Gauntlet of Art

Yesterday, my children and I experienced a day drenched in art...art in a variety of genres....in a variety of venues.  Here is a taste.

We began the morning with the phenomenal performance artistry of Compagnie Arcosm.  Their production, Echoa, is an engaging blend of percussion, modern dance, creative vocalization, artistic lighting, and humor.  Students and parents alike were mesmerized throughout.  The versatility and precision of this group of French artists was astounding.

Afterwards, we stopped in at the Frist Center for our first look at the new Societe Anonyme exhibit, featuring works by major European and American artists dating primarily from 1920-1940.  Some pieces are beautiful, some are thought-provoking, some are challenging, some are confusing.  I encourage you to see it.  You might have to step out of your comfort zone a bit, but give yourself the chance to engage.  I think you will find it a refreshing experience.  My list of favorites became cumbersome, so just a few favorite favorites:  Jake and I both liked the above multi-media piece, "Tu m'" by Marcel Duchamp.  I liked his shovel less, though I was grateful they hadn't included the urinal (look him up).

The painting on the left is Wassily Kandinsky's "The Waterfall".  I am a big Kandinsky fan in general, but my favorite works are the early ones like this with the vibrant colors applied in big, chunky strokes. On the right is Francis Picabia’s "Midi (Promenade des anglais)" - a relief with feathers, macaroni and leather on canvas.  This work caught my eye as soon as I walked into the room as I immediately recognized the English Promenade in Nice where I had walked this summer.  Picabia's combination of materials gives the work a great textural element.  They were so appropriate to that which they represented that I had spent a good deal of time absorbing the atmosphere before I recognized the individual components.  "The Eye of God" by David Burliuk is a piece with layers of interest.  Texture, color, theme, pictures within pictures, story, symbolism.  We all liked this one.

An unexpected delight was Lotte Reiniger's film, "The Adventures of Prince Achmed".  This is the earliest surviving feature length animated film.  It was made using paper silouettes with articulated joints.  The film tells several of the Alladin stories, but without words.  I think Ms. Reiniger and I would have got on.  When her friends criticized her for telling stories with her films instead of adressing "real" issues, she said, "I believe more in the truth of fairy tales than that found in the newspapers."  Me too.  Wolfgang Zeller composed the score.  The following two pictures are stills from the film.

 

My photographer daughter was intrigued by another exhibit.  Flight features the photography and the philosophy of Rosemary Laing.   She expresses her views about progress and hope as well as confusion and turbulence through her art. Images are drawn from three different collections; Flight Research, Bulletproof Glass, and Weather. 

Jake insisted that our meals qualified as art as well.  We did have good sandwiches and great homemade chips for lunch at the Frist cafe, washed down with Boylen natural sodas (orange cream and rootbeer).  Supper was at McCreary's Irish Pub;  Bangers and Mash, Shepherds Pie, and Chicken, with sodas for the young ones and Guiness for the mama.  You know, I don't think I can argue with his assessment.

Finally, we ended the day laughing.  Ken Davis and Bob Stromberg brought the joy in a concert to benefit Royal Family Kids Camp, one of the most important and most beautiful ministries in which our church participates.  Go HERE for a taste of Ken Davis or HERE to see Bob Stromberg.