Art

80 Years of Oscar Movie Posters

By Chip Cain | Published February 28, 2008

Are you a movie poster addict? At least the online type? If so, there is a link just for you and its called Movie Poster Addict.

A connect for you writer types

By Chip Cain | Published February 25, 2008

The Festival of Faith & Writing is a biennial gathering of readers and writers hosted by Calvin College and will take place at Calvin College on April 17-19, 2008.

A different kind of painting found

By Chip Cain | Published February 22, 2008

Some of the earlies known paintings have been discovered in the Bamian caves of Afghanistan. you can view some of them at National Geographic’s website.

Two of four stolen paintings found

By Chip Cain | Published February 22, 2008

This almost old news now but I needed to follow up on my entry about four paintings that were stolen from a swiss museum. It is rare that such stolen paintings are found but swiss police have reported the recovery of two paintings; one by Claude Monet and the other a Van Gogh.

When can Marc Chagall visit my church?

By Chip Cain | Published February 17, 2008

A couple of years ago my church hosted a traveling exhibition of some lithographs by Marc Chagall & intaglio prints by Ben Zion. For many of us who enjoy art this was an exciting event in the life of our church: and I enjoyed being a part of it. There was a lot of preparation involved especially if you consider that we were only able to show the art for one weekend. Friday was the gala opening with close to 200 people attending. But because the church I attend is a large church there were many more viewing the art before and after our two services on Sunday morning. I heard from many in our congregation of how much they enjoyed viewing the works and marveling over how we were able to host such an exhibit. I need to share at this point that none of this would have been possible without Ed Knippers, an artist in his own right, and Christians In the Visual Arts (CIVA) making these works available: we are thankful that they have.There is something about the works of Chagall that I need to share. His lithographs were visual representations found in the Old Testament and some of the people depicted were naked or partially naked. As I have said the comments received were positive with the exception of two (that I know of). One was upset that the works shown were not by Christians: Chagall & Zion were both orthodox Jews. And the other one was clearly upset by the nudity. But when we discussed the issue further they stated that it “would have been no problem if these works were viewed in a museum somewhere.” This has sparked some thinking about where Art meets Church and I would like to hear from you on some of these questions rattling about in my brain. I have provided a sample of the art from the exhibition for you to consider: if you click on the picture you will see a somewhat larger version.

So . . .

  • Should only art by Christians be displayed at church?
  • When can Art containing nudity be displayed in the church?
  • Why is Art that is ok in the museum not ok in the church?
  • Are answers to the above questions absolutes or would they vary depending on the situation?


Monet, Van Gogh, Degas and Cezanne Stolen: Worth 163 million

By Chip Cain | Published February 11, 2008

The New York Times has reported that “Three thieves, wearing dark clothes and ski masks, walked into the Emile Bührle Foundation, a private collection housed a couple of miles outside of Zurich’s city center on the shore of Lake Zurich, around 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, a short while before the museum was due to close. The collection is considered to be one of the biggest privately owned collections of French impressionists in the world.”

The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation puts losses from art and cultural property crime at $6 billion a year. The biggest U.S. art heist was of some $300 million of Rembrandts and other works stolen from Boston’s Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, in 1990, according to the FBI Web site.

It is sad that the art has been stolen and taken out of the public forum and adding insult to injury it was for the investment they represent and not the artistic works they are that they were stolen. We can only hope the thieves and the art are found soon.

What art would you choose

By Chip Cain | Published February 11, 2008

If you had the chance to illustrate the bible using art — Newly created or works that have been around seemingly forever: what artwork would you choose and which passage would it illustrate? When commenting feel free to add a link to your choice so we may see and add our comments. Feel free to share why you would use this passage and how does the art enhance the passage?

Need an example?
How about William Blake’s Ancient of Days? And the passage: how about Job 9:9?


Baubles & Boat

By Chip Cain | Published February 10, 2008

Last Fall my wife and I went with good friends to see an exhibition of glass art at the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. The artist, Dale Chihuly, is internationally known for his very organic creations of blown glass. We had an enjoyable time with our friends and enjoyed seeing some very cool art. I can’t share with you the good times we had with our friends but I can share the art with you.

American Masterpieces: Democracy and the Arts

By Chip Cain | Published February 4, 2008

American Masterpieces: Democracy and the Art An Op Ed piece by Makoto Fujimura, an artist and a National Council on the Arts member.

 

 

“Arts advocacy is not a conservative or liberal agenda: it is the agenda of any great nation, of any civilized society.”

 

Music To Sample

By Chip Cain | Published February 3, 2008

I have added a new Links category called Music to Sample. Click on the link and it should load up for you or you can right-click on the link to save it to your hard drive. These songs are freely shared by the artist. Some of the links may rotate off the list or simply evaporate for no more reason than I decided I didn’t like them after all. So it’s best that you grab them while you can.

"Speaking about the unspeakable"

By Chip Cain | Published January 28, 2008

Samuel Bak, has said he is “a painter speaking about the unspeakable.” and because what he says is true I have found it hard to write about this painter. It is easier to direct others to the many links where his art can be found for viewing, but so that this is more than just a link I will add the following comments.
Within Samuel Bak’s art are many commentaries missed by the casual viewer. There is a strong “Jewish” flavor to his paintings that I would liken to the sound familiar in Jewish folk music. We hear the sound but don’t immediately think of the religion, only that is is of jewish origin. Although Bak’s paintings are layered with images of the holocaust, or its remnants, it is not limited to the cruelty done to Jews, and it is not always the primary message. Many of his paintings provide me with an uninvited melancholy. They force me to look at subjects I would rather not. To some it would be easy to glance at his work and not be touched; but that is due more to our inability to look at anything disturbing. And to our natural state of being which panders to what we like and discards what we don’t like. Rarely do we (note the “we”) push ourselves far enough to consider another point of view. Samual Bak’s extensive body of work makes every attempt to show us another point of view. Let me encourage you to reflect on those points of view.
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Cloverfield: Not for those who avoid adreneline rushes

By Chip Cain | Published January 20, 2008

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Cloverfiled is frenetic, frightful and fun. Shot through the view of a single lens, several post college young adults find themselves running from one of the scariest monsters to be filmed in years. It’s an old trick not to show the audience what is happening to increase the tension, and old tricks work well; at least in Cloverfield. We only get views of the monster when something is being destroyed and you’re never sure if you saw an arm, leg, or other part of the creature. Since our view is always at street level, from a camera held by one of those on the street, not a cameraman out of harms way, the viewer is placed exactly in harms way. In one very intense scene the viewer finds him or herself in between the monster and the military: the missiles, mortars and military rifles are going off all around you and you want to hide. The heart pumps and the body squirms in the theater seat because you forget your in the seat and want to run! This is a movie ingeniously done and worth the trip and cost to the theater.

Cloverfield is rated PG-13 for violence that places it on the edge of R. It is not a feel good movie where everything works out in the end and there are a lot of questions unanswered about the monster. But this monster movie is not about the monster; it is about how we might react as the world falls apart in front of us. There are scenes that mimic the fall of the Twin Towers which are unsettling and strangely appropriate. They cause you to ask “how would I have reacted on 09/11?” And “would I have run toward the danger to save someone, as this small band of young people do?” Clearly on 9/11 many did just that, but would you? Is a monster movie the right venue for asking such questions? If not, you don’t need to worry, you can watch this movie and walk away not asking any of those question. They only fully came to my mind a day later.

Cloverfield may be about many things, and I am sure you will think of other things to reflect on, but mostly it is about going to the movies and having fun and being scared. Like the haunted tunnel at your local amusement park when you were a child: you go to be scared but are glad when it’s over.

One more paper art post

By Chip Cain | Published January 16, 2008

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I can’t help but introduce you to Jen Stark’s work as well. Some of her work simply mind blowing.

This really is art.

By Chip Cain | Published January 16, 2008

This piece is not paper but Styrofoam cups (lots of them) and glue. Tara Donovan also creates some incredible pieces with paper. There is no other point to this posting but pure joy. And joy can be it’s own purpose. Please follow the link to view this and other works Tara has created: the “detail” photos are worth the view as well.

Art or Paper Craft?

By Chip Cain | Published January 16, 2008

Art or Paper Craft? Either way Brian Dettmer’s work is cool!

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Walking backwards can lead somewhere

By Chip Cain | Published January 12, 2008

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This short film by Chris Vincze, titled Evol, considers what would happen if you walked in a direction different than the rest of the world. I love it’s implication that those we connect with are following similar paths as ours. Some would call that fate; I would call it intentionally orchestrated by Love. Note the similarity in the gifts each possesses.

Who is the chairman of NEA?

By Chip Cain | Published January 11, 2008

The poet, critic, and best-selling anthologist, Dana Gioia  (Joy-a) in 1977 moved to New York to begin a career in business. For fifteen years Gioia worked as a business executive, eventually becoming a Vice President of General Foods. Nominated by George Bush and unanimously confirmed by the U. S. Senate, Gioia began serving as NEA Chairman in February, 2003. Burning Ladder is a sample of his work.;I hope you enjoy his poems as much as I have. And let me take this opportunity to mention that April is National Poetry Month.

Transforming Culture:A vision for the church and the arts

By Chip Cain | Published January 9, 2008

There is a conference on the arts coming to Austin TX that I would love to attend but doubt that it will happen. That doesn’t keep me from encouraging others to consider attending. When you see the list of speakers and read the published program you will see why. Please take a few minutes to Google the speaker’s names, but be sure you have some free time because you could get hooked.

This website also mentions a painting by Tim Lowly called Temma on Earth; please take the time to visit Tims website and linger over this painting . Note the dimensions and imagine you’re seeing it full sized. This painting compels me to go beyond thoughts of like or dislike and to thoughts I have not yet fully plumbed. What thoughts come to your mind?