Artwork of the month: True beauty.

This marble sculpture is one of the most beautiful marble busts that I have ever seen. It is on display at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.  It will surprise you with its perfection if you let it.  

Jean Antoine Houdon

French, 1741-1828

"Portrait of Madame de Sérilly"

1780, marble

"Positively, my social philosophy may be said to be enshrined in three words: liberty, equality and fraternity.  Let no one however say that I have borrowed my philosophy from the French Revolution.  I have not.  My philosophy has its roots in religion and not in political science.  I have derived them from the teachings of my master, the Buddha."
-B. R. Ambedkar (founder of the Indian constitution)

Artwork of the month: The most popular item at the MIA.

If there is one thing that I can count on at while working at the Minneapolis Institute of arts is that someone will ask me where the "Veiled Lady" is.

The Veiled Lady is the most popular work of art at the MIA. There is a good reason for it, it is simply amazing.   The marble was sculpted to look as if the woman was wearing a veil, and it truly captures the illusion.  This is a magnificent work of art.  Albeit, this type of sculpture was extremely popular in Italy during the late 1800's.  Regardless of this type of sculpture being common, this is a masterwork.

Raffaelo Manti

Italian, 1818-1881

"Veiled Lady"

1860, marble

Come down to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts...

...ask a security guard where it is.

Rabbititus studies.

I like this direction...

...now to work on movement.

Artwork of the month: Yves Tanguy's Reply to Red.

Tanguy has been one of my favorite artists since I was in high school. His use of light-source is strict and as uncomplicated as his compositions. Albeit, his work is not simple. The forms appear to be wrapped in fabric, containing his personal subject matter and eluding to your own experiences.

You can see two of Tanguy's paintings on display at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.

Yves Tanguy

French, 1900-1955

"Reply to Red"

1943, oil on canvas

"I believe there is little to gain by exchanging opinions with other artists concerning either the ideology of art or technical methods."

-Yves Tanguy

I also believe the opinions of my contemporaries is without value...

...in that I can only trust myself.

Artwork of the month: Harriet Goodhue Hosmer's Medusa.

I spend a lot of time at museums.  I live a few blocks from the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, where I find myself walking among the magick of art history on an almost daily biases.  I visited the MIA as a child, and  now as an adult I have been a regular patron since I moved to Minneapolis since 1996.  I have fallen in love with a sculpture there;  "Medusa" by Harriet Goodhue Hosmer.

As one of americas first female sculptors, Harriet Goodhue Hosmer focused on the historic plight of women.  I truly love the philosophy of this sculpture, and it is a beautiful work of art.  I have been fortunate enough to look at this sculpture for the last 10 years.  It is on display on the 3rd floor of Minneapolis Institute of Arts.

Harriet Goodhue Hosmer

American, 1830-1908

"Medusa"

1854

Marble

Go to the MIA and spend some time with this marvel...

...it will teach you beauty and suffering.