Philadelphia Trip-Brooke Knepp

I was very excited to participate in the Philadelphia trip because Philly is so close to my hometown and also because I love the city. Philly is full of life and history, which makes it so exciting to visit. I had a very hard time deciding which museums to go to but I think I made the right choices. The first museum I chose was The Academy of Natural Sciences. The main reason I chose this museum was the traveling exhibit that was advertised on the front of the building, which I will later talk more in depth about. The second museum I chose was The Franklin Institute. One of the reasons I chose this museum was because of the memories I have of going there when I was a child. I wanted to relive my childhood trips to the city and see what The Franklin Institute had today and if it had changed.

When I first walked up to The Academy of Natural Sciences I noticed they had an exhibit called A Many-Colored Glass. It intrigued me because it said that the exhibit was Ethereal Images of Microscopic Marine Life. My first impression of this exhibit was that it was going to be an exhibit displaying actual sea glass, something that people collect from different oceans/shores. I didn't take into consideration the "Images of Microscopic Marine Life" description on the advertisement, so when I saw what the display actually was, I was surprised.

Although the exhibit wasn't exactly what I had pictured in my mind, it was still very interesting and I enjoyed studying the art that can be made from these tiny little creatures that no one would ever think to exist. Many of the pieces resemble things that are so familiar to me, such as flowers, shells and jewels. It was also neat to learn that this collection of pieces has been created by an artist and a scientist.

The artist of these beautiful creations is Fay Darling. Fay is a photographer, colorist, freelance writer, and a former art gallery owner. She now resides in Rhode Island. The scientist is Dr. Paul Hargraves, an oceanography professor at the University of Rhode Island. He now studies diatoms and other microscopic marine organisms at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute of Florida Atlantic University in Fort Pierce, Florida.

Hargraves and Darling first met in 1960 when they were students at the University of Rhode Island. Recently, they reconnected through e-mail when Hargraves ran across some of Darling's photographs online. He sent her some images of diatoms and she began colorizing them. The two have been collaborating their work ever since. What I found so interesting about this exhibit was how an artist and a scientist could combine their completely different forms of work into art that is so beautiful. I love the colors Darling uses for the organisms because they are so bright and vibrant. The colors are so strong that they draw you in to take a closer look at the piece. I also enjoyed learning about these microorganisms that no one really knows about but when they are put under the microscope and tampered with, they are beautiful.

The second museum I chose to visit was The Franklin Institute. As I mentioned earlier, I chose this museum because it reminded me of when I was a child taking trips into the city with my parents or with school to visit different museums and historical monuments. The Franklin Institute always kept my mind thinking. There is so much to learn from the multiple and life-like exhibits in this museum.

Between all of the fun and activities the museum has to offer, I did manage to find some very interesting artwork that I had never seen before. I walked into Sir Issac's Loft because it said, "Where Art and Physics Collide" which caught my eye because I was curious to see how this was possible. I couldn't figure out where the actual "art" was when I first walked in because there were all kinds of activities in this room. As I walked to the back of the room I noticed quite a few pieces of very different art.

The piece I found the most significant was a piece called Fides: Goddess of Good Faith and Honesty. The piece was made in 2002 and is a solar photogram. The artist is Martha Madigan and she is known for "capturing the sun". Madigan makes photographs without a camera, and these images are called photograms. What you need is photographic paper, objects and sunlight. After several minutes in the sun, the paper darkens from exposure. Processing the paper in chemicals makes the image permanent.

I liked Fides because it is an image of a young woman looking to the side with her hair blowing in the wind. It is a peaceful image to me and reminds me a little of myself just relaxing on a windy day outside looking at the world around me. I love how she uses images of humans to develop in the sun because it brings out the true nature of our being. I also enjoyed this piece because the techniques seemed similar to the solar plate project we are currently working on in class. It was really neat to learn about the techniques Madigan uses and comparing them to what we have done in class and turns me on to learning more about the techniques she uses so I could possibly use them with what I have learned in class in the future.

Overall, I enjoyed my trip to Philadelphia. I think I chose two very unique museums and I learned from them. I learned that the smallest things in life could turn into something so beautiful with a little bit of color and by using real objects like humans and flowers to develop their true beauty in the sun is such a meaningful piece of work. I also really enjoyed being able to relate to Fides in more than one way.

Philadelphia Museum Trip- Deanna Barnes

The first Museum that I visited was the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Even though I have seen this museum many times before it always strikes me as beautiful. The Museum is most strongly influenced by ancient Greek temples; this is apparent in the building’s layout, the columns and the statues. The large steps in the front could be influenced by Etruscan temples more than Greek temples because the steps in a Greek temple go all around the building. Looking up at the building from the street is intimidating due to the size and grandeur of the design. As I go up the stairs the size increases and the elaborate decorations become even more intricate. One of the most detailed parts of the building could be the Corinthian columns in the center pavilion, but there are also Ionic columns on either side. The colors that decorate the top of the buildings and the columns are bright oranges and teals. When I reach the top of the stairs and I can see the entire building, which is no longer intimidating but inviting because of the warm tones such as rich honey and orange, accented by a variation of bright colors. These bright color and decorations on the tops of the pavilions and columns seem to be inspired by Ancient Egyptian art.

One of the most beautiful parts of the exterior Museum are the statues that are placed all around; the gryphon on the edges of the roof, the equestrian statues placed on either side of the steps or the magnificent statues that fill the pediment of the northeastern pavilion. The pediment statues are the most appealing, because they stand out from the other statues in many ways. They are larger than life size, brilliantly colored terracotta figures that are only on one side of the building. The statues are inspired by mythological gods and goddesses of western culture, they display sacred love. Unfortunately the two remaining pediments are empty though it is easy to imagine what they could look like if they were filled.

When I enter the museum I observe that the Greco-Roman theme is continued throughout the interior, the colors are warm and the space is very open. The columns are on either side of the staircase leading my eyes to the sculpture of the Roman goddess Diana. The statue is over 14 feet tall and made of copper sheets which give the sculpture a green color. Diana stands gracefully on top of a ball while she aims her bow and arrow.

After walking through the museum I found a painting that fascinated me on several levels. The painting Ancient Bird and Mummified Bird by Leon Kelly caused me to stair at it's canvas trying to understand what I was seeing. The painting depicts two brilliantly colored birds attached to each other. It was the detail and the bizarre quality that kept me so transfixed especially after I gave up on trying to understand the concept. After reading the description and learning that the artist is from Philadelphia I felt a deeper connection to the artwork.

A more historical piece of art that caught my eye was the Portrait of Elizabeth Brown Montier by Franklin R. Street. This artwork was paired with another by the same artist which shows the husband of Elizabeth Brown Montier. I was drawn to this painting because it is paired with a portrait of her husband. Seeing them together was quite romantic and upon reading the description I learned that they were newlyweds from Philadelphia at the time the portraits were done. I also learned that they were a prosperous African-American couple living freely in the seventeenth century. As I learned this information I was very interested in learning more about them and I also felt a connection to them.

For my 2nd museum trip I visited the Rodin Museum, also located on the Ben Franklin Parkway. This museum houses bronze casts of the original clay sculptures of Auguste Rodin. The exterior of the museum is currently under construction but from what was visible I could tell that the museum is classically designed; mostly a Greco-Roman theme.

The first statue to greet visitors is the statue of the Thinker, alone this statue could represent philosophy or contemplation. In the center of the entranceway is The Gates of Hell, a sculpture of two doors on which are many depictions of torture and damnation. Some of the small sculptures found throughout the Gates are miniatures of larger statues found inside and outside the museum. The Thinker for example can be seen at the very top of The Gates of hell though because of the context he is considered to be the artists depiction of the author Dante, because Rodin based The gates of Hell on his poem The Divine Comedy.

Inside the museum the design is also very classical, the high vaulted ceilings remind me of a cathedral. The content inside the museum was a mixture of bronze and marble casts of original clay sculptures. The museum was founded by Jules Mastbaum who was inspired to make museum dedicated to the works of Auguste Rodin in Philadelphia. Unfortunately the French government would not allow anyone to take Rodins original clay sculptures and Mastbaum was only able to bring back casts made from the originals. Even though these casts were not made by Rodin I still felt connected to him because I could see each mark he made with his fingers.

Off to one side of the museum was a section devoted to Rodin's sculptures of hands. It is clear that Rodin studied the expressions of hands in great detail by looking at one sculpture in particular, The Cathedral shows two very delicate hands almost entwined. To me, these hands are the definition of beauty and grace even though there is no face or body to go along with them. After observing how intensely Rodin worked on hands in this section I notice that the hands in each sculpture of the museum are incredibly expressive and capable of telling a story on their own.

In the center of the Museum is a large sculpture titled The Burgers of Calais, which is based on the story of six men who volunteered to be sacrificed in order to save the starving people of their town. Rodin's goal in The Burgers of Calais was to capture the emotions of the six men during the moments that they believed they were about to die. The statues stand slightly larger than life among the viewers but they are placed atop a small pedestal instead of a larger one. By placing these sculptures so low to the ground the viewer is able to look into the faces of each man and really feel the emotions of sorrow and submission. Whether holding on tightly to the keys of the city or attempting to make the viewer to witness the sculptures as a whole, the hands show just as much tension and expression as the faces of this sculpture.

Megan Lewis

The closest I had ever come to being in Philadelphia was going to the airport. So when i found out that the art department was holding a trip to go I jumped at the chance. I was especially excited to see the art galleries. Having been to the MOMA in New York just this past summer I was curious to see how the galleries and museums in Philadelphia would compare.

When the bus pulled up in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art I was completely in awe. It was absolutely beautiful. The steps, pillars, and outside sculptures were amazing, and the inside was even better. As I walked across the marble foyer and up the stone stairway I could only imagine what kind of treasures awaited my eyes. The museum was everything i expected and more. Every room held beautiful, inspiring works of art. Even though I was captivated by the whole experience, one particular work really moved me.

Walking around the second floor exhibits I was looking everywhere at once waiting to see what things caught my eye next and then I turned a random corner and fell in love with "Spring". The painted glass seemed to glow with an otherworldly light. It was amazing and seemed so pure. I was absolutely enraptured by it. It was one of the most inspiring things I have ever seen.

Though "Spring" was the most moving piece in the museum for me there were definitely other exhibits that were very entertaining. Some of my favorite exhibits were the Asian village replica, the Hindu sculptures, the stone carvings, and the medieval weaponry and armor. These three exhibits really captured my attention. They were extremely interesting and fun to peruse.

The Asian village replica was life size, which made it able for people to walk through. It had a cobblestone walkway, replicated native plants, and stone decorations. It also had a shrine inside one of the houses dedicated to one of the Hindu gods. Some of the areas were roped off though and i would have liked to get closer and look around more. It was a really cool replica to look at and walk around in.

The Hindu sculptures were a lot of fun because they were so intricate. Most of them had multiple appendages such as arms which was interesting to look at. They also had intricate headdresses and jewelry. Some of them even had animal-like qualities and features. They were really different but unique sculptures.

The medieval exhibit was really fun to look at. All of the weapons and armor were barbaric and awesome. I had read about such weapons in stories and history but to see it in person is a different experience all together. My favorite part were the different swords. Some had designs on them and others were so big it looked like no one would be able to pick them up. Overall though the Entire collection was really great to look at.

Even when I was leaving the museum there were still great things to see. Right outside the museum there was a fantastic fountain, and right above it was a sculpture of Greek god's and goddesses. The steps leading up to the entrance were covered with chalk drawings, and the view from the top of the steps into downtown Philadelphia was amazing.

Another gallery that I visited while in Philadelphia was the Moore College of Art and Design Public Gallery. There were some really interesting pieces in the gallery. For example there was a display of larger than life shoes decorating the one hallway, in which alumni from the college had decorated. The display that caught my eye the most though was the photos of African American children that were colored white in some parts. The artists goal in this exercise was to have students draw themselves as if they were another race. I thought that this exhibit was really controversial, but beautiful as well. It made me really think about the children in the photos and what they must think about race by their pictures.

Overall the trip to Philadelphia was amazing. I had a great time, and loved all of the museums and galleries I got to experience. It was fun just walking around and taking in all of the different places. Even though I was exhausted at the end of the day I was glad that I got to go to such a fantastic city and experience all it had to offer.

Philadelphia Trip - Erica LoPresti

The second I was told there was going to be a field trip to Philadelphia, I knew I was going to sign up to go. I had only been to Philadelphia once before with my family for the day and didn’t get to see much. I looked out the window of the bus and saw this amazing building with huge columns overlooking the water. I couldn’t stop staring at it, then my friend asked me “What are you staring at?” I replied “That beautiful building over there,” and pointed at. She said to me, “That’s where we’re getting dropped off,” once she said this I couldn’t stop smiling.

We arrived at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and immediately got off the bus and walked inside. We walked up the stairs to proceed to the first level and walked into the American and European Art section. This is where I fell in love with the painting “Bombardment” by Philip Guston. This painting is an emotionally charged scene about the Spanish Civil War. It depicts the aerial bombardment of a civilian population by warplanes. It is in a circle format with a dark and grim color scheme.

The people in “Bombardment” seem to give a feeling of human hatred and destruction. It appears to me that they are swarming around each other holding on for life. One is very small and fragile looking, like a child, while others are older and appear to be in a panic. The face that stands out the most to me is the one that has a gas mask on and is in a blood red shirt, which gives a sense of death and doom. This figure is off to the side on its own, and is the most noticeable because it is the one who is causing the chaos and panic in the other figures faces.

There are several warplanes and dark, eerie clouds above the scene, which create an atmosphere of constantly being watched and looked over. No matter where you look within the painting, war is everywhere. People usually look to the heavens for safety, while these people are seeing nothing but doom and are feeling nothing but terror. The circular shape of “Bombardment” gives it feelings that, these petrified people are about to come out into the real world and come to life. It gives a sense that they are flying around in circles and are going to fly out of the painting. I definitely like that this painting is circular because it gives it a lot of extra depth and character.

Guston used dark, morbid colors in his painting. These colors reflect death and hatred. The red color of the gas figures shirt is almost bloody. The green pants on one figure, and yellow shirt on another, gives me a feeling that these people are innocent and want to get away, but with the dark blacks, blues, and grays in the background of the town, and in the sky, shows to me that something bad is about to happen to them.

After I sat and stared at this picture for a long amount of time, trying to wrap my head around all of the emotions it gave off, I decided it was time to find my friends to walk through more rooms and check out other interesting displays. None of them appealed to me as much as Guston’s, “Bombardment.” We decided to head out of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and to take a bus to a different museum. Since we had already experienced a large museum, we eventually decided to find an interesting, small art gallery in Old City. We made our way around the streets, stopped for some delicious Starbucks, and saw a quaint little house, with a very large sign that read “F.A.N. Gallery.” This caught our attention right away.

As we made our way inside, we realized what a marvelous art gallery we stumbled upon. The house it was in was very, very old and every step we took, the floor would creak. The man working at the gallery told us that the building was built in the 1700’s, which amazed us. It had this incredibly steep, windy staircase, with poles on the walls to hold onto as you climbed the mountainous stairs.

I made my way to the very back of the gallery and the last painting on the wall was by Carlo Russo, titled, “Pink Roses.” There were several other paintings of different colored roses, almost like it, but this one caught my attention and gave me a different feeling than the others. The roses are two different colored pinks and at the end of the stems, a leaf fell off. They seem to tell a story, maybe about love, or life and death, but whatever the story might be behind the painting, intrigued me the most.

The first rose all the way to the left is a very lively, bright pink. The ideas that came to my mind when looking at the first rose was that it seemed to be symbolizing happiness, healthiness, love and life. Then as my eyes looked to the right more, I saw another rose. But, this one was a paler pink, almost like it was dying. This made me think of losing faith or losing someone who was important in your life. The feeling of the painting became sadder, more gloomy and depressing. As my eyes looked at the stems, I realized they turned brown, and aren’t a lively green anymore. There was also a leaf that wasn’t on the stem anymore; this gave me feelings of disconnect or detaching yourself from someone. I also felt like the stems appeared to be dying, because of the brownish color they were turning.

“Pink Roses,” can be interpreted in different ways to different people, which I liked the most about it. It didn’t have a specific story to go along with it, which left ideas open to the viewers. Who knew you could find such an interesting painting in such a quaint, quiet, little gallery. Both “Bombardment,” and “Pink Roses,” caught my attention the most out of all of the other works. I really enjoyed the trip to Philadelphia, and hope to visit there again soon to check out all of the other wonderful places the city has to offer.

Philadelphia Trip Amber Weaver

The Philadelphia trip was both exciting and stressful. The first thing I remember thinking is “what’s the best plan of attack?” Considering we were left off the bus in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, that was going to be the starting point. When you walked inside, the first thing you see is a big open space with a desk in the center and lots and lots of steps. (All of the steps reminded me of Old Science Hall…) After Rachel and I signed in, we set out to look at the wonders that were hidden down the corridors.

Up the steps we go. When we get the top, we head down a hallway where we soon see some lady dressed like she’s Australian, speed walking down the hall loudly complaining that there should be port-o-potties at the base of the steps because she didn’t want walk three miles to find a bathroom. Soon after that incident, we came to the first exhibit, which was not all that exciting. The exhibit consisted of various furniture pieces and tableware. I did however enjoy the display of silver spoons and the really cool couches.

From there we wondered this way and that. Making our way through the American wing; we browse the Pennsylvania Dutch collection then slowly found our way back to the stairs. In our travels, I spotted an oil painting by Dorothea Tanning titled Birthday. This piece was both disturbing and intriguing at the same time. What caught my eye was the weird black furry winged creature in the foreground. Soon we gravitated to the modern and contemporary art exhibits. For me this was the best part of the museum. I love modern art and all the different concepts that arise from the different pieces.

Many of the pieces included in this exhibition involved the use of neon lights, Earthy elements, and mirrors. One of the pieces I found kind of interesting was in a corner. It consisted of red soil and rocks piled on three mirrors. I think the piece was call Earthy Corner Piece or something along those lines. Another piece that was in the same room consisted of a row of neon zeros mounted on the wall with a music box repeatedly saying zero. This I thought was cool because it went along with what we learned in psychology the day before about phantom words. From this room we wondered around looking at various other art forms from cubism to abstraction to impressionism to surrealism until our stomachs decided it was time to get some grub.

After hunting down some delicious food and a quick debate on what we were going to do next, we head up to the lobby where we ran into Frenchy who was desperately trying to find the shuttle bus location. After getting directions from the doorman we were soon outside waiting for the next shuttle to arrive. Little did we know, the driver of the bus was the obnoxious woman from that morning who was complaining about the restroom situation. The short bus ride to the ESP proved our suspicions that she was insane (in a good way that is). After spending a few hours exploring the cells of notorious criminals and various artist installations, we headed back into town to the Franklin Institute for awhile.

As time was quickly running out, we begin the trek across town to the bus. Along the way we stopped at the Moore Gallery. But we had little time to fully enjoy the exhibits that were currently set up. The gallery closed at 5pm, which gave us about 10 or so minutes to look around the space.

The first thing that caught my eye was a row of 6 brightly colored boots lining the one hallway. This display instantly reminded me of my little sister who is a shoe fanatic. The boots were apart of 12 different boots that were dedicated to the 160^th anniversary of Moore College of Art and Design. The boots were constructed in various methods and materials ranging from polyurethane plastic, wood, enamel paint, and found objects.

The Moore Gallery also had a display of black and white photography. The photographs ranged in subjects from cultural issues to childhood memories. The gallery also had a display with handbags and a corner display of these floating trees which were pretty cool looking. But sadly the gallery was closing and we needed to leave.

As we headed down the street we passed the Museum of Natural Sciences and I felt the need to take a photo of the raptor statue near the door. As the time was quickly dwindling, we go off in search of the bus. This was the stressful part of the whole adventure. After some debate over the map, we stop at Quiznos to grab refreshments and get directions. The directions given by the Quiznos guy were misleading. We ended up needing to go a lot farther than where we were directed to taking us through Chinatown where we got pistachios thrown at us. But luckily we didn’t have much farther to go when a quick call to Professor Salvator confirmed we were in the general location of the bus. And a few minutes later we were on the bus and headed back to Bloomsburg.

Philadelphia Trip, Lee Patton

Having not been to the Philadelphia Art Museum in many years, I was very excited about going to check it out now that I can better appreciate the great works inside. Not really knowing where anything was, we just started walking up the stairs and found ourselves walking through a hallway that led to the American section. I didn't find the paintings in the hallway too captivating to me, personally. However, going farther into the American section proved to be much more interesting.

There were many different directions you could go once inside the American galleries, and we found ourselves in a room with mostly paintings. A fair amount of them were abstract works more-so than easily recognizable portraits or landscapes. I really enjoy abstract work so I spent a good amount of time making my way around the room. I liked the atmosphere the room gave off as well, with the colorful paintings hanging on a white wall. Most of the other rooms in the section were darker and not as catchy.

Of the paintings in the first American gallery i went into, the one I liked the most was a piece by Jackson Pollock. I have always thought his works were very interesting, and this was no exception. The particular work was titled "Male and Female" from 1942-43. I thought it was especially interesting as many of his more well known works such as "Autumn Rhythm No. 30" do not contain solid shapes as this one did. The whole style of the painting to me at least seemed more like a De Kooning, of whom I also really enjoy.

The "Male and Female" painting was definitely highly abstract as far as a connection with the title and the subject would go. There were recognizable features of it though, such as numbers, eyes, and shapes. The description gave more insight to the painting, revealing that the male was the black columnar form on the right, and the female was the figure on the left with catlike eyelashes. The first thought that came to my mind when I saw this piece was that it resembled graffiti. My favorite part about this piece is the mystery the numbers add, and the somewhat recognizable features, which make it more enticing.

As we made it through the rest of the American section, there were many great pieces, however I didn't feel too strongly towards many of them. We then headed upstairs to the European and Asian art section. I made my way through the European section which was filled with Catholic paintings of Christ which were very moving, however i didn't spend too much time there. A dark entranceway caught my eye and I wandered into it and found a room lined with stone carvings and a fountain in the middle. Unfortunately it was too dim to get a good photo with my phone, but it was an awesome atmosphere to be in.

After walking around the Philadelphia Art Museum for a little longer, we decided to head out and look for other places to check out. We got a little mixed up and ended up taking a bus then a cab, and ended up in Old City. As the museum list we received stated, there were many smaller galleries around this area, which was more appealing to me than a large museum. We decided to head towards Gallery Joe, because we thought the name sounded pretty solid.

Unfortunately, when we finally found it, we were about two hours early for the opening time. We couldn't go inside but we got to see some interesting works looking through the windows but couldn't see any names or titles. We decided to keep walking around and ended up stumbling on a gallery not listed on the page. It was called the F.A.N. Gallery on 221 Arch Street, and ended up being a great stop to make as we were greeted by amazing paintings and a friendly gallery owner.

On the first floor, the primary artist on display was a painter by the name of Carlo Russo. His style was completely the opposite of Jackson Pollock's, as Russo's works were incredibly detailed and looked almost like photographs. Many, if not all of the paintings by Carlo Russo were very current, with the date of the one I photographed being 2009. The painting that I took a picture of and also really like was titled "Yarn", and was just one of the many extremely detailed paintings by Russo.

The painting "Yarn" was painted with oil on linen, as I found out after asking the gallery owner. I also found out it was $5000 dollars, which was money I didn't have at the moment. As were all of his exhibited paintings, "Yarn" was a still-life painting of two tangled bundles of yarn hung on a wall next to three post-it notes. The color scheme of the square pieces of paper reminded me of the german flag upside down. The whole piece really looked like a photograph, because there was an incredible amount of detail on every single part, in every single thread. Another piece that I thought was remarkable in its detail was "Nude with Kimono", also oil on linen.

There was an upstairs to the gallery which I wandered up to, and found it filled with paintings and drawings by various other artists. I found one drawing to be really interesting in its composition, especially because I am currently taking a drawing class now. The owner was downstairs with other guests and I couldn't find a name or a title for the work but I at least got a picture. Overall its was a great little gallery, which I personally enjoyed more than the museum because of the more personal touch it gave off. After that we headed down the street so I could get some permanent art of my own.. It was a great day.

Francesca Pizzurro Philadelphia Field Trip

Stepping out of the bus and gazing up, I saw a magnificent building with so much in store I couldn't believe the sight. As we walked through the front doors, my eyes widen at the magnitude of the building. The Philadelphia Museum of Art was quite a vision and many masterpieces were held inside. The museum flowed beautifully and was very cohesive with its set up. I went to the first floor first, where the American Art, European Art from 1850-1900, and Modern and Contemporary Art was held. I saw many stunning pieces but I wasn't truly captivated. There were however two pieces of art that caught my eye. The Four Seasons by Leon Frederic and Carnival Evening by Henri Rousseau were very magnificent.

The Four Seasons was a four oil painting series, which portrayed the seasons through young children. I loved the series for it took each season as reborn through children, which in a sense is what seasons really are. I particularly loved the winter season. I found her truly beautiful and the uses of color for a lack of color season was truly memorizing. I really got a lot of feeling, as if I was in that piece of work, experiencing that season, for the seasons through these works. Then Carnival Evening triggered different feelings for sure. I really enjoyed the darkness of this piece and how it was very eerie! Also oil on canvas, this piece was very enjoyable for the two humans, dressed in carnival best, were walking up a dark forest with the light only enhancing them. The artist had hidden faces and light poles, which we described in the description. These works of art where very nice but were nothing like the experience I had when I went to the second floor.

As I reached the second floor, my heart almost stopped beating. Walking into the European Art of 1100-1500 truly touched my soul in indescribable ways. Tears welled up in my eyes as I experienced all the religion-based pieces. Being catholic, this art truly took hold of all my fibers. Like the Panels of the holy family, seeing St. Francis of Assisi (my patron saint) really light up my eyes. The panels and all the exhibits in the time era really made me to believe I was in Europe at a cathedral. One piece that jumped out at me was The Last Drop (The Gay Cavalier) by Judith Leyster. However, when I made that left turn into the Asian art, I can't begin to describe my feelings of joy.

As I walked down the exhibits of Asian art, my legs began to quiver and when I stepped into my favorite exhibit, I actually began to cry. Being a huge Japanese cultural fanatic, seeing this display of Japanese art truly shook each one of my nerves. The Ceremonial Teahouses and the Temple of Attainment of Happiness were by far my favorite pieces of work throughout the entire day! All original Japanese architecture, my tears flowed down my cheeks. I actually had to sit down and breathe for I couldn't catch my breath.

The whole exhibit was like walking down old roads in rural Japan. The Baldeck Garden was amazing how the set up made you feel like you were in a whole different time era and country. I really was considering not ever leaving. The water fountains and teapots truly added to the feeling and the shrines of Buddha in the temple completed the feeling of Japan. I always dreamed to live like the monks do. I love the simplicity of the architecture yet it is so vast and memorizing. Also, as I walked down through the Japanese artwork, I was also extremely moved. Other pieces that caught my eye were the Portrait of Heian Court Lady by Tosa Mitsuoki, and the Noh Costume Kitsuke (inner garment for male role) from Japan. These two pieces in the exhibit were also captivating with its authentic Japanese cultural style. In all, the museum was amazing and I will be going back soon!

As Rachel, Amber, and I were running low in time, we finally reached the Moore College of Art & Design. We were not aware that the gallery closed at 5pm, so our viewing was very limited. However, what we saw was very interesting. I don’t think the gallery took hold of me like the Philadelphia Museum of Art did, but I doubt there are many that could. It was more contemporary and modern art, which aren’t my cup of tea. I am more of a traditional art appreciator and sometimes do not grasp the meaning of modern art. But from what was there, I did enjoy.

There were these giant shoes that Amber took a fancy too. They reminded me of the cows you see all over Pennsylvania which are designed in different styles. The giant shoes were interesting enough but not quite what I was interested in. Then there were these displays of different handbags and such. Rachel seemed to enjoy these more then I did. The handbags were in pairs and designed very similar with gems and jewels. This is also not my cup of tea.

In the corner of the gallery there was this interesting exhibit that I found quite fascinating. The wood display was by Laura Petrovich-Cheney. The series title was All Trees of Wood Shout for Joy. The series as a whole was very cohesive and really sent a message of earthy symbols. The sculptures mostly consisted of tree stumps and twigs and they were cut into rounds and piled up on each other. They looked like trees when completed and were mounted in very creative ways. Some were hanging and some were standing as if you were thrown into a forest of chaotic trees. I really loved the simplicity of it, yet there was so much going on that it held my attention. From reading the description of the artist, she likes using natural materials and it definitely shows in this piece.

As we walked along the gallery there was this huge exhibit of photography. I was really drawn to these pieces by Wendy Ewald. The series was a giant series of photos that she took at all different times in her life. She made the completion of her work and described each time and what inspired those photos. The title of the series was Secret Games I believe and I personally loved the photos from the Netherlands in 1996.

These photos stood out to me far more then the others. I really enjoyed how she took pictures of her students and let them describe who they were in the shot. The people of the Netherlands appear very multicultural and very interesting with its different ethnicities. I really loved the different scenes in these photos and they all had their own stories, which I loved. I also loved how the artist added some of the children’s writing into the artwork as well! It was very creative. From the gallery we attempted to make it to the bus, which was very stressful. Barely making it to the bus, I realized I truly enjoyed Philadelphia for its historical heritage and it breathtaking art.

Erica Leins Assignment #1

  

Marilee Salvator displays her exquisite exhibit by placing her largest piece of art, an installation, entitled "Growth Patterns"   as you enter her exhibit, preceded by framed art work throughout. "Growth Patterns" sets the theme, or foundation  for all of her framed works of art. Marilee's individual pieces of art, both installation and framed connect to harmonize a perfect complete union, and as a whole compliment each piece individually. Marilee's wall installation displays an afocal perspective and a sound direction of its destination as if it is moving through space and time. Marilee's framed art work is a continuation of "Growth Patterns", but also a closure of the story it tells. Her art is a confluence  of deep, intense emotion, coupled with unsettling creative desires.  My favorite piece by Marilee is "Growth Patterns." The colors used for this particular piece are black, chocolate brown,purple, sea foam green,olive, cream,yellow and ocean blue, to name a few. The technique used for  this piece is etching, and the material used is wood. All of the shapes vary in size. Some of the shapes are circles, and ovals -and there is also an aqua colored mass, which displays hundreds of tiny circles. It can become quite easy to lose yourself in the complexity of the intricate array of patterns displayed on each and every shape.   
  
     I was quite impressed with Marilee's lecture with regard to her exhibit. When I first experienced the exhibit weeks earlier, it left with me the impression of oceanic marine life, but now that I have heard the story behind her work, I can definitely see the connection and know that  the inspirations behind her work reflect her objective.
  My feelings and thoughts with regard to Marilee's artistic content have  left the impression of hope. I feel a positive energy radiate from within her exhibit. It has given me the inspiration to reflect once again on all of the positives in my life.

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TIme is out on blog #1

Katie Custer

In my wanderings around Marilee Salvator's Gallery, I was struck by the subtleties within all of her work. Her gallery showing consisted of 9 total compositions featuring similar shapes, but composed in a thoughtful and different manner. The artist set up her show in such a way, that it was to feel almost overwhelming, to be overtaken by something so powerful and menacing, but yet beautiful at the same time.

In some parts of the exhibition, the exhibit comes out to greet you. Such as in the picture listed. These menacing and intriguing shapes, which I thought were random shapes created by Salvator, are actually different types of cancer cells. Legitimately hundreds of the shapes covered the walls, parts of the floor, and the ceilings. Leaving you with a feeling of invaded. The sizes are created with all sorts of different textures, sizes, and proportions; it felt like a metropolis was forming before my eyes. Within this intricate work Marilee Salvator used various techniques, including etching, digital, and wood dimensions.

Listening to Marilee's lecture was like being in a constant state of enlightenment. Everything had found new meaning and a new perspective. A piece that I thought had closely resembled a close up of a grasshopper, turned out to be a particularly deadly form of cancer.Oops. Anyways, the way that she described her process and what inspired her, was really interesting. Essentially, She's inspired by things that are beautiful and awful at the same time. For example, Dog poop and rain. Two things that never in a million years would really be connected, made sense to be connected. Marilee Salvator's gallery "experiance" was a wonderful one. She made art that made you think, and inspired a sense of wonder at it all.

Cate Striplin Assignment #1

I was overwhelmed by Marliee Salvator's exhibit Prolific Growth. Experiencing this body of work was a revelation in personal depth causing both an emotional and yet very sterile matter-of-fact look into the very grain of our being. I was both perplexed and awe inspired. The fact that the most minute entity that makes up the bodies that we inhabit (cells) were displayed in all their immense glory, beautiful and colorful to examine with the naked eye or fingers nonetheless, was an almost mind-blowing art experience. For something so small, unassuming and overlooked to immerge; in your face, on your wall and in your walking path... you can't help but be taken aback by the realization that we are all just a compilation of cells. I enjoyed the thought provoking statement from the artist regarding the untrained eye seeing such objects as pretty, but to a professional they can be the difference between life and death. The sense of being overwhelmed panned off as i was guided through the gallery to view the remaining pieces. I say remaining pieces in the most sincere flattery. The remaining prints were kept simple and breathable, dressed in white frames with crisp white matting; letting the layering of print and drawing speak for itself. They gracefully and tastefully created a shallow end to the pool of work where the visitor could pause for a moment and take in something slightly less immense, slightly less consuming than the deep end that is the installation piece.

The installation piece Growth Patterns was a collaged hodge-podge of random and various cells of the human body. Each cell was created and fixed to a wood block cut out to exactly replicate the silhouette. The artist could be overheard explaining that there had been talks about having an exact home for each cell, but went with a random application of the cell cutouts on the wall, spilling onto the ceiling and floor.

The gallery exhibit was followed by a talk given by the artist which was equally as enlightening. As Marilee introduced her audience to some of the works that inspire her, as well as some of her other works I found myself being more and more drawn in, listening more intently over the common noise pollution expected within a university audience. Speaking about vines taking over entire spaces if allowed to, or the rain touching us less than we would assume necessary to be noticed... Marilee's talk is still a topic of my discussion well over a week after viewing her work for the first time. Hearing her words made you want to reinvestigate the exhibit for unseen gems that were touched on, different aspects overlook and beauty that was quietly waiting to be introduced. I would like to hear the talk again, perhaps, from a seat closer to the speaker. Marilee Salvator seemed to delight in the recap of her artistic walks and it was a contagious feeling.

Eric Gustitus Assignment #1

Professor Salvator's exhibit shown on Sept. 9th was a very well put together exhibit which captured many eyes. The exhibit was portrayed as "Prolific Growth". The artist put together the show very well by showing very deep depth in a majority of her pictures. They all seem to represent the same external meaning of the cancer like cells the artist had explained to us. The exhibition was set up to where the first pictures you saw, was the most unique, and had your attention ready for the following pieces of art. During the slid show there were a couple of pieces she had shown which really had me intrigued. The artist Yayoi Kusama was obsessed with the repetition of growth. Her pieces were Obsessive Compulsive work which i thought to be interesting. She speaks of us, "the people", as infinity nets bound together with growth and repetition. Another inspiring piece of work Professor Salvator showed us was that of the Tibetan Monks. She had explained how they would create a beautiful piece of work and then destroy it right after. To me this was unexplainable until she explained the ritualistic habits of certain cultures.

The one piece that had my attention from the first time i looked at it till the end was composition #38. This piece portraying a gloomy like cell had a sort of resounding affect after putting time into observing it. Even though theres no angles, there is a great perception of depth which was neat. The texture in the picture seems to connect everything together in a way. The color of this piece seemed to be a bit off color and hidden away than the other pieces. It seemed as if one cell overlapping another would cause a bit of shade which was shown very nicely.

I believe the artist was going for something beautiful in which the naked eye can not see. Professor Salvator had explained in her lecture of a drawing of a prostate cancer cell. To her a cell like this can portray beauty by just looking at the little things in life. The very many angles and shapes cells contain are themselves, works of art. In composition #38 it expresses both beauty and repulsion. It expresses beauty by showin the many shapes and texture in this work of art driven to me as, "Perception Artwork". It also expresses repulsion by the very dirty colors which, may or may not, represent some cells which have no life. Attending this exhibit, "Prolific Growth", it has allowed me to understand more intensely of how many different kinds of art are in this world. There is one thing for sure, theres beauty everywhere around you if you look

Deanna Barnes Blog Assignment #1

Professor Marilee Salvator's exhibition was put together beautifully. As a whole the exhibition is cohesive, each piece relates to the other through the central theme of expansion and growth. The title of the exhibit, "Prolific Growth", summarizes the entire exhibit but the theme of growth is most obviously seen in the first piece, "Growth Patterns". In the other pieces the idea of growth is a concept represented through the images of cancerous cells as well as other natural and biological images. Each piece, except the first, was framed in simple white frames, which allow the viewer to appreciate the colors displayed. Each piece has a different color scheme, usually either pale muted colors or vibrant colors though the artist does not use many bright colors. All of the colors seen in the different pieces can also be seen in the first piece, which brings all the others together.

The piece entitled "Composition 23" was particularly stunning to me because even though most of the colors are so muted the presence of a brighter coral colored layer made each of the other layers stand out. The series of layers in this particular piece look like corals, sea urchins, nets and sea creatures. The first layer seems to be of a gray base with white holes, on top of this I see gray blue spots with an elaborate design. In the next three layers it was not always easy for me to distinguish which came first, seemingly the next layer was of smaller charcoal circles, then a coral colored net and lastly it appears that a layer of larger charcoal colored globular images. The techniques used in this piece are digital, relief and multiple shaped etching plates.

The lecture given by Professor Salvator was very descriptive of her theme and her personal inspirations for the exhibit. I was grateful for all of the examples of natural growth that she gave, which really helped me to appreciate her exhibit even more. Even though she described her concept incredibly well, I feel I did not get a good understanding of the processes in which she created her pieces. Explaining this process would have probably taken a lot of time since the process is very time consuming.

Rachel Harris Assignment #1

Marilee Salvator’s exhibit “Prolific Growth” was exquisite and beautifully put together. The nine pieces seemed to flow together, perfectly showing the idea of mutation and spreading uncontrollably. To me, the framed pieces seemed to be part of the larger piece “Growth Patterns”. It was as if someone had taken a microscope, or magnifying glass, and focused on one part of a large whole. The entire exhibit looked as if it were being taken over by a cancerous growth; as if the whole room would be consumed along with everyone and everything inside.

The piece that physically drew me in was “Composition #24”. Using digital prints, wood lithography, relief, and the multiple shaped etching plates all together made a beautiful esthetically pleasing piece. The different hues of blue led me to think of water, or an underwater scene. As I learned that the focus of this piece, along with the others, was of cells and their ability to grow and multiply I began to think further into the piece and create an action in my head. The thought of water moving these cells seemed to capture my imagination and the piece suddenly came alive. The art of cells became beautiful taking over the initial fear of cancer and other dangerous cells.

The artist’s lecture further explained her works in the gallery and how Salvator was inspired by the simplest, yet complicated cells. As she talked about her works I began to see the beauty that she had observed. The smallest things can be beautiful. The inspiration she takes from things around her; cells, rain, and even feces; inspires me as an artist to find beauty in things that normally would never be beautiful. Hard work and Marilee’s meticulous, labor intensive work ethic allows her to create beautiful and inspiring pieces.

Maryam Cristillo assignment #1

Walking into the exhibit I was very intrigued. The earth based colors and the subject was uniform and harmonious throughout. I thought it was very important to present the piece called Growth Patterns as an introductory piece as well because compositionally it lead the viewer into the exhibit. The content was a little ambiguous, which I really liked because it was not a direct interpretation of the subject matter and drew me in. However, the overall shapes had an organic and biological quality to them. I immediately thought of cells for the framed pieces but the first piece Growth Patterns reminded me of the rings on trees at first and looking closer I noticed seed like placement patterns on others. The layering of the subject matter, the materials used and the colors present in each piece intertwined well to create a beautiful and interesting cohesive body of work.

I was very intrigued and my curiosity was piqued as soon as I entered the exhibit because of the materials and subject matter involved left me wondering, what is it? What process achieves ethereal works like these? I felt very calm and comfortable in the space as well, strangely. Though, the content and subject matter was hard to specifically identify. I was able to find solace in the color palette because they are very similar to my own. My favorite piece encompasses what I found to be the most successful aspect of the works. Composition #38 caught me because even though it was the most monochrome piece out of the rest present it had the greatest three dimensional effects to it. The background was lost in a layering of circular shapes that were dark. The largest object in the picture plane was the two translucent sunflower heads. The three dimensional effects was a success because of the different angled circles—some oval and others more round—that made me believe a space existed behind the frame. It held my attention much longer than the others.

I was very inspired by the pieces but even more so by the artists lecture. I am a believer of following one’s intuition and feel that the process to which the artist took to create her pieces began just as naturally as her content. The artist began with an idea, like a seed which grew naturally and intuitively with the materials provided and locations she found herself in. That intuition is a major influence that is found reflected in her final products that look to have a single seed of thought and left to grow naturally.