AN OPTIMIST IS....

An optimist is a driver who thinks that empty space at the curb won't have a hydrant beside it.

~Jules Renard~

LAST POST FROM THE FRALIN MUSEUM 0F ART

I found this last exhibit very interesting.  We entered the first room of a two room exhibit where we could see several heads on the walls.  The lighting was dark but each head had spotlights on them.  It is called "sometimes.we.cannot.be.with.our.bodies", and went on display February 22nd, 2019 and will end on July 7th, 2019.

The information on the website reads: "The artist, Vanessa German, is a visual and performance artist based in the Pittsburg neighborhood of Homewood.  

Homewood is the community that is the driving force behind Ms. German's powerful performance work, and whose cast-off relics form the language of her copiously embellished sculptures.  As a citizen artist, Ms. German explores the power of art and loves as a transformative force in the dyanamic cultural ecosystem of communities and neighborhoods.  She is the founder of Love Front Porch and the ARThouse, a community arts initiative for the children of Homewood.  

sometimes.we.cannot.be.with.our.bodies, is an immersive installation of sculpture and sound that originated at the Mattress Factory, Pittsburgh, in 2017, and is being reimagined in the Fralin.  In the artist's words, "this is a dimensional living reckoning, the living reckoning is bold, eruptive, disruptive work against systems and pathologies that oppress and subvert overt and covert violence onto and into the lives and humanity of marginalized people on this land."  Ms. German will be in residence in March, working with students and community members, creating art, poetry and understanding.  The work will travel to The Union for Contemporary Art, as part of the annual Wanda D. Ewing Commission in September, 2019."

There is an interesting biography of Ms. German here.  I'm sorry for all the adverts on this page, but her story is so interesting and I couldn't find another website that told it in such detail, plus the fact that the photos are great.  The website is at Artnet News.

 To continue, the bodies who could not be with their heads, were seen as soon as you stepped through a doorway out of this darkened room, and into a much brighter one.  It is quite a visual effect and at first I couldn't take in what was before me.  But then I started looking at the detail and was amazed at the ingenuity of this lady's work.  It is extraordinary and like a lot of works of art, photos do not do it justice.  

You would really have to see this with your own eyes, but I hope I have captured some of the genius that captivated me.  Frankly I could have stayed in there much longer than I did...

and I could not stop taking photos.  I am grateful that the museum allows us to do that.  I always ask.

In closer and you get to see the details of what has been used.

Everything imaginable.

I recognize the pattern on these stockings.  An old neighbor and friend made us a blanket in the same design.

This is my first experience of performance art and it was definitely a good one.  

There is no admission to the museum and you can stay there as long as it takes.  The staff are friendly and helpful too.

Thanks for joining me on this tour of the Fralin Museum of Art.  I hope you enjoyed it.

  

EXHIBITS AT THE FRALIN MUSEUM

The Fralin Museum of Art at the University of Virginia is much smaller than ones I have been to, but their exhibits are as interesting as any I have seen in larger museums.

If you need to see anything up close, don't forget you can enlarge each photo by clicking on them for a better view, and an easier read of the explanations.

My tastes in art tend to be more traditional... 

but I can still appreciate an artist's work and their reasons for creating such a piece.

And I really liked the flooring, as I did the colors they used for painting this large room.

There were others on display but I think I have shared enough for today.  I will have one more post on an exhibit tomorrow, one that I found so interesting I am going to make it the main subject of my next post.

Enjoy your week everyone, and thank you for taking a look at my shares from the Fralin Museum of Art in Charlottesville, Virginia.

THE FRALIN MUSEUM OF ART, UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA IN CHARLOTTESVILLE

Last Saturday we decided to visit the Fralin Museum of Art at the University of Virginia.  We were in Charlottesville for a wedding and we had a few hours on our own before we joined our family.  The information on the sculpture reads "Oriform - stainless steel - modeled 1962, fabricated 1977 - Jean Arp, 1886 to 1996 - Courtesy of the National Gallery of Art, Washington to the American People in gratitude - Leon Chalette, Arthur Lejwa and Madeleine Chalette Lejwa, 1978.22.1.

There were other works of art on the grounds.  Above you can see The Fralin Bull (I have tried to find out who created it with no success), and pieces of old columns...

Also no information on these.

There were two planters on each side of the entrance...

and these very pretty Oak-leaf Hydrangeas on the street before you walk up the steps to the building.

According to the website, the Oakleaf Hydrangea is one of the few hydrangeas native to the United States (H. arborescens being the only other native they are aware of). 

The Oakleaf gets its name from the shape of its leaves, which turn into beautiful autumn colors later on in the year, red, orange, yellow and burgundy.  More information at the links I have provided.

I will share exhibits inside the museum on Monday.  

Have a great weekend everyone, and thanks for stopping by.