Birds of the Caves II

Birds of the Caves II  (1971)  Joan Miro

notable works by Joan Miro

Birds of the Caves stands out from most of the well known works of Joan Miro. There is not as much of the characteristic simple geometric blobs mixed about on a stained a surface. In this piece the background is a bright pristine white contrasted by large sweeps of pure black in the foreground. The smeared dirty stains that make Miro's work familiar are absent.

This scene seems to represents a large structure built by a colony of tiny intelligent but disturbed creatures. The fine but somewhat schizophrenic scaffolding represents an effort to control and contain the large swaths of black. Little blips of color in the scaffolding represent necessary nodes that the community of builders use to gather their tools and take care of daily ancillary tasks. The builders are a nervous frenetic lot, not taking enough time to properly lay out clean straight lines of support. The work needs to be done fast because nothing last long in their stark world. 

For the most part the builders reside in the red and black hut on the lower right, gathering there to rest after long periods of work. A large chimney bends upward from the hut to disperse the noxious gas they produce. A large black pole running down the center of the piece allows the busy workers to climb up the canyon and lay out their lattice work. To celebrate the build they have created a large bulbous edifice in the upper left inscribed with their indecipherable motto. This is where the have their rare celebrations.

Kneeling Female in Orange Dress

Kneeling Female in Orange Dress (c. 1910) by Egon Schiele

notable works by Egon Schiele

In 1911 Schiele dreamed of leaving the constrictions of the staid Viennese art society, and he set his sights on the village of Český Krumlov in southern Bohemia. Krumau was where his mother was born and today has a  museum celebrating Schiele. Even with family connections in Krumau, he and his lover were chased out of the village by locals who were appalled at their lifestyle which included his acquisition of the villages's teenage girls as nude models.

Yemen

Yemen (2010) by Aaron Rands

notable works by Aaron Rands

The title Yemen suggest that this painting is a representation of the wilderness in the nation of the same name, however it is readily apparent that the depiction is of some alien and surreal landscape. Perhaps this is a view from the planet Yemen instead. If so, this strange world doesn't adhere to the normal rules of spatial dimension. In some cases object are presented in two dimensions and layered on to one another while in other places an almost realistic three dimensional view is utilized.

The most striking of these spatial abnormalities is the leafy section of the tree. Each section of leaves are shown as the same triangular shape but of varying sizes, sometimes flipped in orientation.Why wasn't this technique used throughout the piece? so that the mountains are also represented by stacked identical triangles. Instead the jagged peaks could almost be a realistic version of some extreme desert crags as seen from a distance. The two spatial methods stand at opposition, one on the left the other used as a counterpoint far in the distance.

There are other oddities too. The tree is trunk and branches are made up of what appear to be dissociated plates clinging together as if they are doing their best to mimic the framework of a tree. Although still two dimensional, each piece is differently shaped and colored. The thorny scrub beneath the tree separates itself from the trunk by twisting about in a threatening and familiar way. The stone blocks that make up the platform the tree sprouts from are shown as simplified isometric blocks, three dimensional but not like true earthly stones.

The vast plain lacks any detail until the distant mountains crop up and as it fades into the distance it meets the perfectly straight horizon. Instead of marking a transition to  expected contrasting sky it meekly sits between an atmosphere that is nearly the same shade as the earth. This makes the bulk of the background almost almost uniform in a yellow tan hue. Offering  some form of respite from the desert like oppression are highly abstracted waves of blue representing clouds or some ethereal vaporized elixir. These waves of blue offer a sense of calm reassurance that not everything is bleak. But there also lies the suspicion that perhaps the clouds are not as soothing as they appear. In this cruel other-world the waves of vapor are probably toxic and waiting, hoping to touch the ground and scour it of life.

The tree in the end, with its unreal plates of foliage is the only true safe spot in this piece. The mountains too dry, and the sky filled with a deceptive poisonous cloud. The inhabitant of this surreal land can only hope some form of nourishing fruit grows from the tree while they await a rescue, a rescue that will arrive.

Heroin and Cocaine

Drugs and art have been intertwined throughout history but do drugs facilitate art or they simply an parasite to the creative mind. Herion and Cocaine are two drugs that have intertwined their tendrils into the arts and created a mythology about their benefits. Opium and later Heroin have been present in western culture for eons, finding willing users in all branches of art. In the last couple centuries cocaine became available and for most of that time was praised as a cure for mental ailments and tool for the inquisitive artist. I believe that neither drug is a benefit to the artist. Highly creative people are unusual, their thinking is unusual, and often times that unusual mind is plagued with problems as a result. The use of drugs is usually an attempt to escapee pain or unhappiness. So many artist have used drugs not because it benefits them but because they are troubled to start with.

Heroin usage during the last half of the 20th century plagued the arts community - William Burroughs in literature, Kurt Cobain and Janis Joplin in music , and  Jean-Michael Basquiat in visual arts, just a small sampling of artists that have had a run-ins with Heroin. There has developed a mythology that Heroin was responsible for their art. I contend that this is nonsense. Their usage of heroin was because their creative mind tormented them and they turned to Heroin to calm their demons. Heroin is insidious, while it initialy calms, once the addiction takes hold it causes great angst, requiring even more heroin. These artists made great art despite their Heroin addiction, not because of it. During the strongest clutch of Heroin the art produced is usually muted and drab. An example of this is Kurt Cobain's last album with Nirvana, In Utero. it lacks the edge and vibrancy of his early works and foretells his ultimate downfall and death.

It is clear that Heroin can coexist with great art creation though. Many renowned artist have put out some of their best works during periods of heavy Heroin usage. It's not until it completely consumes does it destroy the artist's abilities. Cocaine on the other hand has a detrimental effect on art at all stages of its usage. Initially Cocaine was praised as a wonder drug that would lift the wworn-down and conflicted mind. Sigmund Freud used cocaine heavily and urged his patients to experiment with it. It was often the main ingredient in elixirs that spread throughout the western world.

Cocaine has a distinct problem of artificially boosting the users ego and inflating perception of talents. This artificial boost is actually detrimental when it comes to art. Great
art usually requires contemplation and doubt followed by refinements. If an artist believes at first pass they have created something brilliant their work ultimately suffers. Cocaine had a strangle hold on the music industry in the late 70's and throughout the 80's. I believe the explosion of musical ideas during the 60's was stifled in the following two decades by cocaine. As an example many of the hard rock groups of the 80's look at their cocaine addled works with disdain. Instead of refining their work they would do a first pass in the studio and immediately fall in love with it.  One example is the Gallagher brothers of Oasis who  in retrospect despise their cocaine effected work. Referring to the Oasis album Be Here Now Irish Times journalist Brian Boyd wrote: "Bloated and over-heated (much like the band themselves at the time), the album has all that dreadful braggadocio that is so characteristic of a cocaine user. Reflecting in 2007, Garry Mulholland admitted, "the fact that nothing could have lived up to the fevered expectations that surrounded its release doesn't change the facts. The third Oasis album is a loud, lumbering noise signifying nothing.

Even though I believe that Cocaine and Heroin have not helped art, that doesn't mean that all drugs are detrimental. Marijuana is frequently been used to open up new angles of thought, usually in silly ways, but sometimes the result is brilliant. Jazz musician of the past and present have opened up new horizons in music by using Pot. Visual artists also often report that marijuana has spurred new directions for their work. It is possible that stronger psychedelics may aid in creativity but I can't by any means say I'm certain of that.

It Doesn't Get Better than This

This short sleeve jumpsuit looks practical for San Diego weather, plus it comes with a hood and smart belt buckle. However, it is disappointing that the guy's girlfriend wasn't willing to wear a matching color, kind of ruins the jumpsuit effect. Still though, I think I need this outfit.

John Altoon

Untitled (1957) by John Altoon  

notable works by John Altoon

John Altoon was a major figure at the notorious Los Angeles Ferus gallery during the 1950's and 1960's. His untimely death of a heart attack in 1969 robbed art enthusiasts of his instinctive expressionism.  A man with an out-sized personality and wild imposing intensity, the influence of John Altoon reigned large over the L.A. art scene during his short lifetime. His Personality drove much of his fame and without that presence overshadowing everything else his artwork slid into obscurity until recent years. Solo exhibitions of his art were not done again until 1988. Many of his friends also proved to be notable figures in art history, including Ed Kienholz, Robert Irwin, Billy Al Bengston and Ed Rusha. 

Altoon was known as a charismatic and emotionally troubled man that lived passionately and created art that delved into the beauty and strain of life. He is primarily known for his abstract drawings and paintings. These abstract works have been described as a grab bag of vaguely figurative, botanical and biological form, but he was also praised for some of his lesser-known figurative drawings from his Advertising Parodies and large-scale pastels of 1962 and 1963. He is also recognized for his Animal series of 1966-68, and his Cowboys and Indians series and Object series both of 1968. 

The Advertising Parodies and large pastels that Altoon completed between 1962 and 1963 explore the human figure in media and pop culture. In these Parodies, Altoon pulls imagery and text from contemporary commercial advertisements. These pieces are not only proof of his illustrative skills they also show his distaste for America’s greed and the use of the sexual form in advertisements. One example of this distaste is a satire of a Colgate toothpaste advertisement.  In this piece a man opens a door exposing a half-naked woman.  in the background, behind this female figure, a crucifix hangs on the wall but instead of Jesus Christ a nude woman is crucified. 
 
In the Animal series, Altoon’s comical and sexually explicit intentions are completely exposed. The absurdity of the imagery is sometimes comical but often with a disturbing aspect. These pieces also exhibit a change in his drawing style, showing a looser line that makes certain parts of the image indiscernible. The subject matter of these pieces seems to allow Altoon not only to explore his own personal sexual interests but also to expose Western society’s insecurities.  
 
Altoon was diagnosed as schizophrenic in his late 30's. He was unable to work due to intense depression and and paranoia during the late 1950's and early 60's. He then became a patient of Dr. Milton Wexler a prominent psychoanalyst who was able to restore his ability to work. From that time until his death he became the most productive and stable.

I Like Squirrels

when I retire I want to feed squirrels with a puppet of myself

Running with the Bulls

Recently a good friend of mine went on vacation to Spain. While there he decided it would be a good idea to run with the Bulls in Pamplona. He then proudly posted pictures of himself on Facebook adorned in the special tourist costume that paid organizers supply. It's a silly red and white outfit with a handkerchief tied around the neck, a quirky yet cheaply made ensemble. The post garnered a lot of likes and comments about how awesome this act was or about how crazy he is. I could tell when he got back that he was proud of the strong positive response that he got. What he failed to realize is that people were responding to how unusual of the post was rather conveying true admiration. It breaks up the banal cat, children, or political memes that get posted.

I believe that most of the people that liked his post actual had a somewhat lesser view of him afterwards. The hidden disapproval was not analysed or really acknowledged by the post-likers, they just went on with their lives with this new vague feeling that there was some amount of hollowness and lack of self awareness in their bull runner friend. Then there are the friends that didn't like the post. Most of them didn't approve of, or respect, the runner's actions and were cognizant of this disapproval. You don't get dislikes on Facebook posts and culturally people most don't express disapproval in this format. Because of this the bull runner friend only sees the superficial likes and is unaware that he has overall damaged his brand.

Much of the romanticism and fame attributed to running with the bulls comes from Earnest Hemming who famously documented his participation. Hemingway was a deeply troubled man constantly battling depression by throwing himself into dangerous situations and by drinking himself into oblivion. He fought in the Spanish civil war just for the excitement. By risking his life he thought that he would be able to feel more alive. This may have worked, but the relief would have been only temporary. After battling depression for most of his life he finally killed himself. If this is the reason a modern bull runner is participating it is nothing to congratulate, it is a sign of deep sorrow and sign that bad things are on the horizon.

Fortunately my friend did not run with the bulls to feel alive. His reason is why the vast majority of people participate, to prove to others how interesting and adventurous they are. The goal is to be seen participating but to expose yourself to the smallest risk possible. This is where the paid organizers come in. They know the patterns and psychology of the bulls, where and how the tourists should stand. They don't want you to get hurt, it would be bad for business. The safest thing is to post the customers in a large corners off from the typical bull path yet still very close and at a point where the bulls are already fatigued. The people should form a wall, the bulls are not really malicious, more frustrated and anxious. The wont plow into a wall of people that are not impeding there escape. they will attack the fools that get out in the stream driven by agitation and frustration. So really for these people its all for show. You could run out into the street for a bit when it looks safe just to prove to yourself that you're leading a rich life but you probably won't. People that are true adrenaline junkies tend to do activities for themselves and worry little about it being documented for their friend's approval. Mountain bike a difficult trail, rock climb, swim in the ocean, and don't worry about it getting photographed.

Then of course there is the moral issue involved in the tormenting and frightening the bulls. You say to yourself that they are just running through the streets, no harm right? Even if you believe the bulls don't mind stumbling and sliding around as hordes of primates taunt them, you should at least consider the ultimate fate of these creatures in the ring and what event this charade is really promoting.

The Herd

About a year ago I saw a couple articles in the news about an artist that was making waves with their portraits of people with two sets of eyes and lips but ones nose. I wish I could remember the name of the artist ( let me know if you know). The effect plays with the human mind and how it processes faces. It is disorienting and a little unsettling. Art writers praised the artist with claims that it provoked thought of mans interpretation of himself and the fragility of our reality. The praise was over the top. The paintings were just really another type of countless optical illusions that confuses the mind, not a great new form of art that explores the human condition.

So the over the top praise was mildly annoying and insincere, there is a lot of that regarding art critique so I didn't dwell on it much. Then I started seeing knock-offs showing up in my art feeds in Tumblr and Twitter. At first they were direct translations of the original art executed with varying degrees of skill. The amateur artist would sometimes refer to how unusual their thinking was and implied the  perception that they were exploring new territories and periodically their social media followers would praise the novel style. Of course, in reality they were just copying an exiting art meme and hoping to gather attention by jumping on the trend. Their work actually sends the opposite impression they are seeking. It's a statement of their own lack of creativity.

After a couple months a new phase for this trend emerged. artists began altering the technique. Why not 3 sets of eyes and no lips? So then there was an even greater stream of variations. The new wave a practitioners no doubt thought they were exploring new territories and establishing their fringy creativity. Then someone started posting pet animals with three eyes, the extra eye between the normal two. The optical confusion effect was completely absent in this case. for some reason the human brain doesn't struggle with that configuration. Around that time the craze died abruptly and its been a few months since I've seen any multiple eyes art in my feed. Now I wait for the next fad.

The Dali Scam

Often times people that don't really like art will want to create the image for themselves of a cultured, mysterious, unorthodox thinker. What they usually turn to is Salvador Dali. Hang a few pictures Salvador looking cross eyed with his silly waxed mustache twisted in strange directions and people in your life will get the impression you are complex. It is also important to hang a couple of his famous paintings with melting watches or elephants with spindly legs. This will prove that you have the taste to show his most iconic works.

Dali was only able to foist his art on the world because of the unique time period when he was a young man. Art had been moving away from realism starting with the impressionists. A large part of this was spurred on by photography. Why paint a meticulous representation of the real world when photography will always be more accurate? The lack of color photography helped slow the transition away from realism, while oddly the non-realists used the newly available vivid paints to create striking compositions.

Dali was able to exploit this transitional time period. Many people at that time despised abstract art as deviant. But Dali was able to use realistic painting style to pull in people that wanted something different but couldn't handle abstraction. His strategy was to combine objects that were not normally not associated or warp the appearance of real world items. The problem is, by and large the items combined were purely nonsensical, like boats with butterflies as sails. On top of the arbitrary nature of the compositions the execution was usually somewhat amateurish are cartoonish. Paintings were typically quite drab and lacking any real vibrancy.

Dali peddled his fame as a product unto itself, constantly mugging for the cameras, crossing his eyes and meeting any celebrity as long as the encounter was photographed. Its interesting that a google image search on Salvador Dali yields very little of his actual artwork but instead the results are image after image of Dali hamming it up. He got to the point where he stopped paying restaurant tabs and instead would just doodle on the check as his form of payment. The last decades of his life he would sign blank canvases and other impoverished artist would paint their art resembling Dali's style but making sure his signature remained  untouched. Now most paintings from this period are looked at suspiciously by art dealers for likely being fake and are valued far less than earlier paintings. On top his lack of ethics regarding his art, when he was younger he aligned himself with Fascists in Spain who persecuted many of the talented abstract artist of the era.

I sometimes meet someone and they tell me they like Dali and they hesitate so the can appreciate how edgy I must think they are. Then when I visit their home the only Dali related object they have is one of those framed infernal photos of Dali twisting his mustache. They don't really like Dali they just like the impression Dali appreciation will make on others.