Bigger than an Entertainer

Michael Jackson is inextricably the most loved artist around the world. He was much bigger than an entertainer. He did more than entertain. His creative work proceeded time and extended beyond popular. The title "Pop star" is too small for his ingenious and lacks the true creative depths and honor. Michael Jackson was a true artist in every sense of the word.

He carried a burden for humanity. (Not just because he is the world's biggest celebrity philanthropist sometimes donating entire proceeds from his concerts to a particular cause.) His creative goal was larger than to amuse, beguile, or entertain his audience. He went into artistic depths to sensitize and stimulate compassion among a world of people. His music touched souls of millions of people around the world. Why? He sang of Human Condition, Human Psyche, Human Nature, Human Struggles, and Human Behavior. His compassion for life was evident. (Even in how he sang about a rat called Ben.) His art made a connection and resonated with the human spirit all around the world. Michael Jackson improved the world through art and left the world better than how he found it.

In the documentary of what was to be his final concert tour "This Is It," we are able to see into the mind of a true artist, not just an entertainer. The comments below are dedicated to remembering lyrics, performances, or moments revealed in the documentary that testify to his true artistry and resonated with individuals on personal levels.

Michael Jackson philanthropy:

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_contributions_did_Michael_Jackson_make_to_society

Madonna's speech about the artist Michael Jackson

http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/09/13/read-madonnas-vmas-speech-dedicated-to-michael-jackson/

Michael Jackson Image by Neal Preston 1987: www.morrisonhotelgallery.com/ photographer/def..

The White Glove Effect

Michael Jackson's wearing one white glove has done much for the preservation of art. In the art world, wearing white gloves is ideal for the safe handling of art work. According to Chicago Sun-Times, "Mike's glove infatuation came at a Hollywood production studio in 1980 when he noticed an editor handling film with a single white glove to keep smear marks off. The young star was intrigued."

Whether film, photo, painting, or whatever type of art, preservation is important. Art records the history of a culture, a period in time, through the experience of that artist. Many artworks have been around for centuries because they have been handled with white gloves.

It may seem harmless to touch the artwork just a little bit but the unseen oils and dirt on fingertips can be transferred to the artwork and cause great damage. Never touch the surface of an unframed artwork without gloves; even clean hands leave a corrosive residue.

Anyone selling or dealing with art will wear white gloves when handling it. Great care has to be taken to preserve the artwork.

Artwork is very valuable. Many artists are no longer around to create anymore and share their point of view with the world so it is vital great care is taken in handling the art.

Michael Jackson saw something deeper when he watched how film was carefully being handled. He transferred that love, appreciation, and respect for art preservation to his own image.

Your Brain on Color

This is Your Brain on Drugs COLOR

Color is a powerful psychological tool. Color can send a positive or negative message, calm, excite, or stimulate. Commercial artists (i.e Graphic

designers, Web designers )must especially be aware of the effect of color on the brain as they deal with consumers. Companies spend a lot of money on color market research. For instance most fast food restaurants are decorated with vivid reds and oranges. Studies show that reds and oranges encourage people to eat quickly and leave. Jaguars website is predominantly black to make people feel sophisticated and prestigious. You can't escape color. Color often controls unconsciously. In Nort

h American mainstream culture, certain colors are associated with certain qualities or emotions.

Black is the color of authority and power. It is associated with intelligence (PhD graduates wear black robe; black horn rimmed glasses, etc.) It's a somber color associated with grieving. It i makes people appear thinner. It is also sophisticated, stylish and timeless. Black also implies submission (Priests). Black can be overpowering, or make the

wearer seem evil. Villains such as Dracula and the bad guy wear black.

For most of the world white is the color associated with purity (wedding dresses); cleanliness (doctors in white coats, using white gloves to touch art) It is also used to project the absence of color. White is associated with creativity (blank canvas). It is a compression of all the colors in the color spectrum.

If you want to get attention, use red. It is often where the eye looks first. Red is the most emotionally intense color and get people excited. Red is the color of energy. Red stimulates a faster heartbeat and breathing. Red is used in restaurant decorating schemes because it is an appetite stimulant. People wearing red clothing gets noticed. Since it i

s an extreme color, red clothing might not help people in confrontations. Red would not be a good color for a baby's room or to paint prison walls. Insurance is higher on red cars. Studies show red cars are popular targets for thieves and get more speeding tickets. It is not good to overuse red but using a spot of red in just the right place is smart.

Pink is just the opposite of red. Pink is the most calming of all colors. Dangerous criminals are housed in pink cells as studies show that pink drains the energy,calms aggr

ession, and is soothing and tranquilizing. Sports teams sometimes paint the locker rooms used by opposing teams bright pink so their opponents will lose energy.

Much of the world is

blue (skies, seas). Blue is peaceful and tranquil and seeing the color blue causes the body to produce calming chemicals in the brain. People tend to be more productive in a blue room because they are calm and focused. Studies show weightlifters are able to handle heavier weights in blue gyms. Blue has become associated with steadfastness, dependability, wisdom and loyalty (Blue uniforms). While blue is one of the most popular colors it is one of the least appetizing.

It is the easiest color on the eye. Green is a calming color that's very pleasing to the senses. Green is seen as tranquil and refreshing, calming, and tranquil. People waiting to appear on TV sit in "green rooms" to relax. Green is considered the color of peace and nature.

Yellow is cheerful and associated with good times. A person surrounded by yellow feels optimistic because the brain release more feel good chemicals around this color. It is the color associated with optimism Cheerful sunny yellow is an attention getter. Yellow will advance from surrounding colors. While it is considered an optimistic color, Yellow is mentally stimulating, and activates memory and concentration (think about yellow legal pads). In the New York City, taxi cabs are yellow to catch attention.

But be careful with yellow, Yellow is the most difficult color for the eye to take in, so it can be overpowering if overused. Tempers flare and people lose their cool more often in yellow rooms.

Brown is the color of earth and is plentiful in nature. Brown is associated with things being natural or organic. Brown is an approachable color and gives the feeling of wholesomeness.

Not Astrology but Colorology

Ancient cultures practiced chromotherapy, or using colors to heal. Colors can impact the body's energies. They can help to clear negative emotions and energy and restore balance. Chromotherapy is sometimes referred to as colourology and is still used today as a holistic or alternative treatment. Some tools used in color therapy include gemstones, candles, prisms, colored fabrics, bath treatments, and colored eye wear.

Art You Can Remember

Visual Culture Rules the World

Videos, You Tube, television, movies, magazines, text messages, Internet, advertising, FaceBook, MySpace.....

     We live in a world where visual media and images has a powerful influence on our lives.  Visual Impressions are extremely strong and shape our values, beliefs, attitudes, and behavior.  Visual Culture can shape public opinion.  For some, Visual Culture is life lived on screen.  People may forget what they read, but they never for get a picture-- or a movie, a video, a news cast, or a magazine cover.  Visual Culture can break down walls or build them.  If someone does not understand what they are looking at or how to decode images Visual Culture for them becomes a form of mind control.  

     Studying art is important because our modern society is saturated with images.  Studying art teaches us to look for the point of view of the artist or creators.  It teaches humans how to decode images more effectively.  It teaches us to observe society, and culture and shows us how to understand where attitudes and behaviors come from.  Art teaches us to dig deeper and develop our own point of view and helps us to navigate through a world of images.

      Very few people take the time to reflect or question the point of view of the person, persons, corporations, organizations, or agencies putting their images before them over and over.  Who owns the images you are looking at?  He who owns the media rules the world.

Rosie the Riveter and Visual Propaganda

  

Visual propaganda during WWII helped to get housewives into the workforce.  The iconic image of J. Howard Miller's "We Can Do It" is often confused with Norman Rockwell's cover "Rosie the Riveter."  Norman Rockwell's cover of Rosie was inspired by Michaelangelo's depiction of Isaiah on the ceiling mural of the Sistine Chapel.   Rockwell added much symbolism in his cover including the robust arms of Rosie, and the Hitler magazine underneath her foot.  A link to a very enlightening video by the Library of Congress on You Tube explains the symbolism.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04VNBM1PqR8

An Island of Dots

Seurat, Jatte, and Dots.  It's all about the dots.  Georges Seurat used a scientific method of using little dots to create this painting.  The brain does the rest. It is proof that we really see with our brain and not our eyes. The dots of color when seen together creates new colors and images. The brain does the work of putting the dots together and mixing the colors.  It took Seurat 2 years to create this painting of dots.  There is a modern commercial that imitates this painting.  Who can guess that commercial?

Artists in the Workforce

A respectable report on artist in the workforce is reported on by the National Endowment for the Arts.

http://www.arts.gov/news/news08/ArtistsinWorkforce.html


Photo source
http://www.flickr.com/photos/exploratorium_public_programs/199104927/

Artists Confuse Census Bureau

Click to enlarge


It sounds like the left brain trying to force the right brain into a box. Try googling 'characteristics of artist'. Here is another that is interesting. Artist was defined as an "Organism that presents art." Organism? http://books.google.com/books?id=cpc7CJH1-s8C&pg=RA2-PA119&lpg=RA2-PA119&dq=characteristics+of+artists&source=bl&ots=nJ6lAUxi8I&sig=rHhh4VkfDCAP6In38Pyzy8b7rYo&hl=en&ei=vWtKSqu

God...an Artist?

God is often referred to as the Father, but why do so many people call Him the Creator? Is God an artist? Being a part of this world is like living in a museum every day. It seems the Creator is constantly in His studio mixing colors, shaping, and sculpting. Every artist likes his art to be noticed. We always have a new painting hanging in the sky when we wake up. In this world there is always something beautiful, interesting, and unique to observe.

There are billions of people in the world, yet every single human being has their own distinct shape and color. Hands, eyes, feet, noses and other features of every single human seems to have been formed uniquely for them. The work of landscapers have really already been done. Landscapers are really workers in the museum of the world shifting art pieces around identifying what artwork looks best next to another. Witness the testament of autumn and spring or the songs of winter and summer. Make a point to visit a local botanical garden and observe a little more closely the intriguing creative quality of trees and mysterious beauty of flowers.

God the artist is really is in the full creative mode when He makes fish and things in the ocean. Have you seen just a piece of the coral reef or visited the local aquarium and witnessed the amazing shapes, colors, and patterns of things that live in the ocean? Kinetic sculpture is art that moves. The ocean is a beautifully choreographed song and dance of the kinetic art in the sea. Or what about animals? Whether at the zoo or on the Serengetti plains; observing animals are like going to another gallery in the museum. It is hard to ignore the grace of patterns, shapes and textures in animals.

We sit in the best art class everyday of our lives. All we have to do is use the gift of our own sight to what is really around us. If one refers to the Holy Scriptures, the very first scripture starts off with “In the beginning God created…” He was an artist in the studio before anything else. Art and creating are important to this world. Stop for a moment and imagine all this creativity gone and the world as a blank canvas of nothingness….. Or imagine you had no sight and were blind? Would creativity mean something then? Whether someone believes in God or not, anyone with sight can see there is no denying there is a great creative force among us or the importance of art in our world.

Photo Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/15684217@N03/3230949286/sizes/o/

What Makes People Remember Art

Art is a product of a human experience. When art captures the human condition, human struggle, human psyche, human nature, or human behavior, it is destined to become a classic. It's destiny is classic because it then becomes a record of a time in history. Artworks that are intriguing and pull the viewer into the world of another are never forgotten and help the observer to understand the experience, struggle or condition of another human. Artists are powerful people that help others to understand the behavior, nature, and the psyche of other human beings. In 1948 Picasso captured the tragedies of war in his painting "Guernica." Tupac Shakur is a loved artist because his music seizes the experience and the cultural war of growing up black and poor. Right now our world is at war. Artist Arabella Dorman courageously and eloquently captures the psyche and culture of soldiers in the Iraq war in her series of war paintings. http://www.artmarketmonitor.com/2009/05/27/war-paint/
(The Tupac postcard is a postcard secret from http://www.postsecret.com/)

The Artist With No Eyes. Yes. He Painted These.

Esref Armagan, taught himself to write and to paint. He was born with no eyes. Mr. Armagan also learned to draw perspective--something many artists with sight struggle with. This blind artist has helped artists learn depth in color. He has helped psychologists learn more about the brain and has opened new doors in helping neurologists understand how human beings really see. An amazing clip on You Tube of Esref Armagan. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3AgO6H0H98

"Good Times" Artist Dies

Ernie Barnes, the artist known for his painting on the closing credits of the classic dramedy show "Good Times" has died at the age of 70. The painting entitled "Sugar Shack" was also used on the cover of a Marvin Gaye album.

Ernie Barnes was also a professional football player. His love of athletics and his understanding of the human form helped him to develop his classic moving figurative style. His interest in art was ignited when he would accompany his mother to her job. His mother was a maid for a prominent attorney. Ernie Barnes would stay occupied by looking at the art books on the attorney's shelves.

Ernie Barnes was also overweight and bullied as a child. He hid from bullies and spent his time drawing in a notebook until a teacher found him and recognized his talents.

Comedian Eddie Murphy is the owner of the orignal painting "Sugar Shack."

Da Vinci's Resume

The Middle Ages was a period of crisis and trouble. The Black Death had caused major disruption in the economy. The economy was stagnated. Then came the Renaissance. Renaissance means "Rebirth." Art and Science very much stimulated the economy through inventions, art and trade.

In 1481, Leonardo Davinci applied for a job. He wrote a letter to Ludovico Sforza, later to become Duke of Milan. He wanted to work at at Sforza’s court. He was not just an artist but obviously had very high science and mathematical skills. Here is his resume. And yes, he got the job.

"Most illustrious Lord, having by now sufficiently considered the experience of those men who claim to be skilled inventors of machines of war, and having realised that the said machines in no way differ from those commonly employed, I shall endeavour, without prejudice to anyone else, to reveal my secrets to Your Excellency, for whom I offer to execute, at your convenience, all the items briefly noted below.
1. I have a model of very strong but light bridges,extremely easy to carry, by means of which you will be able to pursue of if necessary flee an enemy; I have others, which are sturdy and will resist fire as well as attack and are easy to lay down and take up. I also know ways to burn and destroy those of the enemy.
2. During a siege, I know how to dry up the water of the moats and how to construct an infinite number of bridges, covered ways, scaling ladders, and other machines for this type of enterprise.
3. If by reason of the height of the banks or the strength of the place and its position, it is impossible when besieging a place, to avail oneself of the plan of bombardment, I have methods for destroying every rock or other fortress, even if it were founded on rock.
4. I have kinds of mortar; most convenient and easy to carry; and with these I can fling small stones almost resembling a storm; and with the smoke of these cause great terror with the enemy, to his great detriment and confusion.
5. I know how to use paths and secret underground tunnels, dug without noise and following tortuous routes, to reach a given place, even if it means passing below a moat or a river.
6. I will make covered vehicles, safe and unassailable, which will penetrate enemy ranks with their artillery and destroy the most powerful troops; the infantry may follow them without meeting obstacles or suffering damage.
7. In case of need, I will make large bombards, mortars, and fire-throwing engines, of beautiful and practical design, which will be different from those presently in use.
8. Where bombardment would fail, I can make catapults, mangonels, trabocchi, or other unusual machines of marvellous efficiency, not in common use. In short, whatever the situation, I can invent an infinite variety of machines for both attack and defence.
9. And if battle is to be joined at sea, I have many very efficient machines for both attack and defence; and vessels that will resist even the heaviest cannon fire, fumes and gun-powder.
10. In peacetime, I think I can give perfect satisfaction and be the equal of anyman in architecture, in the design of buildings public and private, or to conduct water from one place to another.
I can carry out sculpture in marble, bronze, and clay; and in painting can do any kind of work as well as any man, whoever he be.
Moreover, the bronze horse could be made that will be to the immortal glory and eternal honour of the lord your father of blessed memory and of the illustrious house of Sforza.
And if any of the items mentioned above appears to anyone impossible or impractical, I am ready to give a demonstration in your park or in any other place that should please Your Excellency - to whom I recommend myself in all humility, etc.

Do we need more people in our economy that have creative skills comparable to DaVinci? Is there any similarity between the Renaissance and our economy today? Did his creative skills give him an edge? Read the "Whole New Mind" post and see if any comparisons are there. What do you think?

Using Art to Make Better Doctors and Policemen

A study shows a doctor's ability to make accurate observations increased when doctors took a museum art class. Doctors were more likely to notice more details and features in their patients that would have been overlooked had they not taken training at the museum in the power of observation. Observations by a control group of residents who did not take the class did not change. "We're trying to train students to not make assumptions about what they're going to see, but to do deep looking, " said an internist at Brigham and Women's Hospital. A study had recently shown that Doctor's observation skills in the physical examining of their patients were declining.

The NYPD, The FBI, and the National Guard are also training their observation skills by observing artwork. There is a need for precision in observation and perception in the law field. Especially when pursuing criminals and observing crime scenes. Studying art helps professionals in the law and medical field by training the eye.

http://www.aam-us.org/pubs/mn/frick.cfm

http://www.boston.com/ae/theater_arts/articles/2008/07/20/monet_gauguin_using_art_to_make_better_doctors/

A Whole New Mind- Will Right Brainers Really Rule the Future?

Three forces are tilting the scales in favor of Right brain thinkers.

1.Abundance has satisfied and over satisfied the material needs of millions boosting the significance of beauty and emotion and accelerated the individual's search for meaning.

2.Asia is now performing large amounts of routine white collar, Left brained work at significantly lower costs thereby forcing knowledge workers in the advanced world to master abilities that can’t be shipped overseas.

3.Automation has begun to effect this generation’s white collar workers in much the same way it did last generation’s blue collar workers requiring L-directed professionals to develop aptitudes that computers can’t do better, stronger, or faster.

Are the creative industries booming? (Hollywood, fashion designers, Industrial designers, artists, etc. Are their jobs in jeopardy?

Is the MFA (Master of Fine Arts) the new MBA (Master of Business Administration) Check out the article.
http://blogs.harvardbusiness.org/cs/2008/04/the_mfa_is_the_new_mba.html

HItler the Artist

Hitler decided he wanted to study art. He loved buildings and could draw a building he saw from memory. Confident that he would get accepted into the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts young Hitler took the entrance exam for painting. Failure hit him hard when he did not pass. A year later he tried again to get into the art school, but he was rejected. He never got to go to art school but did succeed in 1932 of designing the prototype for the Volkswagen Beetle. In 1937 Hitler and the Nazis started an art movement/exhibition called "Degenerate Art." Degenerate art was considered un-German and Jewish in nature. Click the following link to learn more about Hitlers Degenerate art exhibitions and the lengths that Europeans went to protect art from Hitler. http://degenerateartclass.blogspot.com .

Manhole Cover Art

As the blinders come off of your eyes, and you become more aware of the aesthetics around you, you start to notice art everywhere and in everything. Have you ever taken the time to look down at the ground when you are walking in the city and notice the manhole covers? Manhole covers are a good representation of radial balance, but all of them aren't necessarily balanced radially. Some of them are just beautiful. There are lots of organizations and websites dedicated to the beauty of manhole covers. http://www.manhole.ca/, http://www.sewerhistory.org/grfx/components/mhcvr_us1.htm, http://www.flickr.com/groups/manhole/pool/, http://www.pinktentacle.com/2007/10/japanese-manhole-covers/

MC Escher and Tessellations

A 3D Exploration of Picasso's Guernica

Guernica - Vancouver Film School (VFS)

One point extra credit. First come first served. Each person contributing can earn only one point toward midterm. How do you earn that one point? In this video there are lots of references to artworks, art periods, and artists. You must tell me what it is and give a reference to the clock time(i.e. 1:21) so I know what you are talking about. No duplications. The first person pointing it out --correctly-- gets the point. Only one point per person. Must post it in the comment section only. No email.

Women In Art

Women were often excluded from art schools and weren't allowed to become artists, however they were often the subject of many artworks.