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Non Western Blog Analysis- ft New Zealand: Maori, Aotearoa Keeping Tradition Alive

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Image of a Maori Ta Moko  This blog is about some art from the indigenous Polynesian people of mainland New Zealand, called Maori. How do you tell your story? Do you know your family tree? In this culture we strive to keep our culture flourishing. One of the best ways to do that is by sharing stories. Which is why Kirituhi, or skin art, and Ta Moko (face tattoos) are present in our culture. These designs are made up of numbers and patterns that mean specific things depending on placement. Here are some examples:   Pakati: Dog skin cloak, representative of warriors/battles/courage and strength. Hikuaua: Representative of Taranaki (a region of New Zealand) as well as prosperity, mackerel tail. Unaunahi: Fish scales that represent abundance and health. Ahu ahu mataroa: Shows talent and achievement in athleticism or sport and can also be representative of a new challenge. Taratarekae: From whale teeth.    When you add every koru off a Manawa line you can create a family tree, Mothers , Fa
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Harlem Renaissance Art- Early Modern Art

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  Into Bondage by: Aaron Douglas  An oil painting done in 1936 as part of a commission in Dallas by the Texas Centennial Exposition. There are four works that were designed to hang in the Hall of Nigro Life, the paintings told the story of African Americans from slavery to the then present time.  This piece focuses on slavery, but it does so in such n emotion-filled way. The talent shown in how Douglas placed the figures' bodies shows so great sadness, but with a glimmer of hope. The man looking at the star holds distinctly different body posture compared to the individuals walking onto land with their heads hung low. I think Art Deco was a good choice because it lets the viewer focus on the emotion the piece elicits rather than nit-picking the art technique, personal opinion.   The art elements I love the most are specifically the dark upfront foliage that helps frame the figures and place the story's setting. I like how the sun is an overlaying set of circles that also resemb
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Art Analysis- Hudson & Impressionism

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    From the Hudson River school, the oil painting on the left is by Thomas Cole, titled The Oxbow , was painted in Massachusetts in 1836. The oil painting on the right is done by Asher Brown Durand titled, The Beaches, I do not know where it was painted but both currently reside in New York at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.   Both paintings carry a naturalist tone but are placed in a realism form, seen in how nature is the main subject of the paintings.   In the left painting, the darker tones are brought forward while the lighter colors are in the mid and background. This adds to the feeling of the painting when we look at the background behind it. Thomas had a friend, Reed, who was a valued customer. During Thomas's time working on another piece for Reed, he became depressed which is why Reed told him to pause and do another piece that he valued. This is where we get The Oxbow, I think there is value in relation to life in how the colors are placed as the dark tones move out of
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Judith, Her Maidservant, and Holofernes - Baroque Art Analysis

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Judith and Holofernes (c. 1620-1621)  Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy by:  Artemisia Gentileschi Background:      Painted by an Italian female painter who represents a biblical story of Judith killing an Assyrian general. The story says the general was going to conquer Judith's homeland. She responded by getting dressed up and having dinner with him. He then drank so much that Judith and her maidservant Abra could work together and dismiss the threat. If you follow the link you will find more about how Artemisia related this painting to a personal experience of being raped by a former art teacher. The medium is oil paint on canvas and the technique is impeccable!  Observations:    At first glance, it is apparent that this is a Baroque work of art due to the clarity, and tenebrism. I appreciate how the figures overlap creating an intimacy that draws my eye straight to the blade that cuts Holofernes neck. This is a very intense painting filled with a feeling of urgency and despair. I
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He Could Have Called 10,000 Angels- Featuring 'The Lamentation' an Art Analysis

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  'The Lamentation'   By: Giotto di Bondone Artist & Background:   This beautiful painting was created during the middle-ages by an Italian painter and architect from Florence named, Giotto. It is part of a larger fresco in a church called the  Scrovegni Chapel , which is located at Piazza Eremitani, 8, 35121 Padova, Italy .   During this time period drawing from real life was less favorable, which is why Giotto's work sticks out more, the techniques he used weren't as common he uses a naturalist view. He gained inspiration from another Italian architect named Arnolfo di Cambio. Another interesting bit about Giotto is how his art is three-dimensional, including how the people are depicted with a more reasonable attire, versus all the extravagant attire, or no attire at all.  Influences:   This work is a religious piece that is part of Giotto's life of Christ cycle. Perhaps what I love most about Giotto is how his art holds a humanism view. See Giotto wanted his
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Pan!c - The Art of Looking Okay: Art Analysis

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  Panic Attack: by kamokugaijin found on Deviant Art  First Glance:  This is a self-portrait charcoal and paper drawing. The first thing I notice when I look at this piece is how dis-formed the individual is. The reason this resonates with me is due to the nature of how my own panic attacks feel. The next thing that catches my eye is how the charcoal is slightly messy, now I'm mentioning this because it adds to the work. The use of grayscale and lack of color brings an honest truth to light, the reality of panic attacks is that they are messy and dark.  Facial Expressions:   If you look at the facial expressions notice how specific expressions are placed in accordance with the natural motion of human gestures. I can tell the artist put thought into each expression's relation to the body. See how the face angled down holds the most sadness and conveys almost a lost hope. This face also looks the most neutral which is fitting because most panic attacks don't look like a tantr
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First blog assignment

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 Hello, my name is Ava. A bit about me, I enjoy many luxuries in life, such as ice cream, Netflix, and everything fuzzy! My family is the most important thing to me, this includes my mini Aussie, Eva. I have a strong head and big heart, which undoubtedly leads me to enjoy creating and experiencing art.  My relationship with art started young, as a kid in preschool I couldn't stop adding colors to the paper, this was a problem because all the colors turned my papers a mucky brown/black. But as I learned the concept of "a little goes a long way", they improved. During my elementary years, my grandfather would always visit us with pieces of art he got at flea markets or garage sales. He would talk about who the artist was, but I never cared too much, I was more curious about why the artist decided to make the painting the way he did. Then I find myself as a young teen where I learn the importance of knowing people to know their art. This time in my life art was used as a cop
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