A day to remember...

On my drive to Hartford to visit Wadsworth Atheneum. I ask myself
can the beauty of autumn leaves be preserved as art is preserved through time?

Just as the sun can transform the color of a leaf, what was the
inspiration for such artists as Picaso, Dali, Monet as colors transform
their work of art into masterpieces?

The Wadsworth Atheneum was founded in 1842. Noteworthy,
during the same year the United States recognized the independence
of Hawaii, a patent was issued for the sewing machine, and Connecticut
established the first public education system in the United States.

http://www.trivia-library.com/a/united-states-and-american-history-1842.htm
http://www.brainyhistory.com/years/1842.html

Decades later the Wadsworth museum continues to commission
architecture that expresses and embraces various art movement.
From the outside, the museum looks like a Medieval Castle.

The founder, Daniel Wadsworth, commission architects Alexander
Davis and Ithiel Town to design the museum.

They were influenced by the rebirth of the Gothic architectural style,which was rapidly growing popular in the early nineteenth century. The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art reflects its founder's desire to create a civic center of learning and culture.

http://www.wadsworthatheneum.org/learn/museum-history.php

The inside of the Wadsworth Atheneum is amazing with winding stair cases, ultra high ceilings, and stained glass windows.

Each exhibit has its own unique style of color and lighting suitable for the artistic displays that were being showcased.

As I entered through the lobby, I made my way towards Avery Court where I was in awe of a particular piece of art created Salvador Dali.

Salvador Dali (1904-1989) was a famous Spanish surrealist artist and one of the most influential painters of the 20th century expressing the unconscious process of thought, dream and associated realities through his paintings and drawings.

The painting appropriately named ‘Apparition of a Face and Fruit Dish on a Beach’ was commission in 1938.

Dali, embraced the theories of Sigmund Freud, (best known for his Salvador Dali (1904-1989) was a famous Spanish surrealist artist and one of the most influential painters of the 20th century expressing the unconscious process of thought, dream and associated realities through
his paintings and drawings.

The multiple spectrum of imagery is fascinating. At a first glance they are four scenes in one: you can see an

Afgahan dog, a face, a table with a fruit dish in the middle and a desert lanscape looking out on the sea. Take a closer look, this painting combines multiple embedded images. Each image's contours fuse seamlessly into those of another, creating a heightened sense of visual drama meant to disturb the viewer. In the foreground, the sand turns into a table on which you can see a number of other different images. The ambiguity or uncertainty inside an image makes a new image appears. This is extended through out the composition.

The number of images seen through ones eyes
is only limited by the intellect of that individual
viewing the painting.










A movement in art and literature that flourished in the early twentieth century, Surrealism aimed at expressing imaginative dreams and visions free from consciousrational control, which is evident in Dali’s work. One thing that is not evident is the meaning behind this piece.

Dali once said , "Just because I don't know the meaning of my art, does not mean it has no meaning”.
http://www.3d-dali.com/dali_paintings_analysis_interpretation.htm

Therefore, its meaning is left to the interpretation of the observer.

Other interests of the day:

The ‘Six Sense’ commissioned in 1992 by

Robert Colescott. Colescott is known as an

incisive social commentator taking on taboos

in art, politics, race, money, and power.

His works often involve abstract

expressionism and the depiction of figures.

The images related to myth, parodies of

art history and the personal imperfections

of human nature and daily life.

http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761587556/robert_colescott.html

On Tuesday November 4, 2008,

America elected its first African

American president.

What progress we made since

the days of one of Abraham’s

Lincoln’s most famous letters.

Written during the heart of the

Civil War the letter was a response

to the editorial written by

Horace Greely, editor of the New York Tribune.

Greely’s editorial indicated that Lincoln's administration lacked direction

and resolve. The editorial favored immediate and unconditional emancipation.

Lincoln in his response stated that his main purpose was to preserve the Union, and, to achieve that goal, he was prepared to free none, some, or all of the slaves, depending on the circumstances.

A few months later, after Lincoln’s response was written, nearly twenty years later after the Wadsworth Atheneum museum was founded, the Lincoln’s signed the official ‘Emancipation Proclamation’ .

http://www.nps.gov/archive/anti/emancip.htm

Over One hundred and forty five years later, history was rewritten.

I end my journey with this piece. Reading Lincoln’s response to Horrace Greely puts art, and history into perspective.

Hundred years from now, the acceptance speech given by the President Elect

today may one day be viewed as art tomorrow.