one more thing...

How could I have forgotten? I must speak about the Louvre and the Musee D'Orsay. I had been to the Louvre before and to be honest, I enjoy the outside more than I enjoy the inside. It is incredible and full of so many great works. But, you see, that's just it--its full of TOO many pieces that it is all a bit overwhelming. I mostly just went and saw the Mona Lisa, the Nike, and some other sculptures I had wanted to see. This cause me to think, though, why the Mona Lisa? How do some people get so much recognition, when others can produce quality work and not a soul would know their name? I realize there are things that make these works so great, but it just makes me wonder how it happened? Who gets to decide? And I guess this is my Post-Modern Skepticism coming through...but I just don't get it...

Okay.. the Musee D'Orsay? Phenomenal. I loved it! Painting is my favorite art medium, so I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the rooms full of paintings. Also, it was not quite as crowded and noisy as the Louvre. I got to see works by Degas, one of my favorite artists. I love all of his ballerina pieces- I love the colors and the elegance with which he paints and sculpts. It was so incredible to be in Paris and see the work of Paris. I realize why painters fell in love with the city and the sky and the water. It was really cool to just see everything in its original context.

Paris turned out to be one my favorite trips. I so enjoyed getting to see and experience the insurmountable amounts of artwork in that city.

what is art anyway?

so i've learned so manythings about art and art history this semester...mostly because of our little portfolio for art history class.. but as our time here comes to a close i wanted to finish with a few of my thoughts about what art actually is..

Art is...
Expressed passion
history
inspiration
someone's inward reflections projected outward
moving
beautiful to someone (in meaning or visual appeal)
emotional (even if the emotion is emotionless)
something to be shared
what it is
buildings
houses
people
clothes
paintings
sculptures
landscapes
performances
skylines
churches
style
lighting on a stage

...I started this not knowing where it would go...but I do not feel like I could ever list all the things art is or could be...and I guess THAT is what I have learned this semester.

We are all tiny pieces of God's aesthetic masterpiece.

looking back...

As I look back to the beginning of the semester, I realize my view of art, art history, and its importance and relevance has completely changed.

I never realized how much art reflected the time in which it was being produced. I undersand now how art history intertwines with so many spheres of influence throughout history: political, social, religious, cultural, economical, etc...

Now, when I walk into a museum I get excited. I think it has to do with the knowledge I now have of the reasoning behind different artistic moevements, artists, and their works. I can see art in so many more things and aspects of life- I cannot help but be affected by my aknowledgement of art. I ave come to love and appreciate stadning in front of a major work of art. I love the thought that the artist stood at the exact point I stood at at one point. I love the fact that I am connected to all these people throughout history because we all identify with some aspect of a particular work of art.

Even within the conventions of time there is freedom to communicate passion and make things personal.

Under the Tuscan Sun

Approximately 17 hours ago I returned to my little home in Oxford from a glorious week in Italy. While I was there I traveled to Rome, Florence, Tavernelli, and La Spetzia. The two places out of the four with the most art were ROme and Florence. In every cathedral we stepped foot in, walls and ceilings were covered with paintings and detailed architectural structures.

The most impressive place I saw was the Vatican. I had been there before, but I did not remember the countless rooms full of paintings. I felt as though there was not a blank space in the whole city. I, of course, saw the Sistene Chapel in all its glory. It was beautiful. When I looked up at the ceiling I could not imagine being the one to complete the task for the Pope. I would have felt so overwhelmed to have completed one tiny section while lying on my back and realizing I had barely completed a fraction of the masterpiece. It is crazy to me that all of it was perfect to the tiniest detail. It seems that one would get tired and start to slack off at points. Though I had seen this before, I could not help but stand in silence, soaking in the entire experience.

Another place we went that I thought was just gorgeous was the St. Peter's Basillica. The cathedral was phenominal. I had been there too before and there were a few things I remembered, but it was just so neat to me to go back and visit a place where I had been before, but this time with new perspective. It was also (and I can't believe I'm saying this) neat to know a lot about the painters and the time periods from doing the art portfolio. All around Italy it was fun to look at the characteristics of buidlings and try to date them. Oh, and the most beautiful place in Venice was the Dome Cathedral (I can't remember the name right now). It was, hands down, the most beautiful and unique cathedral on the outside. I felt the outside was more interesting than the inside.

The art that I saw this past week in Italy was so beautiful and was the reason the trip was so enjoyable. It was awesome to be surrounded by the history there and the art was something to remind us of the history.

art art art. i love art.

THis past week I have really been thinking about how much I'm going to miss this place. There's something about the history in the buildings I pass by every day, that give me a mystical feeling. The history, the architecture, the beautiful creation of the ultimate Artist. As I look back, I realize I have been to museums all over Europe to experience many types of art forms. Some of the best art I've seen, however, have not been in these museums.

I have learned that art is a form of expression and I have seen people express themselves in so many ways. I have seen it through dance, poetry, sidewalk chalk, street performers, street statues. I do not like all the forms of art I've seen, but I have grown to appreciate how art is an integral part of society. I don't know if it is because I am here, but it feels like art is more recognized , more widely appreciated, and more widely known about here in Europe.

I am planing on going back to London for a day before I leave to see the National and the Tate one more time. I love being here and having the opportunity to see all of these great pieces of art and history.

sweet sweden

This last weekend I went to Sweden with five friends. It was absoltely beautiful. The archetecture in Sweden was a close second to Spain for me. The colors were lovely. Because Stockholm is a town made up of tiny islands, I coudl stand on one island and see tall cathedrals and building standing atop the hill of another isle. Everything was really close together, which is like most of the European cities I have been to. I really get to enjoy God's beauty through architecture.

We went to the Stockholm Cathedral. I remember whispering to Zach, "this just doesn't get old." It's so true. You'd think I'd be over pretty cathedrals, but I just can't get over the beauty: the structure of the building, the paintings inside, the intricate detail, the minds behind it all. All of it takes me back to the Father. Even when we went to the Nobel Museums, I could not help but marvel at the artisitc train of thought all around me. I know these talents and isnpirations are divine.

Before coming to study abroad, I had a very narrown view of what constitutes as art. Now, I am learning to see it in almost everything. I don't know if that's theoretically correct, but it's the perspective I've come to take on since I have been here. I hope it doesn't change when I go back home. It is hard to think of the artistic beauty in Abilene Texas, but I know it is there. It is simply looking at things with a different perspective.

i want more-rockin art

I'm sticking with the trend of clever blog titles. In this one "more-rocking" can be subbed out for "Moroccan."

This past week I went to Morocco, Africa. It was absolutely beautiful- the people, the places- everything! It was a completely different world than any place I've traveled to before. The art there was everywhere. The pottery was beautifully painted with vibrant colors, all of which took on different sizes, shapes, and forms. The architecture was pretty simple in most parts and many of the houses and building were a bright white color which contrasted beautifully with the bright blue sky above.

I realized that there is a form of art, i had not previously classified as art: apparel. It become extrememly evident to me that these people designed and manufactured clothing, shoes, and accessories with such intricate detail and with much thought. I brought back an entire collection of this beautiful art. THis art is how they survive. You can see the pride in their eyes as they show off the handmade jewelry and the dress they had just sewn. It was a beautiful metaphor, to me, of how God must look at us; as his own, hand-knit, individually unique pieces of art.

Also, I got a hena tattoo with Jessalyn. It was crazy how this lady gave us the tattoos all over our hands in less than five minutes. All we had to do was pick out a desgin and she went to town. It was madness.

I loved getting to see and experience new forms of art in Africa this past week. I am starting to see things with different eyes. I am starting to realize how important it is to recognize and aknowledge GOd's art. The people he has created with so many different skin colors, hair colors, eye colors, body structures: they are all so beautiful and unique. I realize, just like any artist likes to be complimented on their work, God loves when I tell him how much I love the beauty he has created. I need to do this so much more than I do.

Thank you, Father, for the constant beauty all around me!

ash wednesday

Basically, the title of this blog has nothing to do with Ash Wednesday. I simply couldn't think of a title for what I wanted to write about this week. Every week we go to the Ashmolean on Wednesday, so I put two and two together and wrote "Ash Wednesday." I know...I'm clever.

This last week when I went to the Ashmolean I couldn't help but look at this painting by Giotto. It is a painting of Jesus' crucifixion. Underneath Jesus on the cross, lies Jesus body being mourned over by Mary and the disciples. This was one of the first times I was drawn to the expressions on the disciples' faces. It nearly brought me to tears because it made me think how Jesus's death affected them personally.

The discpiles had just lost their best friend, the man they had spent so much time with, the one man that made them feel more important than anyone else, the man they could coonect with more than anyone and that knew them better than they knew themselves. Sure, they knew he would raise again, but with that knowledge came the knowledge that they would not get to be with him like that until they were in eternity with them. Their humanity I could really relate to. I just realized how hard it must have been for them. It was also interesting to see the different personalities and how they handled grief; some weeping, others sad, and Peter looking frustrated.

I am learning to put myself into the art and it really beomces personal; well, at least when it is something that is important to me.

una calle en espana

So this last weekend I went to Spain. One word encompasses my trip there- beauty.

THis is the first week I haven't gone somewhere for the sole purpose of observing art. THis, however, did not limit my ability to experience art. I walked down street after street of beautiful Spanish architecture. THe colors of the buildings were suttle blues, peaches, pinks, and creams. I fell in love with it. I realized that the colors of the old buildings had a positive affect on my mood. The sun created shadows on the walls and for the first time these shadows made me think "beauty." I wish I had a better word to use, but that is the one that kept popping into my head.

I realized as I came back to Oxford that light and shading affect moods. I am drawing the connection between paintings and real life. As I walked down the street yesterday, the sky was overcast and I felt "blah", for lack of a better word. Don't get me wrong- the buildings and people filling the streets were still just as beautiful, but I realized as I walked that I became more contemplative and deep in thought. I become more solumn and reflective. Today, I was walking down the same street and the sun was out shining and the sky was bright blue and I felt like everyone around me could see the smile booming from my face.

I am beginning to realize that where I am experiencing art, whether through a painting or through a walk in God's beautiful creation, I can be affected by it if I let myself. I realize that light and shading have everythign to do with how I personally amd affected by any type of creation, be it GOd's or be it man's.

a walk in the streets

This past week I did not go to any museums or anywhere in particular for the sole purpose of viewing art. I have realized however

Crazy Modern

This weekend we went to London again. Instead of going to the National Gallery and the British Museum, we went to the Tate Modern. HOLY SMOKES! I loved it! I have not been to a modern art museum in such a long time. The last time I went to a modern art gallery, I was too young to understand or appreciate it. This time I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I regret to say I only was able to stay a little over an hour, which hardly long enough to being to scratch the surface of the artwork there.

Once again, my attention was drawn to the paintings. I found myself being drawn to paintings with bright color schemes and a lot of black in them. Also, the less distinct the shapes, the better. I tended to gravitate towards paintings that had a splashed look. On my favorites, I could see places where the hand of the artist had smudged or drug his/her hand along to piece.

I realized that this art is so very intimate. THe focus, for me, was the more the painting process of the artist. As I stood in front of pieces I learned to just "be" and marinade in the art. I put my ipod in because I wanted to feel like I was alone. It was a time of introspection for me. I thought about how in my time here I feel I have become more enlightened. Art is so much more important to me. I have never been challenged to think about art much at all, much less think of art intelligently. It is so exciting to me because I feel the longer I am here, the deeper my connection with the art, the deeper my connection with the culture and the people. Art is something that is so much a part of life here, that it is not something people recognize, it is just part of who they are. THat is my take on it at least.

I am excited for my appreciation to grow more. I am so enjoying all of this learning, being emersed in a culture of art apprectiation. Also, I am going to start painting when I get home- just for myself.

We Live in a Beautiful World

This past week we did not go to any new museums or anything, but we did go to the Ashmolean again. At first I was not excited about it because I felt like I had seen all there was to see. Once I got there, however, I turned on my ipod and began to listen to some relaly mellow music. I must admit, I did not have the best attitude when I first got there because I was tired and had a lot of homework to do. As I started to look around the Ashmolean again, the beauty struck me again as if I was seeing it for the first. THis time, there were new pieces that caught my attention that I had glanced over previous weeks. There was one with the Shephards sitting on a hill looking at JErusalem. I hit me that this was something they had waited to see their entire lives, and all the could do was sit and stare.

This week I have seen beauty in so many things. I have learned that architecture is something that truely catches my eye as a breathtaking art. The detail on the abbies we have visited is phenominal. When I see this man-made art, i can not help but notice the creator of art. His pieces of art are the artist. We are his artwork and he gets to chanel his art through us. Perhaps this is what it means when scripture says we have the "mind of Christ." We get to see things how he sees them and then we create art from His inspiration.

True to the Son

This past week I had the amazing opportunity to go to the British museum AND the National Gallery in London. The British museum was great and I was especially drawn to the Greek section of the museum. The artifacts from the Parthenon and the archetecture were absolutely beautiful. I love to see the detail carved into every area of the building. I love the theme of perfection with the Greek sculptures. As I was looking around at the "fit" Greek bodies, I remembered that Grecians were very competative and hosted many games and athletic competative events. It seems that they prided themselves on their built, in-shape appearances. Ok, enough about that- it was just fun to make the connection even though I'm sure almost everyone knew that already.

Now, the National Gallery. This was my favorite part of the whole time I spent in London. We literally stayed at the museum for three hours. When I was little, I never would have dreamt I could do such a thing. The crazy thing is- I loved every moment of it. I could sit here and write for hours because there was just so much to take in. I can't wait to go back because it was almost overwhelming. Scratch that- it was overwhelming. Though I could write this whole blog over the time there (and probably fifty million more blogs), I just want to point out one thing I noticed that day...

We talked in class about how there is so much Christian or religious art in British history- I love that! But, I must admit I was a little disheartened when Professor Wiggins pointed out the reasoning behind it. He asked us, "who was the ruling power during that time?" and of course the answer is the Church. If the church owned everything and controlled where government money was spent, consequently, the artists would make things the Church would buy/support. This frustrated me because I had been so moved before when I had looked at religous art and I thought it was so awesome that people had these important things on their minds. I loved the thought that people were free to paint whatever they wanted, and they choose to make paintings of Jesus. When I found out that many painters probably painted these things to make a living and appease the Church, I couldn't help but think less of the holiness I had felt about paintings I had seen before.

This is the cool thing, though...

When we went to the national Gallery, I stood in front of a painting of Jesus that literally made me cry (another thing I never would have thought I would ever do). I was so incredibly moved by the expression on his face, that I could almost hear him talking to me. it made me long for when I get to see him face to face and just be in his presence all the time. I realized as I kept lookingthat day that there were other paintings of him and/or Mary and the disciples that moved me. There were also many that of the same things, from world renown artists even, that were beautiful, but hardly moving (to me). They seemed cold and lifeless. I was able to make clear distinctions of those that were painted for the purpose of the Church, and those that were painted out of an intimate spiritual connection. When the connection was there, the atmosphere around the subject(s) of the painting was emotional and the facial expressions spoke ever so loudly.

Anyway, that's enough for now. Like I said, I could write about this for days.

peaceadeace

You Speak Truth

I'm really enjoying seeing the connection with art, history, and literature. It is so interesting to me to really engage in the art here because I am surrounded by it. My apprecition for art has already increased in the short time I have been here. For the first time I am beginning to think about art from an intelectual standpoint. Just in the few minutes of being in the AShmolean, I feel like I connected with the artists on a deep level. The most moving pieces to me are those that examine specific moments in time. I love the reactions on peoples' faces. At this point I have not decided which kind of art is my favorite but I'm eager to form my own opinions. I have never really been challenged to have a mind of my own when it comes to art. I have always been told who is good, but I have never had a lot of time to delve into the art myself and see who and what I like and why I appreciate it.