Ripped: The Allure of Collage

While modern art is not my favorite, I am certainly growing to appreciate it. The museum I volunteer at, the Hechscher Museum of Art, is finishing up one of their exhibits, Ripped: The Allure of Collage. This exhibit features, as the title suggests, collage. Collage was inspired by my least favorite type of art, Cubism. I was struck by how beautiful and interesting some of these pieces were. Take a peek at some of my favs:

Nancy Scheinman
Timeless Waterfall Music Echoes. n.d.
Mixed-media collage: acrylic, oil, canvas, paper, antique tin, polymer clay, and patinated copper on wood panel. 21 x 21 in.
Courtesy of the Artist and Jane Sauer Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico

Miriam Schapiro
The Measured Heart. 1982.
Collage, acrylic and fabric on paper. 36 x 36 in.
Museum Purchase 1999.8.3

John Digby
Camel. c. 1990s.
Collage, Archival papers and paste, black and white ink. 6-1/2 x 5-1/2 in.
Collection of Joan and John Digby

 Took For Granted
Mark Wagner

For this last piece, artist Mark Wagner took the iconic American Gothic and created the entire thing out of dollar bills. Which I'm pretty sure is illegal?? But is incredible in person. 

The show is running until this Sunday. If you can't get out to it, at least you can see a glimpse of it here. 

-VB

Images borrowed from the Heckscher website. NOT mine.

In Remembrance of Vesuvius

Today marks the 1,932 year anniversary of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. In honor of today, I want to briefly review the travelling Pompeii exhibit in New York City Discovery Times Square.

Pompeii the Exhibit: Life and Death in the Shadow of Vesuvius

The exhibit is fantastic and one of the best ones I have ever seen. A brief intro video explains Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius, excellent for those who don't know much. Next you enter into the artwork/artifact portion of the exhibit. Some of the pieces they have such as large frescoes and an entire fountain are incredible. Life in the Shadow of Vesuvius.
The coolest part of the exhibit is when they simulate the actual eruption and show you what the city most likely looked like when it happened. You then move into the body portion of the exhibit. This room is very eerie. The reason Pompeii is so incredibly important for history because it literally suspended the city in time, including the people who are captured in their last moments, huddled together or with cloth over their mouths.Death in the Shadow of Vesuvius.

(There was a real body inside there!)

All-in-all the exhibit was incredible and a once in a lifetime opportunity for all those who might never get to see Pompeii. It is only running until September 5th, so if you are in New York City, stop by and check it out. 

Pictures courtesy of the discovery times square website. 

-VL