Art Museum: The Smithsonian

       I really want to go to an art museum. I haven't been to one for a while and I think I'm having a museum withdrawl. Anyways, I decided to share  one the most famous art museums around the World. " The Smithsonian" museum in Washington, DC. This museum is said to be the world's largest with 16 other complex and research organized museums under it's roof. It has the African Art Museum which showcases "the finest examples of traditional and contemporary art from the entire continent of Africa." These are two examples of African Art at The Smithsonian Museum.

Another museum under the Smithsonian Museum is the American Art Museum. This museum has artworks including: paintings, sculpture, photographs, folk art, and decorative arts from the colonial period to today. Amazing! The Freer Gallery of Art holds Asian art from the neolithic times to the early 20th century, as well as world most important artwork collection of work by James McNeil Whistler. For example: chinese paintings, Indian Sculptures, Islamic painting and metalware, Japanese lacquer, Korean Ceramics, etc. Whew!

If all of this art doesn't convince you that your next trip should inclue "The Smithsonian" I don't know what will. There are several other departments of museums that make up The Smithsonian, which are seperately put to provide the rich history of these art museums I've mentioned to the public because there is too much to cover in one museum. I think It will definitley be worth it!

Diego! Rivera

Diego Rivera (December 8, 1886-November 24, 1957) was a Mexican painter born in Guanajuato and was part of the Mexican Mural movement in Mexican art. From 1913 to 1917, Rivera has embraced cubism. Some of his works relating to this new school of art include: , , . These paintings show "flatly colored and clearly defined shapes and varied textures" that were combined to emphasize the two-dimensional perception of the image. These and few other paintings almost go to abstraction and shows how he has experimented with the style of art that uses geometric forms. In 1917, Rivera abandoned cubism and in 1921, he returned to Mexico to begin his work on the aforementioned murals for which he is best know, as said.

Here, Rivera concentrated on creating frescos, several related mural painting types, portraying the history and social problems of Mexico. Here are few examples: , . Diego believed that art be used to bring important matters to attention, and so his paintings brought social issues and "the hardships of everyday life" to forefront. His artwork speaks about the underprivileged masses that Rivera paints of from Mexico. Moreover, Diego Rivera  was also a talented print-maker, sculptor and book illustrator.

Just a thought...

Just a thought..
My 18 inch chain is almost completed, but I still have few more chains to add. I have not done a spiral yet so I think I will work on that and make it double because I am making the chain with a pattern. I also have a spiral to do and that will have to also go on both sides. I will make it a little larger than because it's a nice design and will hold longer together than some I feel. I am thinking of adding few more beads to the chain because making simple circles to make the 18 inch chain seems forever. And so, I think adding few beads on the metal with both it's ends coiled opposite will hold the bead on the segment as well as the coils will make a way for more simple circles to continue the chain. (Better mental picture than description, really :) Finally, I hope, I will be done with it and I also hope to turn it in the next class period if not sooner!!

       I decided to do few sketches on metal smithing again, but this time with techniques we've been working on in class. These first two were designed as hair accessories:

 . All of these have circular metal designs and I knew it could be done by spiraling metal around a dowel rod or any easy rod and then cut them with snips. I hope you like these sketches. 

         For out next project of Metal Smithing, I think I might make a twisted chain or locks of little chains. the twisted might be a little difficult because of the kind of tools there are but I think it can work. The locks of little chains will be evenly spaced with tiny beads, such as this: . I think this is the one I will probably go with after finalization but I was also equally attracted to this . I think it's simple and quick in the process of making it. Also, these can be made with the tools that are present unlike this twisted styled chain . I think this chain is charming and doesn't need any beads or lockets to compliment it, but the only problem is that it will take time and patience to create it. But, these are the two kind of styles I'm interested in. Take a look at some of the lockets I admire:    . Oh how I wish I had all of these. :) 

Metal Smithing

          I am really looking forward to my next project, which is Metal Smithing. I decided to look up few images of different objects you can create with Metal Smithing and when I found out that you can make your own jewelry, I was beyond excited. I've made my own jewelry before but they never appeared like my teacher's own jewelry. Her jewelry has inspired me. So, here are some of what I would like to make:. 
I think these are very elegant and feminine, which is why I really like these, and they are really neat. There are so many more varieties that you can find on this website: http://www.jewelrymakingdaily.com/. I like this idea a lot because making these can benefit you so much! You can make your own jewelry line :) Please check the website out and let me know what you think about it. Thank you.

Art related Articles

WHAT DO YOU SEE? Have you spotted anything but heaven in this painting? Well, take a look at this close up of the same painting by Giotto in the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi: I know, it's quite a close up, but it's also the only way you can see the devil. Have you spotted it yet? Right side of the cloud. This was discovered by Italian art historian Chiara Frugone."It shows a profile of a figure with a hooked nose, a sly smile, and dark horns" hidden among the clouds. Sergio Fusetti, the chief restorer of bascilia, said that Giotto really didn't want the "devil" to be the concentration of the painting and probably painted it among the clouds "to have a bit of fun." This is quite fascinating, right? I thought so to! But not only that, it is said that he might have painted it as someone he knew by portraying him as a devil. Hmm, what do think about that?!