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| "The Shade" by Rodin at The High Museum of Art, Atlanta, Georgia. (image Wikipedia) What was the first piece of art that you ever saw? For me, it was this sculpture in Atlanta and it took my breath away. I thought it was amazing. I still do. "The Shade" was a gift from France to the people of Atlanta to honor the 106 Atlanta arts patrons killed in June of 1962, in a plane crash at the Orly airport in Paris, while on a trip sponsored by Atlanta's High Museum of Art. At that time, it was the worst single plane aviation disaster in history. This was not only a personal tragedy but it was also a tragedy for the arts in Atlanta as it took away the people who were the biggest supporters of the arts and those who would have convinced other people in the city of the importance of art. Sometimes people are referred to as "shakers and movers" and I think that this group of people were exactly that, trying so hard to have a major art museum in Atlanta, Georgia in the 1960's. Art... what do you say that it is? Once, during a speech class in college, I had to give an impromptu speech about art and I stuttered and stumbled my way through that subject, trying so hard to recall quotes from Plato and Aristotle. I remember that I said that I thought that art was the expression of truth and/or beauty and that it was hard for me to define "art" but that I know art when I see it. Sometimes, what other people call art... One of my favorite artists is Claude Monet. (It is my dream to one day visit Giverny in France and to see Monet's gardens! Look at a map and see how close I am when I am on the Southeast coast of England, so near and yet so far. One day!) Recently, Richard took a photo of the lake at Arabia Mountain, and it reminded me of Monet... the reflection of the trees in the water, the green lilly pads in the water. Art!  |
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Art and Beauty
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The Rodin statue is such a fitting tribute to those who died. I don't remember the first piece of true art that I ever saw in real life (as opposed to a photo in a book) but I remember the first piece that literally took my breath away! It was a large painting by Tom Thomson, one of Canada's greatest painters. I saw it at the Art Gallery of Ontario when I was around 21.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Debra, I think it is a fitting tribute too. The figure looks almost broken with grief, but still standing.
DeleteAnd thank you for telling me about Tom Thomson. I just read about him and looked at some of his paintings and I love his art. It says that his death is somewhat of a mystery. There is a movie about his life called "The Far Shore". Have you seen it?
The picture does indeed remind of Monet's lily pond! Rodin is, I think, my Mum's favourite sculptor.
ReplyDeleteTrying to remember what was the first piece of art I ever saw, I must admit I can not remember. This is probably due to the fact that I was so used to being taken to museums, galleries, palaces and churces by my parents from very tender age that it no single work stood out for me until I was a little older. There are several "love at first sight" works of art I could mention, but the list would be too long for here.
You are very fortunate. If you had lived in rural Georgia, you would have been very far from any museums or galleries, let alone any palaces! :-)
DeleteI'm glad you like Richard's photo here too. This was just at a lake, all of it wild, nothing planted.
Your Mum likes Rodin too! That's good, she has such good taste! :-)
You are right, the lake does look like a Monet painting, so pretty.
ReplyDeleteFreya went to Monet's gardens this summer on her school trip. She said they were breathtaking. I haven't been either, and I am only a short journey away!
Lucky girl! Freya takes some lovely photos, I bet she loved it there.
DeleteOh, I love that Rodin sculpture and I'm glad to know the story behind it. Thanks for sharing! I have no idea what my first piece of Art was but I've been very lucky, living in Europe, to see a lot of great art. The Van Gogh Museum in Holland is one of my absolute favorite art destinations. I also LOVED the Uffizi Gallery in Florence ~ until that day I never thought I'd be so lucky to see a Botticelli in person. BUT, my favorite piece of art, BY FAR, and without a close second, is Michelangelo's David. Now that is truly a masterpiece for the ages. Whew.
ReplyDeleteI meant having lived in Europe ~ as you know, I don't live there now!!!!
DeleteOh, how much I would love to see The Van Gogh Museum! As a travel agent, I used to suggest (ever so gently, mind you) to people going to Amsterdam to visit that museum. And to see the art in Florence is also a dream of mine. Michelangelo's David? You can bet that I would appreciate that work of art!
DeleteI remember my first visit to the art museum in Chicago where I grew up...it still ranks as one of my favorite places to visit! I always say I have no artistic talent except the ability to appreciate others expressions of art. Love the last pic...it is a lovely work of art! Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteI once had an artist tell me that I had the EYE of an artist. I laughed and said that it was too bad that I didn't have the talent of one! She didn't laugh, she was serious.
DeleteWe really should be happy that we enjoy beautiful works of art and can pass that love along to others!
And thanks for saying that Richard's photo is a work of art, remember you have the eye of an artist!
Art is joy.
ReplyDeleteIt's a discussion between you and the artist. The artist shows or tells about the world as s/he sees it. How you see/hear the art is your response back.
Michelangelo's David is one of my favorites, too!
Oh Mimi,
DeleteIsn't art an amazing thing to think about and to appreciate. I love your thoughts on it here. Thank you!
Hi Kay
ReplyDeleteWhen I last worked in London, one of the few pleasures to be had was strolling a couple of hundred yards to the park adjoining The Palace of Westminster to see Rodin's 'The Burghers of Calais'. 6 figures beautifully sculpted.
The other pleasure of the park was the equally impressive figures of the young lasses sunbathing without the need for their office suits.
If you are stuck for a quote from Plato just refer to'The Forms/Ideas'. Covers every eventuality.
Henry
Shame on you Henry! Ogling those young women as they try to catch some rays.
DeleteI looked up "The Burghers of Calais". Interesting story and sculptures I would love to see too.
Now, I appreciate you telling me how to find quotes from Plato, but for that speech, we were given no notice what the speech would be about, we just had to pull strips of paper from a box and anything we spoke about had to be in our head! Since it was MY head, it was a bad speech! :-)
That is an impressive sculpture. I remember as a child seeing a picture of a painting in a magazine and really loving it. I found out later that it was Francesco Hayez "The Kiss". Many years later again I had the pleasure of seeing it up close in the art gallery which houses it in Milan. I will never forget the thrill. That is a beautiful photo of the lilypads.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing that painting with me! I just looked it up and I have never seen it before. I love it! Another reason to go to Italy!
DeleteAnd so glad you like Richard's photo too.
Kay, I remember the first time I got to go to a museum. I loved all the art. Hope you get to see the gardens.xo, Susie
ReplyDeleteDear Susie,
DeleteEven if I don't make there, I can still appreciate all my art that I love!
Thanks and hope you are having a wonderful weekend! x
What would this world be without art? Imagine if it didn't exist, and all we did was look at life from a logical perspective. How boring it would be. Art is personal. We all like different styles, and there are so many to choose from. Some forms of art speak to me, others don't. I don't remember my first sight of something artistic, but I do remember my first attempt at art as a child, and the joy it gave me. Don't we all have memories like that?
ReplyDelete"One man's ceiling is another man's floor", that is a quote from one of Paul Simon's songs!
DeleteI do know that art does give me great joy and I hope that would be true for everyone!
When i was young and thought i was a radical I despised the Impressionists. 'Too middle class', I thought. Now that I am oldish I rather enjoy the way they looked at light and colour. Tragic story, by the way, to go along with a powerful sculpture.
ReplyDeleteThe light and the color! Yes, that is exactly why I love them so.
DeleteAnd yes, it is a very sad story, and it was a sad thing for Atlanta, during a time when Atlanta could have used some culture and beauty.
That is a beautiful sculpture, isn't it? I have always loved all sorts of art...and although I don't really understand a lot of the modern art symbolism I like the bright pops of color and interjections of movement. I hope you do get to see Monet's gardens someday and meanwhile that picture Richard took is a good substitution. It is gorgeous- xo Diana
ReplyDeleteI love to see a lot of different kinds of art, even modern, abstract art. Some of the more avant-garde art is something that I don't understand, but then, "to each his own", right?
DeleteI hope to see Monet's Gardens one day too! If I do, I hope Richard will take a lot of photos, I will just want to gaze and gaze...
And I am glad you like R's photo too! xx
I can surely see why that piece took your breath away. It's stunning.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Terry. The funny thing, just because it was outside the museum, I was rushed into the building to see the "real " art. I was just a kid, after all, what did I know? Turns out, quite a bit about what real art is anyway!
DeleteI can't imagine you giving a bad speech Kay. I can imagine it beginning 'Y'all listen now......'
ReplyDeleteHA, wouldn't it be funny if that is just how I started it? I bet it was!
DeleteRodin's sculptures are so very powerful. However, his Kiss is gentle and sweet.
ReplyDeleteI do love Monet as well. It was wonderful to see his work in Paris. That was such a highlight. It's hard to look at waterlilies and not think of him.
Thanks so much for your comment, Kay!
DeleteI love "The Kiss" too.
We were able to see Monet's paintings in London (some of them!) and believe it or not, even at the High in Atlanta many years ago.
I LOVE that Monet painted The Houses of Parliament in London in all kinds of weather, I love those buildings too.