Thursday, February 24, 2011
Cultural Event 3-Salsa Club
Another awesome event I was able to experience while in New York City was going to a salsa club. It was so entertaining to watch these extremely experienced couple dance together and move their feet and bodies in a way I have never really seen first hand. The amount of improvisation when dancing with new partners was really cool to see too. I had the opportunity to learn some of the basic steps from one of the teachers there who encouraged me to mainly just move to the rhythm of the music. I had a blast! I would love to learn more about that style of dance and how to connect with the music in that very intimate way. I could hardly believe how much you had to really open yourself up and be vulnerable to the initial discomfort of moving and uniting with a complete stranger, understanding how to get your bodies to move and flow together. Wow!
Cultural Event 2-Museum of Modern Art New York City
In the end of January I had the opportunity to visit the MoMA in NYC. I was fascinated to see the different types of art displayed and the many famous photographers' work we had discussed in my photography class hanging on the walls. My favorite section was the photography section because after taking this film class I absolutely have a new appreciation for how difficult it is to create a good quality and interesting photograph. I was especially amazed at how photography has changed over the years. The beginning photographs were mainly formal portraits of men in wigs and women in their enormous elegant gowns while modern photography centers in many ways around candid photographs and offbeat moments where people are caught in a more natural light. My favorite work at the museum was a wall of tiny images from a movie translated into teeny photographs that all combined to tell the entire movie in still form. It was incredible!
Artist Documentary-Annie Liebovitz
I was fascinated with Annie's work and the process of how she became one of the most esteemed photographers in the world. I was amazed at seeing the actual scene she was shooting on the video and then comparing it to the final photograph. The way she captured the scenes and engaged with them in such creative and successfully new ways blew me away. I also thought it was incredibly interesting to see how her images and the manner in which she photographed changed from her work with the Rolling Stones, where she became one with the people she was photographing and a part of the action letting the scene evolve into whatever it became, to Vanity Fair, where she was creating, designing, and imagining the image she wanted to capture.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Cultural Event #1: Next To Normal
I had the privilege of seeing the music Next To Normal at The Denver Center for the Performing Arts downtown On January 13. The play was about a dysfunctional family of four with a schizophrenic mother.
It was interesting to be able to see the different points of view from the different members of the family and how they were affected by her disorder. The husband was convinced she needed to be on more pills and see more doctors while the talented daughter felt ignored and non-existent within the family, and turned to drugs as a result. One thing I did not see coming about halfway through the play was when the audience realized that the "son" had actually died as a baby and the character playing him was simply a figment of the mother's imagination. In the end, the mother finally realizes she must leave her family to be able to heal from her son's haunting presence. Once she leaves, she finally experiences this freedom, but then the father becomes paranoid with his ghost.
The music was incredible, although I was not impressed with the mother's voice. The daughter and son were extremely talented singers, however. The set was quite simple and the lighting was very colorful so it felt very modern.
The play definitely seemed to be a satire on how much americans rely on modern medicine to fix every single problem. I really enjoyed the overall experience, although it was an awakening to how blessed I am to come from a quite normal family and not have to deal with those same issues expressed on the stage.
It was interesting to be able to see the different points of view from the different members of the family and how they were affected by her disorder. The husband was convinced she needed to be on more pills and see more doctors while the talented daughter felt ignored and non-existent within the family, and turned to drugs as a result. One thing I did not see coming about halfway through the play was when the audience realized that the "son" had actually died as a baby and the character playing him was simply a figment of the mother's imagination. In the end, the mother finally realizes she must leave her family to be able to heal from her son's haunting presence. Once she leaves, she finally experiences this freedom, but then the father becomes paranoid with his ghost.
The music was incredible, although I was not impressed with the mother's voice. The daughter and son were extremely talented singers, however. The set was quite simple and the lighting was very colorful so it felt very modern.
The play definitely seemed to be a satire on how much americans rely on modern medicine to fix every single problem. I really enjoyed the overall experience, although it was an awakening to how blessed I am to come from a quite normal family and not have to deal with those same issues expressed on the stage.
Artist Film: Sally Mann
I thought the production on Sally Mann's photography was extremely intriguing. It was interesting to see the type of equipment she used, especially her work with glass negatives and extremely slow shutter speeds. I also thought it was fascinating to hear what types of things inspired her to take a photograph and how she achieved inspiration for certain ideas (especially how the man that died on her farm helped to further inspire her work for her show about death). The way in which she described her landscape photography as creating a womb-like effect, I felt was very accurate because that's exactly what I thought of when I looked at her images.
I also thought it was interesting to see her home life and how she sort of drew her fame from her controversial pictures of her nude children. I thought it was sad how that issue affected her and her family for so long because I personally thought the pictures were so beautiful and unique. It also provided greater insight into the daily challenges she faces, one being her husbands muscular dystrophy, and another one many people can relate to, which is her difficulty in beginning to take pictures again after she finishes a show. I thought the movie did a fantastic job of representing her distinguished talent and skill, yet still revealing her as human in showing the challenges she faces that any other artist may encounter as well.
I also thought it was interesting to see her home life and how she sort of drew her fame from her controversial pictures of her nude children. I thought it was sad how that issue affected her and her family for so long because I personally thought the pictures were so beautiful and unique. It also provided greater insight into the daily challenges she faces, one being her husbands muscular dystrophy, and another one many people can relate to, which is her difficulty in beginning to take pictures again after she finishes a show. I thought the movie did a fantastic job of representing her distinguished talent and skill, yet still revealing her as human in showing the challenges she faces that any other artist may encounter as well.
Week 6: Man's Best Friend
These pictures were taken at a puppy shelter outside of Denver. I wanted to take them all home with me!
Week 6: Food Art
Here are some photographs I took of designs I created with food and other household items found in my apartment. See if you can identify the food!
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Week 5: Kid Candids-Sydney
These photos are of Sydney Jade, who is convinced she will be the next Disney Princess, current age 6.
Week 5: Kid Candids-Cash
The following pictures are part of a series of photographs, colored and black and white, that I have taken of several of my nieces and nephews. The first section will be shots of Cash Hudson current age 2 1/2.
Artist Presentation-Tina Modotti
Tina Modotti was born in 1896 in Udine, Italy. She is thought to have been introduced to photography by her uncle, Pietro, who ran a photography studio in Italy. Her interest in the subject was furthered by her father who also began a studio in the U.S.
After moving to San Francisco in 1913, she began a career in silent movies in the early 1920’s. Although she had married a famous photographer/painter in 1918 named Roubaix de l'Arie Richey “Robo”, she began a romantic affair with a well-known photographer for whom she often modeled named Edward Weston.
After their affair began in 1921, Robo left Modotti for Mexico City where he died shortly following from smallpox. Weston, leaving his wife and three of his sons behind, escaped for Mexico City with Modotti and one of his sons.
In Mexico City, Weston and Modotti became actively engaged in the political scene. Her involvement with the Mexican Communist Party and many radicals led to her romantic relationships with several well-known members such as Xavier Guerrero, Julio Antonio Mella, and Vittorio Vidali.
Her work is said to be divided into two categories: Romantic and Revolutionary. She began taking pictures of flowers for the Mexican mural movement and was also hired to photograph pictures for Anita Bremmer’s book “Idols Behind Altars”.
In 1930 she was deported from Mexico after being framed for her Cuban lovers murder, who was shot down by her side in the Mexico City streets. She fled to Moscow where she forsook photography for a life as a political activist. Modotti is thought to have been involved in several secretive missions for Russia during that time.
In 1936, Tina and Vidali left for Spain to work in light of the Spanish Civil War taking place. Finally in ’42, Modotti died a controversial death. It was suggested by Diego Rivera that her death resulted from her extensive knowledge of Vidali’s alleged arrangement of 400 executions in Spain.
Sources: http://masters-of-photography.com/M/modotti/modotti_articles1.html
http://www.profotos.com/education/referencedesk/masters/masters/tinamodotti/tinamodotti.shtml
http://masters-of-photography.com/M/modotti/modotti3.html
Roses-1925
Campesinos-1926
May Day March-1929—Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo
Mother and Child Tehuantepec-1929
Hands of the Puppeteer-1929
Stadium, Mexico City-1927
Tina Modotti-1896
After moving to San Francisco in 1913, she began a career in silent movies in the early 1920’s. Although she had married a famous photographer/painter in 1918 named Roubaix de l'Arie Richey “Robo”, she began a romantic affair with a well-known photographer for whom she often modeled named Edward Weston.
After their affair began in 1921, Robo left Modotti for Mexico City where he died shortly following from smallpox. Weston, leaving his wife and three of his sons behind, escaped for Mexico City with Modotti and one of his sons.
In Mexico City, Weston and Modotti became actively engaged in the political scene. Her involvement with the Mexican Communist Party and many radicals led to her romantic relationships with several well-known members such as Xavier Guerrero, Julio Antonio Mella, and Vittorio Vidali.
Her work is said to be divided into two categories: Romantic and Revolutionary. She began taking pictures of flowers for the Mexican mural movement and was also hired to photograph pictures for Anita Bremmer’s book “Idols Behind Altars”.
In 1930 she was deported from Mexico after being framed for her Cuban lovers murder, who was shot down by her side in the Mexico City streets. She fled to Moscow where she forsook photography for a life as a political activist. Modotti is thought to have been involved in several secretive missions for Russia during that time.
In 1936, Tina and Vidali left for Spain to work in light of the Spanish Civil War taking place. Finally in ’42, Modotti died a controversial death. It was suggested by Diego Rivera that her death resulted from her extensive knowledge of Vidali’s alleged arrangement of 400 executions in Spain.
Sources: http://masters-of-photography.com/M/modotti/modotti_articles1.html
http://www.profotos.com/education/referencedesk/masters/masters/tinamodotti/tinamodotti.shtml
http://masters-of-photography.com/M/modotti/modotti3.html
Roses-1925
Campesinos-1926
May Day March-1929—Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo
Mother and Child Tehuantepec-1929
Hands of the Puppeteer-1929
Stadium, Mexico City-1927
Tina Modotti-1896
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)