ARTS
Earth as Art: A Landsat Perspective
“Earth as Art: A Landsat Perspective”
shows striking photos of Aleutian clouds, Atlas Mountains
(Morocco), Bolivian deforestation, the Great Salt Desert in
Iran, Dragon Lake (Siberia), the Everglades, Ganges River
delta, Iceland fjord, Karman vortices, Kilimanjaro (East
Africa), the world’s largest glacier (Lambert Glacier), &
more. (LOC)
All the Mighty World: Photographs of Roger Fenton, 1852-1960
“All the Mighty World: Photographs of Roger Fenton, 1852-1960″
shows photos of one of the most important photographers of the
19th century. Fenton photographed the English countryside,
country houses, cathedrals, the royal family, still lifes, &
figures in Asian costume. His photos documenting the Crimean
War are among the first to depict war. (NGA)
Art Zone
“Art Zone”
invites children of all ages to design a virtual mobile;
create a collage, painting, or a geometric sculpture online;
design & texturize 3-dimensional shapes (and see how artists
create these effects without a computer); create a “pixel
face”; & orchestrate an array of colorful shapes & patterns
online. (NGA)
Dan Flavin: A Retrospective
“Dan Flavin: A Retrospective”
looks at the life & works of an artist whose career-long
exploration of light established him as a progenitor & chief
exponent of minimalism. His use of fluorescent light is
featured in this exhibit, the first comprehensive
retrospective on one of the most influential artists of the
late 20th century. (NGA)
Gerard ter Borch
“Gerard ter Borch”
displays 14 pieces by one of the finest of all Dutch 17th-
century painters. Ter Borch (1617-1681) was unrivaled at
capturing the elegance & grace of wealthy burghers &
expressing with subtlety the interactions between figures. He
is renowned for his refined interior scenes & his mastery in
rendering materials, particularly satins, which are
notoriously difficult to paint. (NGA)
Gerry Mulligan Collection
“Gerry Mulligan Collection”
presents audio excerpts, scores, photos, & information about
the jazz composer & band leader who elevated the baritone sax
to the status of a solo instrument and, with his piano-less
quartet, helped establish the “West Coast jazz” sound. The
autobiography section includes Mulligan’s recollections of
playing with Charlie Parker & the months he spent with Miles
Davis & others at Gil Evans’ apartment leading up to the
“Birth of the Cool” album. (LOC)
“Andre Kertesz”
“Andre Kertesz”
presents 10 photos from the 70-year career of one of the
world’s great photographers. Kertesz (1894-1985) is known for
his simple yet compelling & poetic photos. This exhibit at
the National Gallery of Art (through May 15, 2005) focuses on
several themes, including the unexpected & sometimes bizarre
scenes encountered in modern urban life. (NGA)
“Fauve Painting from the Permanent Collection”
“Fauve Painting from the Permanent Collection”
commemorates the 100th anniversary of an 1905 Paris exhibition
where paintings by Henri Matisse, Andre Derain, & others were
jeered as an “orgy of pure color,” primitive & brutal. One
critic called it fauve (“wild beast”) painting, & the epithet
stuck. A special web feature explores the birth & development
of fauve, the first avant-garde wave in the 20th century.
(NGA)
“Islamic Art & Culture: A Resource for Teachers”
“Islamic Art & Culture: A Resource for Teachers”
is a 64-page booklet on Islamic art — art produced in lands
ruled by Muslim leaders — after the founding of Islam (7th
century) to the peak of the last two great Islamic empires,
the Ottoman & the Safavid (17th century). Architecture,
calligraphy, manuscript illumination, metalwork, ceramics,
glass, & textiles are included, along with an historical
survey of Islam. (NGA)
“Gilbert Stuart”
“Gilbert Stuart” examines the life & career of early America’s most successful
portraitist. The son of a Rhode Island snuff miller, Stuart
(1755-1828) mastered portraiture in London & Dublin. Upon
returning to America in 1793, he demonstrated a talent for
conveying the likeness & personality of his subjects. He is
known for his portraits of famous people of early America,
including the first five Presidents of the U.S. (NGA)
“Toulouse-Lautrec & Montmartre”
“Toulouse-Lautrec & Montmartre”
focuses on paintings, posters, & other works by Lautrec
depicting the decadent spirit & bohemian life of this hilltop
working-class district on the outskirts of Paris at the turn
of the 20th century. A special web feature discusses
Montmartre celebrities, cafes & cabarets, brothels, & circuses
portrayed by Lautrec (1864-1901), as well as his first
lithograph — the poster that made him an overnight sensation.
(NGA)
Acronyms
LOC — Library of Congress
NCC — National Constitution Center
NEH — National Endowment for the Humanities
NPG — National Portrait Gallery
NSF — National Science Foundation
SI — Smithsonian Institution |