"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/