Pamela Copeman » Winter Vacation Art Gazing

Winter Vacation Art Gazing

Jan 08 2013 · 0 comments · Art Exhibits & Events, Meanderings ·0

This year the holiday break afforded me a leisurely respite from work with plenty of time to sip champagne with friends and family and the luxury of a few days to partake in activities I most love…

One of my favorite ways to indulge is to view art; to gallery hop and gaze with amazement at art of all kinds, from oil paintings to textiles to paper art. Come with me and take a peek at what a visual delight my vacation truly was~

detail, The Daughters of Edward Darley Boit

The Daughters of Edward Darley Boit, 1882 by John Singer Sargent is a familiar painting to many art lovers. It is part of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston collection. This photograph highlights section of the painting where the youngest daughter playing with her dolly on the floor. I love having the ability to take (flash free) photos in museums and to focus in closely on the details, especially the paint strokes. Ahhh, the masterpiece.

Also by John Singer Sargent, this painting is titled An Artist in His Studio, 1904. Isn’t it glorious? Just look at the amazing portrayal of light and shadows!

Just how does one paint folds in white? Here is a close up to better help me understand that the variations in color, the brush size and the confident strokes that create this bed dress so beautifully.

This creation caught me by surprise as I turned the corner~ it was striking to see, large and imposing from a distance. As I approached, I saw it was dimensional and bursting with a palette of vibrant color. The orchid and the bird were breathtaking.

Upon even closer inspection I could see that it was cut out of felt and paper ~ how curious and marvelous at the same time!

My first love in design has always been fabric, and I believe it always will be. You can imagine my visceral reaction when I came to this display at the Metropolitan Museum in NYC. This African textile artwork was incredible. The unexpected elements of aluminum and copper gave the piece a wonderful shimmer and glow.

El Anatsui, Between Earth and Heaven, 2006

From the catalog description: “The undulation of this work evokes that tactile quality, and its resplendent color scheme of gold, red and black translate and transpose the aesthetic of finely woven silk into the medium of base metal recycled from liquor bottle caps.”

Simply stunning.

The Met has such diversity in and within its collections. It is an experience to see a Georgia O’Keeffe and then an Edward Hopper right next to it ~ lucky me!