And remember this one, “Girl, you look so good, someone ought to put you on a plate and sop you up with a biscuit!”

And this one, (Cab Driver, pulling up to apartment) “Is this shitty enough for you?” (Prince Akeem) “Yes it is!”

Ok, I’ll stop now. I couldn’t help myself with a little Coming to America reference.

Not sure if I’ve ever mentioned this to you but I lived in Queens for a bit while I was doing my undergrad degree. This was about 10 years ago, so I was intrigued to see all the development that has taken place in the past 10 years and has as of late started to ramp up even more, especially in Long Island City. The bank of the East River in Long Island City seems like a fantastic place for a sculpture garden, so my first stop was the Socrates Sculpture Park. It’s a 1/4 of a mile trek from the closest stop on the N/Q train but it was a sunny winter day so I was up for it.

The site was previously an abandoned landfill and illegal dumpsite until 1986 when sculptor Mark di Suvero lead a group of artists and community members to create an en plein air exhibition space and neighborhood park. Today Socrates Sculpture Park is an internationally renowned outdoor museum and artist residency program that also offers a wide variety of free public programs.

The views of Upper Manhattan and Roosevelt Island were peaceful this Saturday in January with no rats in sight. On to the Isamu Noguchi Museum only one block away…

I love the modern quality of these ancient pieces. Seeing them brought back great memories of discovering Cycladic Art at the Museum of Cycladic Art in Athens and being in the Greek Islands.

Ottocento is a term used to describe the 19th century in Italian art. (Clarke 2010).

I’m posting an “Art Word of the Day” inspired by a dictionary I bought at the MoMA bookstore that is focused on a broad range of art terms called “Oxford The Concise Dictionary of Art Terms“. I know most people might find it boring to sit down and read a dictionary A-Z, so I want to pick a new word from the book, that I find interesting, and have Darcy present it to you! I hope you enjoy it!

©2012 Danee Gilmartin All rights reserved

This article was submitted by Lori Hutchison. She owns the site Masters in History (a fantastic resource for those looking to advance their education in history and humanities) and is an Art History Professor.

Adolf Hitler did many terrible things when he ruled Nazi Germany. But one of the horrors we don’t often hear about is what he did to the art world.

Hitler’s personal feelings about what “art” should be were influenced by his anti-Semitic beliefs. He preferred classical Greek and Roman art, because he thought it embodied a racial ideal. On the other hand, any type of art that had primitive, abstract, or modern characteristics was labeled as “degenerate.” According to Hitler, any artwork that was indecipherable, distorted, or represented “depraved” subject matter was inherently Jewish in nature.

In 1937, the Nazi party seized thousands of so-called “degenerate” works from German museums. In order to educate the public about the “evils” of modern art, Nazi officials held an exhibition of 650 works in Munich, which was called “Entartete Kunst” (Degenerate Art) and which opened on July 19, 1939.

The pictures were crowded together on the walls, sometimes unframed and hung by cords. There were also slogans painted on the walls mocking the art such as “An insult to German womanhood” and “Nature as seen by sick minds.” Certain artistic movements such as Dada, Surrealism, and Expressionism were criticized in particular.

After the exhibition opened, Goebbels ordered a more thorough confiscation of German artworks. Over 17,000 works of art were confiscated from German museums in total.

Some notable artists whose works were shown at the exhibition include Wassily Kandinsky, Max Beckmann, Franz Marc, Piet Mondrian, Otto Dix, Marc Chagall, and Paul Klee. Even some works by Picasso, Matisse, and van Gogh couldn’t avoid the hand of the Nazis.

Interestingly, another exhibition was held around the same time to show off the art that was approved by the Nazi regime. However, this exhibition was only viewed by a quarter of the number of people who had gone to see the “Entartete Kunst” exhibition.

So what happened to the “degenerate” artists and their art after the exhibition? Many of the artists had to flee the country. Those who remained in Germany were forbidden from creating art or teaching at universities. Some, such as Ernst Kirchner, committed suicide.

The artworks themselves were sold at auction in Switzerland to be bought by museums and private collectors. Some pieces were actually kept by Nazi officials; Göring took fourteen pieces, including one by Van Gogh. Sadly, many of the artwork that didn’t sell at auction was burned in bonfires.

Since the collapse of the Nazi regime, some artwork has actually been found buried underground. Just in 2010, a number of sculptures from the exhibition were found in Berlin when work was being done to extend an underground line. Nevertheless, many other pieces have been lost to history.

Degenerate Art is a term viciously applied by the Nazis to all art which did not conform to their ideology and their promotion of National Socialist art during the period when they ruled Germany (1933-45).  At this time the avant-garde Bauhaus was closed and the infamous ‘Entartete Kunst’ exhibition was held in Munich where works of the so-called ‘degenerate’ artists were mocked. These artist include some of the major figures of the 20th century- Picasso, Ernst, Mondrian and Beckmann (Clarke 2010).

I’m posting an “Art Word of the Day” inspired by a dictionary I bought at the MoMA bookstore that is focused on a broad range of art terms called “Oxford The Concise Dictionary of Art Terms“. I know most people might find it boring to sit down and read a dictionary A-Z, so I want to pick a new word from the book, that I find interesting, and have Darcy present it to you! I hope you enjoy it!

©2011 Danee Gilmartin All rights reserved

This Jackson Pollock Artist Box/Book is by Helen A. Harrison, the director of the Pollock-Krasner House and Study Center. She designed it to introduce Pollock the person and the artist along with providing projects that will put kids in touch with his unique creative process. Using his techniques, read about in the book, kids can invent their own images using the art supplies that come with the box set.

FYI-I didn’t receive any compensation for this book review. I personally stumbled upon this book and liked it so much that I wanted to share it with you. I think that it is something parents and kids will find entertaining, as well as being educational.

©2011 Danee Gilmartin All rights reserved

Who left this comment on 11/-29 – “My favorite subject is my twins. It’s hard to get them to both look at the camera at the same time, never mind both smiling”

Congratulations, Randi! I hope you enjoy your Easy Canvas Print. And I wish you luck trying to pick just one photo out of all your favorites- much easier said then done!

And a big thank you to everyone that commented and shared their ideas on photography. I’ll be working on getting more interesting and fun giveaways like this one in the future!

Superrealism (not to be confused with Surrealism) is a style of painting and sculpture that was popular in the United States and Britain from the late 1960′s. It’s characterized by its use of  minute (exceptionally small) detail in its depiction of its subjects (Clarke 2010). Think Chuck Close or Brooklyn artist, Robert Cottingham or Richard Estes- these artists have produced work so detailed and refined that it is hard to believe that their paintings are not photographs.

I’m posting an “Art Word of the Day” inspired by a dictionary I bought at the MoMA bookstore that is focused on a broad range of art terms called “Oxford The Concise Dictionary of Art Terms“. I know most people might find it boring to sit down and read a dictionary A-Z, so I want to pick a new word from the book, that I find interesting, and have Darcy present it to you! I hope you enjoy it!

©2011 Danee Gilmartin All rights reserved

Then moving home, I got my little sidekick and Art Word of the Day helper, Darcy. Ever since then I can’t stop taking pictures of his every move. I don’t want to know just how extensive this picture taking obsession might grow to be when I have children. I’m going to need the biggest hard drive I can find just to store them all.

I’ve hung my favorite photos throughout the years; changing frames, sizes and positions on my walls every few months, displaying them different ways- on the walls, on the ground and on tables. I even had an electric photo rotator but that got old quick.

So, Easy Canvas Prints really caught my interest.

They take your favorite photos and step-up the creativity a notch by transferring them to canvas with a variety of sizes and details to choose from.

I expressed to the people at Easy Canvas Prints that my readers would be very interested in the idea of turning their favorite memories into an art canvas that they could show off on their walls and that I would love a to do giveaway of a canvas print for the holidays. Who doesn’t love free things, especially your favorite picture turned into an art display, that would also make an impressive gift?

To win your own picture turned into a 8×10 canvas print:

In the comments section, answer the question, “What is your favorite photography subject?” (Is it travel, family, pets, nature, etc.).

At the risk of being incredibly uncreative, when I lived in Paris my favorite thing to photograph was the Eiffel Tower- the way it changed in the developing evening light, different seasons, distance and lights. It was directly outside my window when I lived in the 7th Arrondissement and as a result I have THOUSANDS of photos of it. They recently turned my favorite shot that I took of the Eiffel Tower, as the sun was setting and its lights began to glow, that I caught one evening working on this blog from my Paris living room.

Also, would you please “like” them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

I’ll pick one winner, at random and announce them on December 5th 2011. But if you don’t win, don’t fret, you can always go to their website at Easy Canvas Prints (http://www.easycanvasprints.com/).

If you have a Twitter account, would you please re-tweet this post to give others a chance to enter (not necessary to enter, just appreciated).

Thanks and good luck!

This Giveaway is over and we have a winner. Thanks to everyone that participated! Check back for more in the future.

Guest post written by Sapphire-

Discovering Stockholm’s Culture:

Stockholm is best seen by foot, by bike using City Bikes service, or by boat. From the small streets of Gamla Stan no more than two feet wide or the old buildings that date from the 1600s splattered throughout the city, get your walking feet on. Start with a walk through Djurgården, the King’s garden island.  There you can see horse stables, old noble cottages, Skansen – the zoo and open air museum , and the Vasa Museum (Vasa Museet). Strandvägen borders the docks in Östermalm and from there you can see some of Sweden’s highest priced apartments and for us mere mortals, simply enjoy the waterfront view. Music lovers of ABBA, there’s a walk for you too! Steig Larsson lovers are not left behind either, there’s a tour to see all the streets and spots mentioned in the city. Want to see more of Stockholm’s thousand islands?  Then take a boat to Ekerö and see Drottningholm, the Queen’s castle. To see the vast archipelago take a boat to Vaxholm to see the fortress, visit a sleepy summer town. Mini forests litter the islands and Fjäderholmarna is a perfect island to picnic on and see the glass museum and gallery where you can find glass products and textiles by young emerging designers. Lovers of the Viking era must visit the magically cities, Sigtuna and Uppsala- it’s almost as if the fairies and gods never left them. ABBA isn’t the only group to come from Sweden. Stockholm thrives on a vibrant music scene. From opera at Operan to theaters across the city and to funk, you will not be left disappointed. Debaser and Pet Sounds are for the funky and those looking for something offbeat.  For the big bands, head to Berns or Globen. Kägelbanan & Södra Teatren will satisfy the international vibe in you and boost a breathtaking view to Gamla Stan, city center, and Djurgården.

Stockholm is full of museums. You cannot visit the city without viewing some of the finest museum collections. Most popular is the Vasa Museum. It is home to a sunken ship from the 1600s. Moderna & Arkitektur Museums have a splendid view to the city from the island of Skeppsbron. Lastly, Fotografiska has an impressive collection of photographic works. Being one of the oldest cities in Europe that still boasts a monarchy don’t miss Riddarholmen, the tiny island next to Gamla Stan. The church hosts the remains of the past kings of Sweden. Plus being kingly means a visit to Kungliga Slottet , the King’s Castle, on Gamla Stan. For a gorgeous view of the whole city visit Skrapan, the tallest building in the city. Or for an historic view to the islands visit Kastellet, the citadel, on the tiny island of Kastellholmen.

Eating:

Stockholm is full of food treasures. From the luxurious Michelin one star Lux to the hole-in-the-wall dumpling restaurant Fang Yung in Södermalm, there’s something for everyone. Get your bite on with traditional Swedish food in a classic krog, bar, at the Pelikan. For something a bit more modern head to La Neta, the most famous and only Mexican restaurant in Stockholm. Hermans and Hermitage are vegetarian restaurants that will make the meat eaters drool. Breakfast lovers will not be disappointed at Sirap, a traditional American breakfast diner. Coffee lovers can celebrate with the Swedish tradition of fika or “coffee-time.”  Head to Vetekatten after 15hr for a traditional fika tea time or into any café and grab a latte and a slice of cake or pie. And for a treat, head to any of the candy stores in Gamla Stan for a wild go at polka (peppermint) and Swedish plock godis (bin candy). Desiring ice cream?  Head to 18 Smaker , a homemade, organic ice cream parlor, fixed with Swedish flavors like lakrits and traditional goodness like dark chocolate. There’s nothing better than ending your day with a stor stark, a “big strong” on the tap, cheap beer.  But for those wanting to wet their beer palates, head to Monks or Akkurat. Cocktail lovers will enjoy the selection in the basement bar, Vampire Lounge. And for a classy glass of champagne, visit Stockholm finest bar at the Grand Hotel. During the summertime Stockholm explodes with outdoor serving at cafes, bars, and restaurants. Every minute of beautiful sunshine is not to be wasted.  Hang out at Ute Companiet in Stureplan or with the hip and funky at Debaser. And if you want both drinks and dinner, head to Kungsholmen restaurant for a funky, modern menu and its sister, Orangeriet to get your groove on rococo style.

Shopping:

Shopping is not centralized in Stockholm like some cities. That’s because the city is so small that each district has its own fabulous selection of stores. For delicious foods, visit the Saluhall, an indoor food market, and feast your eyes on fresh crayfish, salmon, and Swedish produce. Walk along the district’s main street, Birger Jarlsgatan, and pass Louis Vuitton, Gucci and other luxury stores. In the city centre, Gallerian and NK are Stockholm’s two official malls in the city. They’re both just a stone’s throw away from Sergels Torg and Kulturhuset. Drottningatan is Stockholm’s most central street and by far, the most crowded.  Start near Hötorget and walk south until you hit the Riksdag, the Swedish Parliament. You can be educated and shop in one go! The hip and happening part of the city is found in Södermalm. Stroll along Götgatan and take in the free and funky spirit of Stockholm. There’s the ubiquitous H&M as well as Whyred and even notebook shops. Hornsgatan, another popular street in Södermalm is full of second hand shops like Stockholm Stadsmission and Judiths. No matter where you are in Stockholm, there’s always a bucolic street hidden with lovely Scandinavian bits to buy.

Sleeping:

Cheap hostels in Stockholm are somewhat of a rarity but there are little gems around. Check out City Backpapers or Hostel B&B near Centralstation. If you want to say you lived on a boat, visit Skeppsholmen Vandrarhem on the island of Skeppsholmen. Remember though that most beds are located on land, so book early if you want to be on the boat. For the true romantic, there is the opulent and Stockholm’s only true luxury hotel, the Grand Hotel.

Stockholm is a charming city. Even if the rain falls and wind blows, there’s nothing more enchanting than sitting by candlelight enjoying a latte and slice of pie. You might even hearing Dancing Queen whisper in the wind.

]]> http://museumchick.com/2011/11/vasa-museum-stockholm.html/feed 4