1/16/2016 0 Comments Surreal ImpressionismJust so you know, my intention with the title of this post was not to confuse you -- I know it looks like I've mushed two completely different types of art together. I just meant to emphasize how surreal of an experience it was for me when I saw the "Intimate Impressionism" exhibition at the Seattle Art Museum (SAM) last weekend.
It's like when you spend months or years listening to your favorite musician and then see him/her live at a concert. I was an Art History major, so I was very much exposed to Monet, Picasso, Cezanne and other amazing artists. So, when years after graduation I saw the canvases that these big names had actually touched their paintbrushes to, I was amazed. In fact, it was very unreal -- surreal is actually the perfect word to describe it. I even felt the urge to touch the paintings in the exhibit, but thankfully I restrained myself. When I at one point was admiring the Monet piece (first and second pictures below, from left), I kept having to repeat to myself (mentally of course) that Claude Monet was actually standing/sitting where I was standing today when he painted it. I had to try to absorb that fact. What was even more mind blowing about all this was seeing Monet's signature at the bottom right corner of the painting. I imagined him doing the hand gestures that made those beautiful cursive letters come to life on the canvas. It's a rarity, at least for me, to have such experiences where you find yourself in the presence of masters of the field you're truly passionate about. Art is one of my passions, especially Impressionist art, so I was pretty much a fanatic about this SAM exhibit. When was the last time you had such an experience? Even if your answer is "One time I was at a cafe and I ate a cookie that tasted so amazing it was almost unreal," I want to hear about it. Signing off, MC
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1/18/2014 0 Comments Artsy.netHave you been on Artsy.net?
This is a question I wish I had answered "yes" to a long time ago. If you are the kind of person who loves art and wants to expand your knowledge of the world, this is the obsession for you. I honestly can't remember how I learned about Artsy, but since then I have somewhat relied on it for my doses of sanity (when daily life seems to go up in smoke), of inspiration and of reminiscence (I sometimes find myself missing those days of inhaling cups of coffee and meticulously studying and analyzing for my UW Art History classes). Like every other social media site, Artsy lets you customize your profile. Unlike Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest, however, this one customizes according to your artistic personal interests and future learning endeavors. There is a tremendously wide range of media as well as a large selection of museums/galleries, as you can actually see photos of how particular art pieces are displayed in these venues--this gives the art fanatic a chance to keep their mind open and eyes searching for that unexpected hit of inspiration to come onto the screen. You can basically do the following three things on Artsy: Look at art you like, explore the art you may have never heard of or conceptualized, and write about art. I personally find the third to be the most exciting part about Artsy. You can really tell here that it is a website open to all perspectives. You have the chance to get your voice out in the art universe and perhaps to foster productive and flourishing conversation. Here is the link, which not surprisingly is www.artsy.net. Enjoy and let me know what you think! Much love, ~~MC 11/18/2013 0 Comments I Gave In...to Pinterest.Above Image: An example of the many pins I have enjoyed...pinning lately.
Photo is courtesy of http://breakfastatyurmans.tumblr.com/ After many, many months of staying away from the irresistible trend, I finally gave in. I now have my very own Pinterest account! For awhile, I have been making my contributions on the website but only kept it at an arm's length, as it has been for my internship at a renowned art gallery. But, as time went on, I realized how appealing it is to communicate to others at such an abbreviated level. What I found even more appealing was that, despite how abbreviated the communication, I loved how one could still gain so much out of looking at a pin, whether it was of a recipe for the most delicious looking chocolate cake in the world or of an inspirational quote that perhaps you may find yourself relying on to help get you out of bed on an early Monday morning. So, I decided to create my Pinterest account as my abbreviated version of the MC blog. In other words, my Pinterest has three boards that are the same as the three sections of this blog: Foods for Fantasizing, Artistic Appetite, and Life au Cochon. And, just to you know, I do plan on continuing to devote myself to this website, just because I love it too much to stop. Follow this link and enjoy the rest of your day! But, on one condition: Please don't find yourself spending your entire Monday perusing about the boards - It's always nice to add some variety to the day. http://www.pinterest.com/mcshirene/ Much love... ~~MC 10/18/2013 0 Comments Take in the Morning FogSo lately, I have been taking morning walks in the nearby park after dropping my little brother off at his bus stop.
There is something about the nature that inspires you to take out your mental camera and mentally take a photo or two of the scenery. Though, this time I brought my literal camera and took lots of literal photos at the park. And, just so you know, it took some time to think before deciding whether to post this in the Life au Cochon or Artistic Appetite section; I chose Artistic Appetite, because one cannot compare anything to the art of photography, especially when it comes to photography of nature. :) Enjoy! ~~MC P.S. The last couple of pictures are obviously not at the park...I just couldn't help but take a picture or two of my morning coffee (a pot of which my lovely dad makes every day) followed by the pumpkin and owl welcome mat outside my front door. I guess you can enjoy those photos as well...I sure did. 10/17/2013 0 Comments Art in the LeavesSometimes, you just got to take a walk in the park. :)
Enjoy! ~~MC P.S. I may start a new thing where I dedicate a full post to photos. There's nothing like feasting your eyes on something once in awhile. 9/21/2013 0 Comments In RemembranceA week ago, I went out with some friends and ended up leaving my favorite ring in the bathroom; by the time I realized it was not on my finger and had rushed back to the bathroom to try to find it, the ring was gone. Despite that I quickly made peace with this incident, I decided to post the following writing piece that I had originally composed for an internship application, in remembrance of what was probably my all-time favorite piece of jewelry (I usually wear minimal jewelry; just earrings, one on each lobe). Here it is, and enjoy!
What are the first colors you think of when you hear “springtime?” Definitely not burgundy, dark brown or burnt orange, as those colors are reserved for the calm early nights of autumn. You also would not think of the subtle shades of blue and purple that winter brings. In springtime, you may think of colors that are alive and that bring out the adventurous side of you. Nectarine, the calm and sweet version of orange, makes a great choice of color for a loose-fitting blouse over a pair of dark denim skinny jeans, or perhaps even as a lipstick color. Emerald, another example, may seem strange to wear in the spring since it is a cool color; however, its light tone and ability to accentuate the warmer colors around it make it a lovely way to keep your outfit from becoming too intense. Coral, a personal favorite color of mine, is the new orange. It has warmth and yet does not excessively demand attention the way red does. Also, it can enliven any fashion item from a casual blazer to a flower shaped ring, the focus of this blog post. This ring, about one inch wide, is composed of two layers of intricately designed petals, all united by the oval-shaped center. The small petals, designed as to nearly glisten as they allow the sunlight to bounce off of them, and the center that projects into the space around it, make the flower come alive. In addition, the gold rim that envelops each petal, along with a thin layer around the center, accentuates the unity of parts. You can put this ring on when you go out to dinner in an all-black outfit, so as to bring immediate attention to the incredibly detailed piece of beauty. You can also slip it on your finger on your way out the door, when you are wearing a casual outfit of jeans and a neutral-colored top. This accessory brings many opportunities to you, most of all to find ways to make your wardrobe as lively as spring. ~~MC 9/20/2013 0 Comments PassionAbove: Cafe Terrace at Night, Vincent Van Gogh, 1888. Among the list of paintings that have reminded me of how it feels to be passionate about something.
I recently began interning at a gallery that showcases contemporary art. Though I always knew I loved art and being in the environment of art galleries/museums, I didn't know how it would feel to do something you purely love. It seemed that everything I have done at the gallery so far has been effortless. Obviously, the tasks have been new to me and therefore I wasn't able to do them effortlessly at first; but, I noticed that things came together for me much more smoothly and quickly than I expected, and before I knew it I was performing those tasks as effortlessly as the way an autumn leaf follows the path of wind down to the ground from the branch. (Could I say "effortlessly" any more number of times?) Actually, I ended up writing a short poem to describe the feeling of doing something you are truly passionate about. Here it is: When you're Doing Something you love, or You do work In a place Infused with The pleasures of Your passion, Time seems to Stop, or, it Does its job of Moving Much slower; Either way, You know that Things are shifting, Twisting and turning, To make their way To better moments; Moments you Know you Can remember. What do you feel passionate about doing? Feel free to share your thoughts, I am all ears (not pig ears, of course)! ~~MC I want to start by informing you that this will be a relatively short blog--What I am about to present to you carries a lot of intellectual and aesthetic weight within itself. Maybe it comes from the pride I have always had in being a Seattleite, though I'm sure it also comes from how I basically just love his music, but I find Macklemore to be quite a talented artist/musician. You all probably have heard his hit singles "Same Love," "Thrift Shop" (the beginning of the music video takes place at a really cool bar that I've been to called Unicorn; if you're ever in Seattle, go to Capitol Hill one night and have a drink there as you enjoy the nightlife!), and "Can't Hold Us." But, you absolutely have to tune in to another song that I don't think has hit the radio stations yet, and it's called "Make the Money." I would tell you what the song is about, but the lyrics speak for themselves. Powerfully, in fact. Through its hardcore beats and background music, and the combustible passion that Macklemore displays in through tone of voice, indescribable pressure and occasional sudden subtleties in syllables, this artist sends a chill down the spine as the musical piece of work reminds you that life is about devoting every fiber of your being to what you love and to not sacrifice your identity and inner being for anything outside of your vision of passion. Have a listen, and let me know what you think. Enjoy! ~~MC 4/13/2013 0 Comments Art as a Meditative PauseArt is calming. When gazing upon the subtle tone of blue whose only weight comes from the brushwork done by the artist, you feel the world come to a standstill as you begin to focus on nothing other than the silent music of the piece.
Or, art is not calming. Rather, it is confusing, saddening, or prone to put you on edge. It stirs a fire in you that you didn't know existed, perhaps by the intense reds on the canvas or by the controversial message delivered by what sculpture is standing forcefully in your presence. Personally, art gives me a sense of peace. Since the first time I stepped in an art museum years ago, I have been aware of the tremendous effect that the atmosphere has on me. It seems like the world outside of the entrance doors ceases to exist, and that the inner silence within the white (or any other color, depending on the aesthetic taste of the curator for the exhibition) walls of the space lends safety and security. The art pieces encourage the viewer to stop for a moment, in the midst of the endless demands and requirements of daily life, and face inward in order to contemplate on his/her current intellectual and artistic state of mind. There is a certain meditative aspect to this, because when you focus on this part of the brain, it allows you to expand your thinking and openly welcome the various perspectives that emerge through the canvases. How do you react to art? What thought process do you go through when you walk in an art museum or gallery space? I would love to hear your opinions! ~~MC |
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