The Huntington

A side adventure that i happen to have the chance to visit the huntington library and several beautiful art, artifacts, and gardens.




After the Hunt 1883 by William Harnett is one of my favorite piece of art. The reason being is because it is so well painted that it looks as if it was real. On the golden trumpet like instrument the gilded part was coated several times so from a short distance it looks almost as if it really was hanging on the wall. Also the color contrast of each specific item is very well outlined in this dark color painting that it gives a destinct difference of its objects. Not only does the paiting show tools used for the hunt it also shows the prizes of the hunt which gives it a nice finishing taste.






Several of these arts here are also very well made. However, its a shame that i didn't get a good enough look at the description to remember the title and author of these pieces. With close observation we can tell that these pieces of art is made from paper mache and quite nicely done as well. Again, i have to emphasize on the color contrasting skills implemented here. The first with many bright colors to bring a strong outbursting happy mood, and the latter a calming shade of green scattered around a historic building.



Another piece that i couldn't recollect but wanted to show and tell. A farm scenery made with oil on canvas. I thought this piece was interesting because it was made through colorful blurry lines that seems to all melt together to form a very well dream like scenario. It is as if the author of the painting was half asleep and half awake trying to remember a place but couldn't quite get it, and thus, have this picture that seems to be there yet not quite so there yet. And from the farm scenery it goes deeper, further and beyond to the vast sea, to the sky where everything becomes even more blurr.



Lastly, Achielles Shield is one of the artifacts that captivates me. Besides, being shiny and made of gold the design of this shield is very unique. First, most shields would be easier to carve into, but the pictures here are of people that are bolding outwards which makes this artifact even harder to create. The circular design of people lining together to form a circle also intrigues me; as if no matter how many times we turn it, to the right, or to the left it maintains a prestigious look of completeness. That Achielles shield is somehow relevant to the circle of life, that this shield tells a story of mankind.

Overall, the trip to the huntington library is amazing. There is so much more to it than beautiful and magnificent paintings. The huntington library has a huge collection of art, artifacts, and other surprises that takes nearly a day to see through them all. I especially enjoy their selection of gardens, japanese, chinese, rose, and even desert garden. This is a great place to visit with family and friends, definitely a well day spent.

Museum Visit

Norton Simon Museum is the museum i decided to blog about, and with so many different kinds of art to choose from i ultimately decided to focus on asian arts.



Satta Pass by Ando Utagawa Hiroshige is a japanese art work created in 1834. This picture depicts a scene from the mountains to the sea, as the boats sail off to the next islands where we can see a snow covered mountain. I've always admired many of the japanese's artwork, with its elegant simplicity it seems to be saying in a philosophical sense that artwork doesn't need to consist of high intense color or packed in frame with no room for white to look like art. Instead, japanese art allows a lot of white spaces for people to see contrast and find peace in its form.



Moon Viewing Point, also by Ando Utagawa Hiroshige in 1856 is one fine artwork that depicts the beautiful simplicity of a japanese life style. In the picture we can see that this house is built near the ocean or a large lake, with sliding doors and wooden floors. The view outside is rare, with a full moon and flocks of birds flying across the sky and boats on the water surface. We can see there is not a whole lot of materials in the room, a huge difference when compared to the average american standard of living. Instead of having a whole of junks in a house hold, most traditional japanese places simply have little which brings about tranquility and focus to its surroundings.



Minakuchi by Ando Utagawa Hiroshige in 1834 shows a japanese lady staring out of her house into the white painted town of japan. This artwork has a lot of white contrast color in its painting which perfectly portrays the winter snow season in japan and adds on to style while the white now falling from the deep black sky. With the young lady staring out into the darkness from her house, you can only wonder what she is thinking about, like; how is it possible with the night sky being so dark can produce falling snow that is pure of white?

Reflection

Far eastern arts are in the traditional sense usually has a lot of white and black contrasts with each other that makes up the artwork. The correct uses of these two colors can bring about magnificent piece of art, not only are they simple but they also have a very distinctive quality to them that asks its viewers to take a second look at.

Pomona Art Colony

Tape creations by Gabriel Gonzales brings about a different atmosphere in expressing art. One may be able to tell by close examination that this piece took quite a long time to accomplish. It would appear as if islands or mini castles were suspended into the air and thus floating about. Though, i wonder why the artist did not prefer using fishing lines to lift the art piece in the air, it would have made the work slightly more realistic. Nonetheless, i still find this sort of art to my liking because it brings about a fantasy like scenario, where we would have islands or castles floating in the sky. It seems as if it was paradise torn apart from the world and simply fly itself away from all problems.



In the OBJCT section by Greg Lynn proves to be out of the ordinary. Most of the colorful decoration displayed around seems more like childs play. The art work seems composed of playdough which forms this peculiar eggplant and its natural colors. It displays perhaps a garden of eggplants that are interwined together perplexingly. First impression of the art as i lay eyes on it was speechless, not in awe, though, more like a lack of words, or comments.



Athena Hahn's work of Candyland, Balloon and Shoots, and Ladders. I figure none of these artwork by itself is anything special or spectacular. However, because the artist have displayed it all together lining up vertically with one another and choosing the best color contrast has made up the "art" in this artwork. It was done well in this sort of lining where it becomes pleasing to the eyes perspective, and it went from top the darker shade to the bottom which is lighter, thus, giving it a sense of pattern in work. Just as each individual art in these three art makes it a better whole, each individual work has some sort of pattern to it. Since i am a person who likes patterns and things being consecutive to one another i do very much adore this artwork.

Reflection

The Pomona Art Colony display gives one much to think about. Not so often do people get to walk into a place that has gathered so many abstract artwork in one location. Certainly, this place carries a lot of eye opening art pieces which transcends peoples mood, changes the atmosphere, and perhaps enlighten individuals. Usually, i am much more use to traditional artwork as in contrast with more modern art pieces that were shown in Pomona, however, it does bring forth a different sort of feeling that one might called an acquired taste. Instead of the usual painting on canvas we see works dangling in air, colorful playdoughs that portrays fruits, and three different artwork that requires one to view together. This may all be described as abstract taste to post modern times, but perhaps one can grow into appreciation for this eye opening experience.

Quote of The Day

A guilty conscience needs to confess. A work of art is a confession.

-Albert Camus

Art Sharing

Early in the quarter students were encouraged to bring forth an artwork from home to share with the class, and explain why that piece of art is meaningful and relevant to them. In this unnamed artwork that i have brought and shared with the class portrays a autumn scenery that appears to be captured on camera during mid day light. This picture shows several trees with golden leaves attatched to its branches surrounding one single straight lined road. This single piece of artwork is magnificently well made, the work that was put into this seems to be on several different levels. First, it would appear to be a regular scenery picture, however, the artist also gave it its holographic property in golden brown contrast, which reveals a realistic shiny property in the artwork. Not only was the picture itself appealing, but the artist has also taken time to frame it in black background with golden outlines which only more elegantly capture its viewers attention. Lastly, the artist finishes this artwork by sealing it with marble frames which intensifies this masterpiece and make it appear to be extremely valuable.

This piece of artwork is relevant and meaningful to me because it brings forth nostalgia of my childhood memories along with the love of nature's beauty and wonders. Staring into this piece of art, i can picture myself walking down that road filled with trees stemed with golden leaves. I can imagine the tranquility of the scene and find peace with myself there, though it may appear to be a solitary road, it does not hurt to want to step into it, to get lost in it, and to walk away from the problems of life every now and then.

Side Note: I found this unnamed artwork several years ago in the 99 cent store and immediately bought it(the total was only slightly over a dollar including tax). I was amazed that this piece of art was so cheap, even though the frames were made of plastic marble it still gives off a very classy feel to it. Definitely believed it was a good buy!