Fine Art Friday

Last Friday was my grandfather's memorial service, so my apologies not posting. The memorial featured Wampanoag tribal drumming, which was incredible. While I usually focus on visual arts, today I present a photo of my cousins drumming and singing. This performance is an art form that is slowly dying, but The photo (Mary Muckenhoupt) and full article (Gail McCarthy) were featured in the Gloucester Daily Times last weekend.

Oh yeah, and that's me in the white dress with my husband in the background.

Small things help make changes!

Save Arts Education in Massachusetts TAKE ACTION TODAY

The Massachusetts Department of Education is proposing to drop arts education from its recommended curriculum for high school students. Eliminating a graduation requirement robs students of the opportunity to engage in creative work--skills that are critical to succeed in today's global economy.

Please write a letter in your own words asking the Department of Education to include an arts education requirement in the recommended core curriculum, also known as MassCore. Short thoughtful letters are the most effective. Until May 24, you can write your letter through the MAASH web site. MAASH will then print all the letters and deliver them to the Commissioner. All letters must be received by the Department of Education by next Friday, May 25.

http://capwiz.com/artsusa/ma/issues/alert/?alertid=9770396&type=CU&azip=02140&bzip=1301&show_alert=1

Writing a letter is the most important. You can also urge the Department to save arts education by completing the following web survey. Be sure to write in your support for arts education on questions 11,12, and 13.

http://vessunapp3.doe.mass.edu/surveys/take.do?n=141640359

Thank you for your support on this critical issue.

Dan Hunter
Executive Director
Massachusetts Advocates for the Arts, Sciences, & Humanities
14 Beacon Street, Suite 103
Boston, MA 02108
617-725-0455
dhunter@maash.org

In Memoriam

Las Meninas, by Diego Velázquez, 1656

On Saturday, my grandfather died. He was a great lover of all things Spanish, from Dom Quixote to Flamenco Dancing. He'd been to both Spain and Mexico, and even attempted to buy condos in Cancun. This was one of his favorite paintings. He set it as the desktop on his computer. Some of the things he liked about it: Velazquez painted himself into the picture. He is the figure on the far right, and in the scene he is actually painting a portrait of a couple. You can see them reflected in the mirror to the rear of the room. He liked the dwarf handmaiden that appears second from the left, and the figure of the girls' father silhouetted in the doorway. My grandfather had great attention to detail, and this painting had enough detail to keep him amused and entertained. I like it too, and therefore I share it with you today.

Fine Art Friday

On Wednesday my husband, in-laws and I were lucky enough to get a private tour of the MFA with curator Deanna Griffin. She took us into the basement to see the collection of European art that was not currently on display. One of the paintings I got to examine at length was
Flower Beds at Vétheuil
1881
Claude Monet, French, 1840–1926
Oil on canvas
This image, from the MFA's website, cannot even remotely do it justice. The reds are so rich, the colors so varied, and the paint is so textured...it was amazing. You can use the MFA's zoom tool on it here.