Yale University Art Gallery

On Saturday April 21st I visited the Yale University Art Gallery. The drive alone was a task in itself. First we got stuck in traiffic. I mean traffic that was literally still. Not stop and go just stop! Anyway after all the traffic we finally made it to sunny New Haven Yale University Art Gallery. What a beautiful day to go to the museum to. When we entered into the building we were greet by the guard. We saw that there was a sign that said they except donations. So we then proceeded to the front desk to see what we had to do to get a tour of the building. Once we were done there we went to see some of the exhibits on the first floor. The first thing that really caught my eye was a man just lounging in a chair. Check this out I thought it was really cool. When I first glance over at the is person I said to my classmate WOW people really get relaxed at the museum. When we got close to the person we found out really quickly that this was an exhibit. Really neat I really can't believe how the artist captured so much expression in this exhibit. See close up below. He really looks like a real person who is hot tired and really just need to rest his feet from a long walk in the museum. This is how I felt when we left New Haven. Anyhow see close up below.

Okay here is what peaked my interest at the Yale University Art Gallery. Artemisia Prepares to drink the ashes of her husband. Mausolous. Mausolous was the king of Caria. Artemisia is said to have taken her husbands ashes and put them in her daily drinks. that is how much she loved him. They took a vow to love each other until death do them part, I honestly think that Artemisia took it a step further. I see in the bible when it talks about husband and wives. They are to leave mother and father and cleave to one another. They are to become as one body, mind & spirit. I feel that Artemisia took becoming one literally when she drank the ashes of her husband. Artemisia survived her husband by two year. While she was yet alive and drinking her husbands ashes she built at Halicarnassus a monument mausoleum. Halicarnassus is an ancient Greek city on the Southwest coast of Caria.

What caught my eye on this piece was that Artemisia has an inoccent face. She look very yound and her eyes to me seem like they can tell her whole story. To me they artist tried to make her a little lively by adding red blush to make her stand out. I believe that is what really caught my eye. If you notice the background is very dark. Meaning that it gloomy and it talking about death. I am struck by how I can see the colors that represent life or death. I was very intrigued to find that the story had some death in it.

Wadsworth Antheneum Museum of Art 4/1/07

Yesterday on April 1st I visited the Wadsworth in Hartford, CT

Here is a little History on the Wadsworth that I found very interesting:

The Wadsworth Antheneum is the oldest public art museum here in Connecticut. It is located in what is call the historical downtown Hartford area. It was founded by Daniel Wadsworth in 1842. Since the museum has opened it has a long standing traditions of always being first to acquire pieces from famous artist.

My Visit:

When I got to the museum I had the privilege of trying to find parking. As I walked from my parking space I walked up the side of the building and I never notice how huge this building was. I have live in Hartford my whole life and I can only remember going to this museum all of one time in grade school. As I got in to the museum I saw a man sitting off to my left. I asked him questions and he pointed me to the front desk. When I got to the front desk I simply explain to the lady why I was there and she told me that see had a student come in for the same assignment the day before. She told me that my fee would be $5. so I paid my fee and she handed me a map so that I would know how to get around the museum. Then I proceeded back to the security guard to sign a document so that I could use my camera in the museum as long as it didn't have the flash on. After all of this I then proceed to enter the museum I saw many paintings but none that captured my eye right way. However While I was on the first floor I saw a painting from a distant that really peaked my interest. As you see on you left the painting I selected has so many bright colors that would draw anyone from a distance. This piece of art was created by John Biggers Born Gastonia, North Carolina, 1924 Died Houston Texas, 2001. It is entitled Band of Angels; Weaving the seventh word, 1992-1993. It is on an oil and acrylic canvas. It is part of the Ella Gallup Summer and Mary Catlin Summer collection fund, 1993.16. The paint represents, "everyday life and as spiritual connections to an African heritage." John Biggers.... I thought the picture was very insightful. It showed so much detail as to what the artist was trying to depict. He is showing the African women hard at work. what are they doing? Well they are build a whole new world where they have a new moon, new sun, new stars. I almost think they are making a world free of crime a whole new world without all impurities. I think the water is a symbol of peace. I think it is saying that this new world that is being built is the essence of peace and free will, and happiness. Water is very calming to me so I think this world that they are building will be a calm and it will have solitary atmosphere. The next couple of pieces that caught my eye were in the Religious section of the museum.
The first one was of "The Crucifixion" by Bernard van Orley Flemish, c. 1488-1541 c. 1515-20. This is an oil on panel painting This piece is also apart of The Ella Gallup Summer and Mary Catlin Sumner Collection Fund, 1939.429. Being that it was Sunday and I attend church every Sunday I was very happy to see that they did have a Religious section in the museum. This picture captured my eye because first it is a picture of the crucifixition but secondly the colors. I've seen many picture of this but never with some much thought put into. When looking at this picture the artist really captured the pain and agony of hanging on the cross. He really emphasized on the people who were standing around looking. It made me really think about the crucifixition and everything I have been taught from a child and even what I am being taught now. I felt really drawn to this picture because I really knew a lot about the story. The next picture that I really connected with is below. This picture is legendary, or at least John the Baptist is a well know biblical
story. I actually was able to look at the picture and know right way that this was a picture of Herod the king and Salome with John the Baptist head on a charger. Here is a brief story for this picture. It was King Herod's birthday and Salome the daughter of Herodias was aked to dance for the King. Because Salome dance so well King Herod asked her what did she want. He told her that she could have anything she wanted. Salome didn't know what to ask so she went and asked her mother what should she ask for. Her mother told her to ask for John the Baptist Head on a charger. When Salome told King Herod what she wanted he was very sorry but he had to keep his word so, he told all those who were at the feast to bring John The Baptist Head on a Charge. (St. Matthew 14:1-36) I am very surprised at everything I saw at the museum. Who would have ever thought that I would really find a lot of interesting exhibits at the museum. I can remember when I was a kid we always were so bore at the museum. I mean you might have found at least one exhibit to keep your attention for a while but I know my attention was keep more than a few minutes on yesterday. I really enjoy my visit at this museum. I always thought that the museum was old and not well kept but I found out differently yesterday. I do look forward to visiting my next schedule museum. I am really looking forward to the outcome of this class.

Other exhibits that caught my eye:

Tentative Schedule of Museum Visits

I would like to first apologize for not getting this schedule posted earlier. I am new to this blogger posting stuff so please bare with me. I had Christina talk me through how to get somethings to work for me. Again I am sorry for this being late.

Week 1: Preparation

Week 2: Wadsworth Anthenum Museum of Art - Sunday April 1st

Week 3: Yale Art Gallery - Saturday April 7th

Week 4: Metropolitian and MOMA Saturday April 14th

Week 5: The Bruce Museum Saturday April 21th

Week 6: Florence Griswold Museum Saturday April 28th

Week 7: Museum of Modern Art Saturday May 5th

Week 8: Final Week May 13th

Thanks

This is just a tentative schedule. Dates may change.
Charmaine