Week 9

 Psychedelic Art (Op Art)

Good afternoon!  Hope you are all well, and that you have managed to get your reports written:).  They are due today (though if you need extra time next week is also fine). I include this focus on art in the topic of health and wellbeing because culture plays such a large role in our lives and I believe self-expression, what is a basic desire for dialogue with the world, and the many varied and exquisite designs that come from that desire supercharge the world we inhabit.  I love discovering art that makes everything in me thrill, and I include the visual, the literary, and the auditory experiences.  Nature is my first love, and then art. Without them I don't know that I would survive with any semblance of health and good spirits. And I would agree with Alain de Botton that art enlarges us in a multitude of ways by challenging us to see, hear, experience perspectives we might never entertain or too often overlook, reminding us of the great wonder of life, including the sympathetic generosity and virtue of humankind, which includes us!

FIELD TRIP
Our field trip to the NSU Museum of Art in Ft. Lauderdale is next week, unless you decided otherwise.  The cost is $5 and there is garage parking beside the museum at $1.25 per hour. We meet at the lobby at 1:30 p.m.  From there we'll tour the exhibit and museum space to gather impressions and notes.  These you will incorporate into the field report, along with other material you may collect from elsewhere or here at the blog (see below with links). The exhibit is called "Remember to React:  60 Years of Collecting," and you will need to reference it in your writing, along with the museum name itself.

The nytimes.com has published a guide for those who wonder how best to approach a gallery or museum exhibit that is helpful, I think, and may show you how to navigate the impressions you receive and the information displayed, the context, etcetera.

* Note: there is a free opening reception tonight at ArtServe  of Broward County featuring Brazilian artists.  If you go to the exhibit, you could include it in a writeup of local shows.

   After looking around the web at some contemporary artists and their work I wanted to share some highlights.  If I had a bus I'd take us all to the MOCA in North Miami and several other sites, but for now I'll just list and describe places you can view writings about art/artists and actual exhibits.

  The Museum of Contemporary Art in North Miami is exhibiting (Sept 6- Nov 4, 2018) what appears an interesting body of work by artist Mira Lehr. It involves a large installation of the Greek myth of Ariadne and the Minotaur and the web of nature, mangroves specifically.  The  exhibit introduction claims that "the mangrove structure will engage the general public in the meditative experience of walking a labyrinth while bringing attention to the fact that these native trees are at risk. Next week Thursday, too, there will be an artist's reception.  Tickets can be bought at Eventbrite:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mira-lehr-tracing-the-red-thread-tickets-45936479246



Kintsugi, An Ancient Japanese Art that involves Fixing What is Broken with Gold and the Metaphor of Personal Acceptance and Healing.  Love it!  Currently I put broken ceramics and pretty glass in my little garden area when I cannot part with them.



Chris Ofili, Watercolors

One of Britain's best, Chris Ofili makes brilliant use of color and materials and sensuous form.  His art was in the crosshairs of U.S. authority in 1999 when a depiction of a black madonna and various genitalia alongside elephant dung angered and offended some.  See the picture and story briefly here and an interview with the Tate Museum. In fact, one of his works is featured at Miami's Institute of Contemporary Art.  See it here.

Adrian Piper, American artist and academic philosopher, a woman who lives in exile and has dedicated her life to what keeps us tied up and divided, race and convention.

Mark Bradford, 2018 U.S. representative at the prestigious Venice Biennale, on being a gay black artist, growing up in L.A., and how art brings it all together.

The story of contemporary art in 10 works:  https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-10-artworks-story-contemporary-art

"The Secret of Drawing,"  a look into how drawing has got the whole art and science thing going from way back and how drawing unlocks us and pulls the world in close: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9H59cVnnF9Y


-----------HOMEWORK-----------------------------

Essay 5:  Due week 11, a field report of 450-600 words on art, including the museum venture and any thing else relevant to your focus, including subject material found on the web. Reference the particular venue(s) you visit in person, the exhibit title and run dates, and location features as well as particular works for commentary (title, medium, size).  As always, organize the essay around a central point, using multiple examples and supporting detail to flesh it out. Title the essay, double space the lines, indent for paragraphs.  Have fun.


Dietary Sources for Research:  https://nutritionsciencedegree.org/must-bookmark-sites/#national-local

"How to Read a Food Label" at the nytimes.com contains a wealth of information on many food topics and links to other sources.

Defining obesity:  https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/adult/defining.html