 9, the Hermit : he is moving forward, holding his own light, not to loose his way.
Maybe the inner light. When inner voices become to loud !
Could be the wishes for the coming year too, for the coming journey even if it looks like being a stormy one.
Patience, and Confidence.

I Miss your posts!

Comment on Contact Us by Heidi Mckee

Heidi Mckee — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 02:32:04 +0000

wonering if any of the art is for sale and how to do that?

Comment on Flora Delanica: Art and Botany in Mrs. Delany’s “paper mosaicks” by L. Marilyn McGrath

L. Marilyn McGrath — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 13:38:57 +0000

Having received a book store gift certificate this Christmas, and while browsing last week, I was approached by a wonderful lady whom I had met a few years prior. After a wonderful chat and leaving without a book she stopped me and said you must see this book I just purchased, The Paper Garden. I was totally mesmerized! My husband and I returned to the bookstore last night and purchased the book, lucky for us there was one hardbound copy on the shelf. This is one of the most beautiful Christmas present ever and I am truly in debt to the wonderful lady who introduced me to this book. Thank you everyone!!!…Marilyn McIsaac-McGrath

Comment on Hope and Despair (and Géricault) in 2012 by Peggy

Peggy — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 02:09:34 +0000

What a joyous moment to see you are back! I would say it evoked feelings of “hope” for the year. You can’t have one without the other anyway. Cheers!