One of the things that most captivated my imagination in graduate school was pre-modern cartography. The maps produced before the modern era are not only visually fascinating, but they speak of so much more: mystery, knowledge/ignorance, longing, hope, adventure, human limitations. But mainly of hope, since, if you don’t know what is beyond your world, … Continue reading Found!
I've been silent the last month or so, because--though I've had lots of arts-related thoughts bubbling away in my head--I've had little time to convert those thoughts into words. Today's thoughts require very few written words, so I thought it would be worth the brief interruption in my work day. When I read about the … Continue reading Shipwrecked
I recently read somewhere that teens spend something like “almost all of their time” on the Internet. For all of the obvious reasons, this disturbs me. Which is not to say that I have figured out how to keep the Internet at a healthy distance myself. Far from it. I’m guilty of overexposing myself to … Continue reading White Noise
Well, it hasn’t been the greatest week for me and I’m not feeling super inspired to expound about much. Still, there is a lot of arts news that I thought my readers might find interesting. So, I’m kicking off my new newsletter-style blog post, which I’m hoping to make a regular feature. Check out some … Continue reading Around the Web
Why did my parents surround me with art as a kid? Why am I doing the same with my son? Some of my earliest memories involve art. I remember visits to Westminster Abbey, where I was amazed at the vaults soaring high overhead and was afraid of the effigies carved onto the tombs. I have … Continue reading What’s the Point, Really?
What is a work of art? Is it something physical that you can hold on to? Is it a story? Is it a piece of fine craftsmanship? Is it an idea? Many people have written about this, and I guess the answer is that it’s a combination of the above things. Honestly, though, I can’t … Continue reading A Modest, Beloved Work of Art
For no reason at all--except that I was researching him for some work recently--I want to brighten your day with a little Alphonse Mucha. If you know him, you probably love him. (I haven't met anyone who has told me they hate Mucha, but that doesn't mean you're not out there.) If you don't know … Continue reading What’s lacking from your Tuesday? Mucha, that’s what!
See what Artlark has to say on this interesting and oft-overlooked subject: Source: Romanian and East European Modern Art
I’ve spent the last couple of months trying to balance a very busy working-parenting life with my inborn nesting instinct. Beginning around Thanksgiving, I feel an uncontrollable urge to hunker down—stock up on fire wood, cook caloric food, wear thick socks and snuggle under plush blankets—whether I’m in seventy degree New York, subzero Wisconsin, or … Continue reading Quietude
One summer several years ago, when my husband and I were under-employed graduate students with too much time on our hands, we bought a painting. Since we both love art and were bored, we got cracked on the idea that we should have more art in our house. Given our under-employed status, we weren’t in … Continue reading Craigslist, the Internet’s Garage Sale
Ellen A. Hurst 