Author: Iris
One of the strengths of art historian AL McClanan’s latest book is its intention: to provide a historical overview of the multiple modes in which the legendary creatures known as griffons have appeared in art and literature. Gryphonology: The Place of Gryphons in Myth, History and Art Purposefully providing a range of different perspectives from different regions and eras to illustrate the popularity of this mythical creature in the cultural history of ethnoreligious groups around the world.MacLernan considers more than the narrow, widely accepted definition of “gryphon”: that is, a hybrid of a lion (the ruler of beasts) and an…
ArtEmily SteeleIsel Colquhoun, arbor1946. © Samaritans, Noise Abatement Society and Sister Perpetua Wing of St Anthony’s Hospital, Surrey (now part of Spire Healthcare). Courtesy of Dr. and Mrs. Richard Shillito.One hundred years after the Surrealist movement began, its themes still have strong relevance. This year, a major traveling exhibition led by the Center Pompidou captures Surrealism’s enduring and more popular themes, such as dreams and psychoanalysis. Other exhibitions focus on the individual works of the movement’s biggest names, such as “Man Ray Liberating Photography,” at the Elysée Photo Gallery in Lausanne, Switzerland; or “Dalí: Subversion and Devotion,” at the Museum…
The late American sculptor Robert Smithson’s most famous work, Spiral Pier (1970), is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Located at Point Rozelle on the northeastern shore of Utah’s Great Salt Lake, this monumental land art piece reflects the constant change of its surroundings and explores concepts of eternity and ephemerality.Entropy was the driving force behind Smithson’s great undertaking, as the artist was interested in the unusual microbial and mineral-rich basins, which gave the brine its reddish-pink hue, and the salinity of the lake at the time. , and the lake’s salinity allows few species to survive. Survive.…
Jaime Muñoz is a keen cultural observer. The conversation with him veered from art history, the commercialization of contemporary art, and Mesoamerican semiotics to Los Angeles car culture, science fiction, and literature. All of these references and more permeate Muñoz’s art, which is imbued with an ethic of hard work and the visual appeal of painting and graphic design. With the precision of an architect painting a canvas in Adobe Illustrator, Muñoz uses non-traditional painting techniques such as velvet flocking, airbrushing, vinyl drawing, and the manual labor of hand painting and drafting to create image-filled The pieces are vibrant and…
As the year 2024 draws to a close, it’s an opportune moment to reflect on the artists who have produced some interesting works. Among them is Ruth Poniarski, an artist who has built a world where surreal imagery and storytelling intersect. Her journey began in architecture, earning a degree from Pratt Institute and spending a decade immersed in construction. But in 1988, Poniarski found a new calling in painting—a medium that allowed her to explore ideas beyond structural boundaries. Her work is deeply influenced by mythology, literature, philosophy, and culture, resulting in paintings that feel rich with layers of meaning.…
A five-year legal battle has broken out between the heirs of American landscape painter Thomas Hart Benton and a Kansas City bank accused of mismanaging his estate and selling his works below market value , and misplaced more than 100 pieces of art, eventually ending up in the bank. Missouri Judge Mark Styles ruled that UMB Bank did not breach its obligations to the famed Regionalist painter, who left his collection in their care before his death in 1975. Stiles discovered that only five works in the Benton collection could not be held by UMB Bank. According to KCUR-FM, which…
Modern audiences may have a vague idea of Odysseus, the ancient Greek returning hero. They might know about his return to Penelope, his patient and devoted wife, or his somewhat annoying son Telemachus. More literary-minded readers may even think of Lord Tennyson’s poem “Ulysses” (1842), James Joyce’s challenging 1922 novel of the same name, or Nikos Kazantzakis’s definitive novel The Odyssey: The Modern Sequel (1924). Or they might be familiar with Margaret Atwood’s retelling Penelope de (2006) or Madeleine Miller’s Circe (2018), which also follows the age-old tradition of pulling at narrative threads and reweaving them from new perspectives. Like…
Despite weeks of protests and warnings from the arts community, Berlin’s government has pushed for cuts of 130 million euros – 12 percent of its culture budget. The cuts, part of the city’s 2025 spending plan, have sparked widespread concerns about closures and threats to Berlin’s status as a major cultural hub. The budget cuts are a departure from Berlin’s previous plans to inject new capital into the city’s cultural spaces. In 2021, Germany approved a record federal cultural grant of 2.1 billion euros; an increase of 155 million euros from 2020. Related articles Despite calls for officials to meet…
A deal may be struck between the Hilma af Klint Foundation and major gallery David Zwirner to separate the artist’s work for profit. The Swedish artist’s family oversees her foundation, which protects her artwork and legacy. The proposed deal between the foundation’s board of directors and David Zwirner could lead to the further commercialization and distribution of af Klint’s work, which family members say goes against her personal wishes as well as the foundation’s own statues. Regulations stipulate that the “Temple Paintings” series (1906-15), a total of 193 works, may not be sold; however, other works can be sold to…
The holidays are busy, but everyone needs a break, and what better way to replenish your mind and soul than by looking at art? Here are a few exhibitions to check out when you can step away from all the chaos and take a moment or more to revel in the gift of art. Whether it’s the subtle humor of Thomas Schütte, the emotional embodiment of Ralph Lemon, the aesthetic brilliance of Alexandra Exter, or the ones on our list ‘s other content, you’ll be glad you took the time. —Natalie Haddad, Comments Editor DeShawn Price 15 east72 Walker Street,…