Extra Credit

Lev Borodulin, Parade, Moscow, 1956. Courtesy of 
Lumiere Brothers Center for Photography, Moscow.

I hope you all enjoy your time off this spring break. Coincidentally,  Fotofest (http://2012biennial.fotofest.org/)  the oldest and largest biannual photography festival in the country, also begins this week and lasts for a little over a month. It is mostly focused on Russian photography but it goes beyond this with photo exhibits literally all over the city. People from all over the world come to Houston to attend this festival and I thought it would be a great opportunity to get to experience it especially since we will be covering photography soon. 

If you would like 10 extra point added to your midterm exam grade attend one of the many events or exhibitions (most are free) that are a part of fotofest and write about your visit (at least 100 words) and post it on the blog. Have fun!

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

William Scott-Elliot of Arkleton (1811–1901)

Sir Henry Raeburn  (Scottish, Stockbridge 1756–1823 Edinburgh)

ca. 1815–16

Oil on canvas

47 3/8 x 36 5/8 in. (120.3 x 93 cm)

 Since I saw this painting it remainded me of my baby girl. The painting shows a sweet little girl. It shows the beauty of an angel. The innocence of a human beign who is just starting to live her life. Another picture that I liked and caught my eye is:

Terrace of the Capuchin Garden, Sorrento

Heinrich Reinhold  (German, Gera 1788–1825 Albano)

                                                                     1823 or 1824
                                                   Oil on paper laid down on Masonite
                                                   15 7/8 x 21 1/8 in. (40.3 x 53.7 cm
This painting caught my eye because it shows the peace it feels living by the ocean filled with trees and a precious sight. The sight is so inspiring that I can imagine beign there breathing the fresh air.This website is a good website. It only took me a couple of minutes to explore it. There is one thing I believe is true for me, I believe it is better to see the paintings in person than thru a website. That way you can value the art more and find more meaning to it. There weren't many paintings that I liked, it doesn't compare to the museum visit.

The Virtual Museum online

The Metropolitan museum visit online site was not easy to navigate but, once I stated to work with it then it became easier. Once I begin with the site the painting by Pablo Picasso entitled Melancholy Women,1902 caught my attention. This website gives me the opportunity to view this beautiful art work as if it is the original and I was in the art gallara. The blues in Picasso painting uniquely detailed on the women and in the background with perfect design. The second painting I like was by Juan Gris entitled Flowers, 1914 I love how the artist choose to use 3 D images and it also look likes the flowers are falling.

Stepping Out

Cora Thomas The web site was not as easy to find. I wanted to find a virtual tour site. Finnally, I found the site that will suite my quest. There was over 1400 paintings, sculptures.I was able to learn quite a bit about the artists. I chose the artist name Roy Lichtenstein, painting title Stepping Out. I question why was the woman was so displaced and the man closer to representation. The displacment of the features remind me of some of Picasso. Even though they are different in features. They are combine though shapes and colors. The lady hair swept into the man lepel. The yellow end of the scarf echoed the yellow rectangle that covers to p of his face. The black serves as a background that the man invades. I stood their entrapped in this painting for a while.

Stepping Out

Cora Thomas The web site was not as easy to find. I wanted to find a virtual tour site. Finnally, I found the site that will suite my quest. There was over 1400 paintings, sculptures.I was able to learn quite a bit about the artists. I chose the artist name Roy Lichtenstein, painting title Stepping Out. I question why was the woman was so displaced and the man closer to representation. The displacment of the features remind me of some of Picasso. Even though they are different in features. They are combine though shapes and colors. The lady hair swept into the man lepel. The yellow end of the scarf echoed the yellow rectangle that covers to p of his face. The black serves as a background that the man invades. I stood their entrapped in this painting for a while.

a visit to an online museum

The website consists of many interesting and helpful information. It is so convenient that every body can find suitable functions. For example, under the "learn" tab, kid, teens, adults, college students, and educators can find many useful activities happening or coming soon to broaden their knowledge and paricipate actively by going there. Taking a glance at those activities, a variety of operations are offered by the museum.
There are two pieces of art that most triggered my excitement. The first one is America by Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo (Italian, Venice 1727–1804 Venice)

The painting successfully depicts the visual texture. I really wanted to touch the surface of this piece, but actually it is a painting. The painting simply depicts the happiness of a Native American who was harvesting. The artist seemed to teach us how to feel pleased with what we have. There are many more painings drawn by Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo. He made his objects be so real on a two dimensions surface.

The second piece work that interested me is the wood sculpture Seated Couple depicting a Dogon couple at the very late 18th and early 19th century. The first wonder that I had was "Is this a male-male couple or male-female couple?" It is really difficult to figure it out because of the similarities of these figures. What is the purpose of those similaties? The website provides us with a description telling us that with Dogon people, male and female were a unit of life, supporting each other in every aspect of life.

The Metropolitan museum of art

My experience and the difference on the two museum and my experience was different it took me 5 hours to get to and tour the museum here in Houston and the virtual tour only took 30 minutes to see what I needed to see on line the two portraits were the portrait of Fra Filippo Lippi 1406-1469 Spoleto and their were many portraits just like it of women dressed with a man at a casement it spark interest on how woman was perceived at that time and the other portrait that struck interest was the different types of Chinese art like the Dwelling amid Waters and Forests Fu Baoshi and several paintings that wad done by the same artists he had six more on exhibit do that was interest to me on the two artist and the difference and the time in which the art was painted and the two different cultures

The Virtual Museum Visit

    I found the virtual museum very interesting. I was able view several different Nigerian sculptures such as the "Head of an Oba" and the" Mother and Child". The website also provides brief description the art’s symbolic meanings and allows you to research further using the online library.
   The website was very informative and organized. It allows viewers to search different collections by what, who, where, and when. Similar to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, its galleries are also organized by culture and allows you go view all the showing pieces from that each gallery. The website also has an online store, which allows you to purchase items like wall pictures, sculptures and other pieces of art.