Earth Day Art

I was in San Diego over the weekend at the city's annual Earth Day Festival in Balboa Park. I love going to this festival; it has the most earth-friendly products, clothes, cars and art that you can find in one place. I also love the overall atmosphere - everyone there (with the exception of a few protesters) has such a positive attitude and energy and there for one thing: making the world a better place.

Another thing always on display at the fair are pieces of green artwork. Local artists bring out their work made from recycled products or conveying their own personal green message. But there were a few pieces of art that caught my eye because they were so unique - recycled glass bottles and drinking glasses. While these don't sound too unique on the surface, you really have to see them and learn about the people behind the art that make the pieces so special.

The first product I saw were Love Bottles. Created by a San Francisco nutritionist looking to improve the emotional and physical health of the world, these bottles are covered with positive messages and images that strive to inspire love in the bottle holder. The bottle is partially made from recycled glass (of course) and is 100% reusable. I loved the message behind the Love Bottles so much that I had to get one to bring home with me. It feel good to do a deed by reducing waste and, as the site describes, drinking fresh water from a glass bottle tastes so much better than plastic or aluminum. And one of my favorite things about Love Bottles is that you can design and create your own bottle!

Here are some images of the bottle I purchased as well as a link to Love Bottle's site:

http://www.lovebottle.net/index.asp

Another glass art company that I found to be really interesting was BottleHood. This is a company that makes glassware from recycled liquor, beer, wine and soda bottles that are collected from local restaurants, bars, homes and events throughout San Diego. I really love for what this company stands for: "A Pride in our neighborhood, our local craftsmen and entrepreneurs, and our social responsibility." I wasn't able to pick up some of their art at the Earth Fair, but I definitely plan on picking some up soon. They are at the Hillcrest Farmers' Market every Sunday from 9-2pm as well as other events and retail stores throughout San Diego. Check out their site for all locations as well as their online store.

http://www.bottlehood.com/



[Earth Fair Image momsgoinggreenblog.com]

Barcelona- Dali Museum

The next city I'm visiting while in Spain next month is Barcelona, so it only makes sense it's the next city I preview in my museum tour series. I have heard from numerous people that Barcelona is their favorite city to visit in all of Spain. I have a feeling it's going to be one of my favorites, too, since it's the home to the Salvador Dali Museum. I feel so lucky that I'll be able to visit the museums for my two favorite artists, Picasso and Dali, on the same trip. Despite their many differences, the artwork of both artists inspire me to daydream (and inspired some of my own work - check out Dali on the "Katie's Work" page). I really feel like I get a peek into their worlds and inner minds every time I look at a new piece. Dali, especially, seems to have such a vivid, dreamlike imagination - that's why I love his artwork so much!

The Dali Museum isn't actually located in Barcelona but it's just a short train ride or drive away in the town of Figueres. Figueres was home for Dali for several years and the museum has one of the largest Dali collections in the world. According to the Barcelona Tourist Guide, Dali built the museum on top of the ruins of the 19th century Municipal Theater which was destroyed in the Spanish Civil War.

The Dali Museum in Figueres (image from www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com)

One of the pieces housed at the Dali Museum in Figueres that I am most eager to see is Galatea of the Spheres (1952). According to theartistsalvadordali.com, this painting was a protrait of Dali's wife, Gala. Dali considered Gala his world and his saviour and signed many of his paintings with her name. Also, this particular painting is an important piece in Dali's artistic progression. According to Dali, his early Surrealist works were based on that of a psychological world (Dali regularly called Freud his "father"). As Dali's work progressed and his view of the world changed, his interests and his artwork developed a more scientific approach:

"Today the exterior world and that of physics, has transcended the one of psychology. My father today is Dr. Heisenberg."

Dali's shift from the inner mind to science and physical space began with Galatea of the Spheres and came to a pinnacle with his manifesto on Nuclear Mysticism. But I could spend days talking about this topic, so I won't bore you with the specifics.



I can't wait for my trip in Spain and to see Dali's artwork firsthand. Check out below.


http://www.salvador-dali.org/dali/coleccio/en_50obres.html


[image & text http://www.theartistsalvadordali.com/galatea-spheres.htm]

UCSD Professor, Ricardo Dominguez, Artist and Activist, Under Fire

The Visual Arts department at UCSD was where I studied and developed my passion for art. Not only did the coursework help me develop my artistic voice, the professors had a huge impact on changing my perception of what art really means in a broader spectrum. One of my professors, Ricardo Dominguez, has been causing quite a controversy around my former campus because of his style of artwork which centers around social action. The most recent incident centered around him rallying up some 200 students and faculty for a nonviolent protest while taking an informal vote of the crowd to decided if he should meet with Campus advisers. Dominguez, an expert in the emerging field of electronic civil disobedience, is being questioned about a previous virtual protest intended to disrupt the Web site of Mark Yudof, the president of University of California.

The "virtual sit-in" was organized online and caused the UC president's Web site to reload every time someone registered for the "event." In addition to the reload, the computer program would generate random messages on the site such as, "There is no transparency found at the UC Office of the President.” According to SignOnSanDiego, about 400 students, faculty and staff participated.

In my opinion Dominguez was providing a voice to all those people who are underrepresented in the UC system, students struggling with the budget cuts, increasing student costs and being affected by administrative priorities. I remember how expensive it was for me to attend UCSD so I can't even imagine what the costs are like now. Studying under Professor Dominguez was a once in a lifetime experience, teaching me that art is not just expressing yourself but standing up for what is right and what you believe in.

More on Professor Dominguez and his ongoing can be found at SignOnSanDiego.com

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/apr/09/ucsd-prof-turns-meeting-protest-rally/

[image Nelvin C. Cepeda/ Union-Tribune]

Museo Nacional Del Prado- Francisco de Goya

The next museum I would like to visit during my brief stay in Madrid is the Museo Nacional del Prado. Thanks to recommendations from former art teachers, friends, tour guides and by @ohmygola on Twitter, it's a can't miss for any trip to Spain. One reason I'm so excited to visit this museum is because it houses many of the most famous paintings by Francisco de Goya.

Francisco de Goya was one of my favorite artists to study in college. Many regard him as the most important Spanish artist of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. de Goya painted during what's known as the Spanish enlightenment, which produced some of his most famous paintings to date including The Disaster of War, 85 prints prints that illustrated his account of the atrocities Spain faced during the Napoleanic Wars.

My favorite piece of his is The 3rd of May 1808 in Madrid: the executions on Principe Pio Hill. According to the Museo Del Prado, Goya was able to "show the depiction of the execution of the patriots from Madrid by a firing sqad from Napoleon's army in reprisal for their uprising against the French occupation on the second of May, 1808." I really fell in love with this painting because I believed de Goya was able to capture the emotion and pain the Spanish people were feeling because of the war.

Just four more weeks and I will be able to see this masterpiece in person!

[image http://www.museodelprado.es/en]

Lego Art

Lego Art? This is definitely the kind of art I could drag my husband to go see. Legos are the toy that every kid loves to have laying around. You can build everything from fortresses to spaceships all in one sitting. This toy differently brings out the imagination in kids and the kids at heart. That is what happened to Nathan Sawaya.

Sawaya is a New York-based artist who creates awe-inspiring artwork - but what makes him stand apart from other contemporary artists is that he uses Legos as his medium. He's secured a loyal following thanks to many private commissioned pieces as well as a life-size Stephen Colbert statue that he presented to the TV host on "The Colbert Report." Thanks to this growing enthusiasm for his brick art, he's going on tour showing The Art of the Brick at museums across the U.S. with his larger-than-life artwork made of the tiny building blocks. The tour kicks off in New York at the Agora Gallery, but check his site for future dates and locations.

Looking at many of the pieces featured on his Web site, one theme he portrays often and very well is escapism, which, according to Tonic.com's article, symbolizes his personal flight from the rat race of life. Before he became a Lego artist he was an unhappy attorney - he was able to turn his frustrations into inspiration, something that I think a lot of artists can relate to.

[image http://www.brickartist.com/]

http://www.tonic.com/article/lego-art-exhibition-tours-us/

Banksy's first Film Debut

Everyone in the contemporary art community knows of or has heard of Banksy. The graffiti/pop artist is one of the most infamous artists in the world today. Some may call his work "vandalism," others consider him a genius - but he definitely knows how to bring public awareness to his art not only because of his images but also because of the powerful social messages they convey.

Banksy is most well-known for spraying/painting his art on the side of buildings, chain fences, and in other public spaces. Bansky once wrote, "I've wandered round a lot of art galleries thinking, 'I could have done that.' " Banksy believed that these "galleries were just a trophy cabinets for a handful of millionaires, the public never has any real say in what they see." This quote from Banksy really brings you back to why art is important. It's not only important for yourself, but to deliver a message to the general public - in Banksy's case, a social message to make people think about and change the world around them.

His artwork can be seen all over the world but I have unfortunately never seen one up close. It's because of this that I am so excited to see his first film, Exit Through The Gift Shop. The documentary will debut April 15th in Los Angeles and hopefully spread further so others can learn about this amazing artist. For more details check out the below links.

http://www.banksyfilm.com/

http://www.sourharvest.com/2010/03/31/banksys-first-film-to-finally-debut-in-la-on-april-16th/

[image http://www.benmautner.com/]

Museu Picasso- Barcelona!

[image http://bit.ly/936rQ5]

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I will be taking a vacation in Europe in May. I'll be spending a week in Spain and a week in Paris - what better places to go for an art lover? Before I leave I want to have all my days planned out and all the museums I want to visit. Let's organize this list by city, shall we?

First up is Barcelona. I have heard from a handful of people that this city is by far their favorite to visit in Spain. The architecture, the food, the music, the art; they can't stop raving about how amazing Barcelona is. The first museum that I want to see in Barcelona will be the Picasso Museum. Picasso is by far one of my favorite artists - I can always go to his work for inspiration. And his life is just as amazing as his art.

Picasso lived in Barcelona off and on for several years. He first arrived in Barcelona as a child and spent several years studying at the School of Fine arts. He would leave the city to continue his studies and career but would return several times throughout his life. During his time here he built up a very close relationship with the community - many of his closest friends, family, loved ones and his biggest supporters lived in Barcelona. In addition, Picasso said that Barcelona served as inspiration for many of his works. Because it meant so much to him, both personally and artistically, Picasso wanted the city to be the home of his museum. The Museu Picasso was opened by his friend and secretary, Jaume Sabartes, in 1963.

There are 39 pieces in the permanent collection including his famous The Offering and one of my personal favorites, Seated Man. There are also examples of a lot of his earliest works, especially while he was studying in the city, which I am very eager to see in person. When I get to the Museu Picasso I will make sure to take write down everything that I am thinking, feeling and even taking a picture or two to bring back to share with everyone.

For more information about Picasso, his art and his life, check out http://www.museupicasso.bcn.cat/en/.

If you have any suggestions for museums or other sites to see during my European trip, please feel free to share them in the comments! And keep an eye open for the other museums I hope to visit as I continue to plan out my travel itinerary.