April Vacation Part I

I haven't stopped blogging...
my schedule is just so different from last year!
I had a larger grade span, seeing classes twice a week, therefore with more opportunities to complete art works. not to say that we haven't finished work this year, but instead of teaching seven different lessons for a week or two, I now teach three lessons for two to four, sometimes six, weeks at a time. With the up coming art show, I've only realized how long it has been taking us to get work done. However, each student does have a handful of works to choose from and I look forward to showing off their hard work. I'm pretty excited because last week I found out that we get to use wire panels with black felt slip covers. Which means that art work doesn't have to be matted and can easily be hung with straight pins!

I'll try to post this year's Visual Music paintings, with the addition of printed instruments, later in the week. For now, enjoy some photos from my vacation!

I started with a long weekend in Woodstock, VT with my best friend. Aside from walking around the town and poking in the shops and markets, I took naps in between snacking, watching the news, hockey and movies. So relaxing!

Museum of Fine Arts

I spent today roaming around Boston and navigating the subway system on my own. I usually head in town with my boyfriend or friends who grew up near the city, so this was definitely an adventure. The weather was beautiful and I wound up walking from Fenway to the Back Bay by the end of the day. I don't know how far that is, but my feet are tired!

I decided to take advantage of a free tour at the Museum of Fine Arts and was very glad I did! As the very knowledgeable staff member said numerous times, its a whirl wind of a tour, designed to give you just an overview of what the museum has to offer. In a little over an hour, we criss-crossed the museum and traveled through art history.

 

We started with ancient art which I have been pretty fascinated with this year between my new curriculum and my graduate class. I really want to continue to learn more about deities and sculpture, symbolism and stories that are passed down from generation to generation in different cultures. 

 

Its hard to tell how massive this sculpture is from this picture, but believe me, its HUGE! In fact, the head is not attached because the engineers knew that it wouldn't survive the journey to the museum in one piece. I can't get over the fact that this ancient Roman statue was in someone's backyard! Seriously, just hanging out in their garden a few towns over from the museum. Cool!

Also really cool, getting to see art conservation in progress! 

We touched upon a few Renaissance works and squeezed in a Rembrandt before ending the tour with a Copley painting, fittingly tying in Paul Revere and the new Art of the America's wing.

There was also a new contemporary exhibit:

I remember seeing a sculpture by Kiki Smith, like the figure above, when I was on a field trip to the MET in high school. Its when I fell in love with figure drawing. 

Louise Nevelson

And while I love ancient art and find it incredible how people created to record history, I've realized that I have a great appreciation and love of contemporary art. I don't really know why. Maybe because I can relate to the desire to create. Or maybe I really appreciate how, as the viewer, you are invited into the artist's thought process. Or, because of the art, are asked to think for yourself. Whatever it is, I love it!

Finally, there was a Bridget Riley hanging in a narrow hallway. Being able to see the movement of the colors up close was unbelievable especially after recently teaching about her. In my photo you can see my reflection and I find it interesting how my figure mimics the curves in the painting.

happy Museum day!

this is bad.
I haven't even been accepted into a Master's program yet and I'm back to my old, college way of leaving writing assignments (which take me forever as it is) until the last minute. my 1,500 word statement, demonstrating writing proficiency and including information about my specific goals, teaching philosophy and thoughts on contemporary schools and current movements in education, is due Friday.
I took some notes and decided it was time to blog instead!
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Friday I got to sleep in (whoowho, 7:15!) and after a leisurely morning, we took the train in town to the Museum of Fine Arts. I wanted to check out the new American wing for myself.
overall, not bad!
I have never been one to be able to retain too much information. I had to use flashcards to pass art history in college and nine years later, I don't think I could tell you much. when I teach about art history, I do the research again and take notes, that I now know to keep for the next year. and hopefully, after using the information, I will remember. 
so, the museum: most of the portraits from the 18 and 1900s were new to me. I had never seen the people, well except for George Washington... and Paul Revere's face is on the label of my favorite beer.... so I had seen some of the people before, but for the most part, did not know the people OR the artists. and after a few rooms of portraits, I got bored. I did enjoy the inclusion of furniture and housewares and the period decorated rooms and the look of textiles behind the paintings. and, when you go to the next floor up, you go through time, getting closer to today.
after this museum trip, I have come to the conclusion that I prefer more modern art and folk art. I greatly appreciate the skill it takes to paint portraits, but only so many really capture my attention.

Alexander Calder

Louise Nevelson (Frank Stella)

oh yea! we stopped in the gift shop on the way out, and I got an Art of the Americas calendar for $1.58! so now I can share George Washington and Paul Revere (and Sargent and Hopper and Cassatt) with my students!