Love David Hockney

I am so inspired by artists who find a new way of expressing themselves wherever they happen to be or whatever new medium they happen to find.  David Hockney has a new passion ... check it out this audio slideshow from New York Review of books by Lawrence Weschler.

Here's the link!

"David Hockney's iPhone Passion"

"The moment you cheat for the sake of beauty,

you know you're an artist."

~David Hockney

(Love that quote! And now? I want an iPhone)

The Rape of Europa

Just watched this documentary on Netflix.  As someone who loves art, documentaries and history, I am so glad I finally saw this!  Rape of Europa was made in 2006 and is an incredible account of the masterpieces stolen by the Nazis (many stolen from Jewish families.)   It includes the stories of the allies', "The Monuments Men" trying to protect and return works of art, religious objects etc. at the end of the war.  Many thousands of pieces are still missing.  Also, fascinating photos of what particular European museums did to prepare for the plundering by the Nazis. (notably the Louvre and what they did to move and hide their collections including the Mona Lisa and Winged Victory.)  Check out the trailer and the website.

From The Rape of Europa

"Art belongs to humanity.  Without this, we are just animals.  We just fight, we live, we eat ... art is what makes us human."

          ~Mikhail Piotrovsky, Director of the Hermitage Museum

Matisse/Picasso

If you are an art lover, you will love Matisse/Picasso: Twin Giants of Modern Art. (2002)  They had such a fascinating relationship which began as rivals and ended up friends. What was most interesting was their influence on each others work.  I watched it twice!  This was in part because I'd been a little distracted with my bok choy, but I also just wanted to soak it in.  There were great interviews with family members, beautiful photos of the work and very interesting commentary by historians.  Can you tell I loved it??  And yes, it's on Netflix.

"The artist is a receptacle for emotions that come from all over the place:  from the sky, from the earth, from a scrap of paper, from a passing shape..." ~Pablo Picasso

"We should always see life as we did in childhood." ~ Matisse