Archive for the ‘(Cathy) Jiayan’ Category

Who He Is: A Selfless Giver

Friday, December 14th, 2007

 DAD!

As the dishes were being washed, dried, and stored away in the cupboard by one of his daughters, he rummaged in the garage for his toolbox and materials. Always a fanatic about order, the flat metal rods, 13 by 10 plastic squares, saw, tape measurer, nails, and drill were neatly placed on the kitchen dinner table. Propping his knee up against one of the chairs, he measured the rod and began sawing the metal until it reached a satisfactory length. He continued this process with a lot of grunts and sighs, until four rods were appropriately cut. This was just the beginning process of one of his new project: making frames for pictures and artworks. (more…)

Signing the Pictures

Friday, December 14th, 2007

 Jpeg

Photography has exponentially expanded throughout the years.  In order to establish a successful career amongst the already well-known photographers, artists have to either create or take innovative and distinctive pictures.

(more…)

Photography Heroes

Friday, December 14th, 2007

 Taro and Capa

Common definitions of heroes today are firemen, policemen, or working mothers.  But few recognize the bravery of war photographers, who risk their lives to capture the brutality of war and violence.

The International Center of Photography highlighted the achievement and valor of two photographers, Gerda Taro and Robert Capa, through the exhibit “Partisans and Picture Makers in Love and War.”

(more…)

Talent or Innovation?

Friday, December 14th, 2007

Circles

With exhibits such as Abstract Expressionism and Other Modern Works, one cannot help but wonder what constitutes an artwork as “abstract” and not just some random paint spills.  Muriel Kallis Steinberg Newman, collector of the paintings and sculptures shown in the exhibit, was introduced to the world of art collection through her husband Jay Z. Steinberg.  As a practicing painter herself, she has appreciation for the contemporary artists and her collection demonstrates that appreciation through its wide array of reputable artists.  Her collection is recognized as one of the finest collection of American Abstract Expressionism.

Abstract art is defined as “art that does not depict objects in the natural world, but instead uses color and form in a non-representational way.”

Some works found in the exhibit, such as William de Kooning’s “Naked woman” (from his 1949’s major project “Attic”) and Jackson Pollock’s “#28,” clearly follow this definition.  (more…)

Walker Evans

Wednesday, November 28th, 2007

Evans 2evans3evans4

Natural settings and poses, raw, and honest.  These are some of the qualities of Walker Evans’ photographs.  Known today as one of America’s best documentary photographer,  Evans was born on November 3, 1903 in Saint Louis, Missouri.  In his early adolescent years, he had wanted to be a writer but his talent in photography and with the encouragement of other photographers, Evans changed his career choice.  He focused on street photography and has the ability to take ordinary, sometimes ugly, features and depict them in a beautiful way.  (more…)

Bring in the Music, Bring in the Voices!

Wednesday, November 28th, 2007

Aida

There are many reasons why the Metropolitan Opera has good reviews, and Aida is one of them.

Known for its “over the top” set and extravagant designs, the MET did not disappoint with its production of Aida.  From the golden curtain to the dozen hanging crystal chandeliers, the monumental set, and live horses, the spectators were in for a grand show.

(more…)

The Juxtaposition of Old and New

Tuesday, November 27th, 2007

Coney Island          Bridging the Connection Between Generations

One of the best and worst things about street photography is the element of surprise.

What happens in the street, what you see on the street, and what people do on the street can’t be controlled. This can both work in favor of the photographer, or against the photographer.

(more…)

Who’s Angela Brown?

Tuesday, November 27th, 2007

Angela Brown

The celebrities “exemplified” in magazines and tabloids today typically follow the same path as Britney Spears: a young modest person who loses his or her sense of self when he or she become engrossed with fame. It is a relief then, to be able to find someone who is down to earth, and still has her cultural identity intact.

(more…)

Same Difference

Tuesday, November 27th, 2007

Same Difference

My collage’s theme is more of a personal awakening, and perhaps more abstract than the common definition of awakening. It is a self-realization.

When people learn about my twin sister, some of the first things people would say to me is, “So, if I hit your sister, would you feel it too?” or “Do you guys think about the same thing at the same time?” (more…)

The New Genre

Monday, November 26th, 2007

Nunez

The simple, disoriented, and humorous narrative of A Feather on the Breath of God is reflected in the author, Sigrid Nunez.

Daughter to a Chinese-Panamanian father and a German mother, Nunez grew up speaking neither of her parents’ language. Instead, she is proficient in English and became both a teacher and a writer. Her novels are deemed a “new type of fiction” because of her “singular ability to bring the reader to the point of understanding the subject.” She is able to write a compelling fictional story, convincing the reader that every word is dipped in truth. How does she do this? (more…)