Leonardo da Vinci Self-Portrait ... With Special Powers?

According to the BBC News Magazine website, a rare Self-Portrait will be put on public display in Turin, Italy. A local myth states, "There is a myth in Turin that the gaze of Leonardo da Vinci in this self-portrait is so intense that those who observe it are imbued with great strength".

The artwork has an ambiguous history as it was hidden from the Nazi party in WWII. Those being persecuted did not want Adolf Hitler to come in possession of an artwork that was known to have special powers. Looking back on the event, one can understand that people did not want to find any leans by which to give Hitler more power than he had.

Rembrandt...Portrait of the Artist as an OLD Man

Read the WALL STREET JOURNAL article to learn more about the artist.

Rembrandt was known to have said that the true test of an artist is the ability to draw a perfect circle free hand. X-Rays of this painting show that the original version had him depicting himself in the ACT OF painting.

The Rembrandt the world views here is a man that suffered loss of loved ones and was in financial crisis. He shows himself REALISTICALLY rather than IDEALLY. He did not try to depict himself in a false manner.

As you read the article, notice how Rembrandt's self image is strong, despite his recent bad luck. His style was to depict one's emotions, one's inner self (as Da Vinci did). He is able to do this here.

Note the ECONOMIST has another article about Rembrandt.

Crowd Sourcing ... to Decide MUSEUM Exhibits

Museums are changing with the times and connecting with visitors via social media. The idea of crowd sourcing may play a role in exhibitions we see in the future. Several museums are reaching out to the public to ask for themes of upcoming exhibitions and pick artwork to hang in the exhibition.

The role that social media and the visitors have in the museum appears to be changing. No longer are viewers just coming to a museum to see the permanent collection or a traveling exhibition, now the visitors are taking ownership in the museum beyond paying membership dues or entrance fees.

Will this lead to fewer curatorial jobs? Will this change museum culture from educational AND entertaining to pure entertainment? Will some art get lost in the shuffle as it is not known by the public of a favorite in the public's opinion?

Read the Wall Street Journal Article Everybody's an Art Curator. What are your thoughts?

Viking Treasure Hall Unearthed in Scotland

Read the BBC Article to learn more about what was found with a run-of-the-mill metal detector!

The discoveries open a door to understanding the British Isles better. "It's clear that these artefacts are of great value in themselves, but their greatest value will be in what they can contribute to our understanding of life in early medieval Scotland, and what they tell us about the interaction between the different peoples in these islands at that time."

Emperor Claudius died today 1960 Years Ago (10-13 AD 54)

History.com posted an article about CLAUDIUS TODAY: 8 Things You May Not Know About emperor Claudius. Take a moment to read about the man that went into politics late in life, 46, and was an avid historian.

MIDDLE AGES UNIT

I have 5 videos linked on the turnitin.com discussion board. Watch them/post on the discussion board BEFORE class meets on Thursday.

Assignments:

Monday 10-20 Read Chapter 11 and Upload discussion q 2 to turnitin.com
Tuesday 10-21 Bring completed WKBK Pages to class
Page 102 #2, #5
Page 104 #s 8-10-11
Page 105 #s 12-14-15
Page 106 #17

Wednesday 10-22 Read Chapter 12 and complete WKBK pages
Friday 10-24 DQ 4

Tuesday 10-28-14 Read Chapter 13 and complete wkbk pages
Wednesday 10-29 DQ 5 uploaded to turnitin.com

Friday 10-31 Read Chapter 16 and complete WKBK pages 151-152

Sunday 11-2 upload DQ 2 turinitin.com
Monday 11-3 upload DQ 3 turinitin.com
Wednesday 11-5 upload dq 5 to turnitin.com

Museum Catalog (1415MCMiddleAges.doc)

on Middle Ages page of class website ... many good resources on this page too.

TEST TUESDAY 11-11-14

FACES in Dutch Art

In class we discuss how the face is the mirror to the soul. I continue to point that out as we discuss each culture. Facial expression and body language play a major role in communication. Take time to look at this article and the related images from the DUTCH GOLDEN AGE...

Exhibition: Death Masks and Warm Smiles: The Golden Age of Dutch Paintings in Pictures

BBC News Story about CAVE ART

I was fascinated by the recent BBC story, Cave paintings change ideas about the origin of art. Take a moment to read the article to find out about CAVE PAINTINGS from INDONESIA. Scholars have previously thought the oldest cave art was in what is now western Europe, this discovery is changing their perception.

The interactive video is worth the few minutes ... it is interactive!

Interesting article about African Rock Art

I read an article this morning and wanted to share details.

Africa's ancient rock art: Can it be saved from destruction? Take a moment to read the article to learn about MORE CULTURAL HERITAGE that is in danger due to WARFARE and VANDALISM.

An interesting thing I learned:

"Rock art comprises different forms but can be divided broadly into paintings and engravings, the latter including carvings, etchings and scrapings. There are also objects known as rock gongs, slabs used by ancient cultures for divining purposes...Indeed, there seems to have been a great age of rock art across the globe, which may have lasted around 50,000 years, and every continent has examples, except perhaps Antarctica".

The author set up The Trust for African Rock Art (Tara), in an effort to record and archive the images found in Africa. The British Museum is partnering with TARA to include the digital archives as part of its collection. The work of TARA is not over, many remote areas are left to save "before it is too late".

San Diego Museum of Art - BONUS Opportunities

Activities you may wish to attend for BONUS credit...remember to check with the museum as something may change in the schedule between printing and the day of the event...Check with the museum re: cost. I am including what I am aware of as of 10-3-14.

Symposium Gaugin to Warhol Saturday 11-8-14 9:30-12:30 ($17.00 students)

Second Saturday of the Month Workshops: 1-4:30 (55.00 a class or 4 for 160.00)
Call to make sure this event is not just for adults.
DATES: October 11 Abstract Collagraph Prints
November 8 Organic Form Drawings
December 13 Brush and Ink Paintings
January 10 Monoprints

Teen Art Cafe Wednesday 11-5-14 6-8 PM FREE

Family Drop in Days - Sundays 1-3:30
October = Exploring Abstract Art
November = Exploring Pop Art
December = Exploring Surrealism
January = Exploring Post-Impressionism

IF you attend an activity, print this post and have your parents sign giving permission. Take a picture at museum. See me the next school day.

The Acropolis is .... CRUMBLING

According to the article, " Engineers have discovered that part of the huge flat-topped rock on which the ancient Parthenon sits in the centre of Athens is starting to give way". Read the article to find out more details to the renovation of the site and the new discovery.

More Information: http://artdaily.com/news/73285/And-now-the-Acropolis-is-crumbling----Huge-flat-topped-rock-is-starting-to-give-way#.VC4z_-fytdh[/url]
Copyright © artdaily.org

INDIA...Caves of Ajanta

The article calls the caves "The Greatest Ancient Picture Gallery". Take a few moments to read about the Buddhist scenes in the Indian caves. The caves were first discovered in the 1800s and have been studied ever since.

Because of the thorough nature of the artwork, the complexity of the images, the preservation of the site, this is a key component of Art History in India. It provides us with a comparison between the European Tradition and Art Beyond the European Tradition. The author states, "In time it became clear that Ajanta contained probably the greatest picture gallery to survive from the ancient world, and along with the frescoes of Pompeii, the fabulous murals of Livia’s Garden House outside Rome, and the encaustic wax portraits of the Egyptian Fayyum, Ajanta’s walls represented perhaps the most comprehensive depiction of civilized life to survive from antiquity".

Take the time to become familiar with this historical site. It is a rich depiction of the Indian culture.