Ravels in Review and GOODBYE

Click “Se Flimklippet” to see another video I made, that you can make too! The ModernaMuseet, or Modern Museum, in Stockholm has a fun program that lets you create videos on your keyboard, and then they are posted at the museum during an upcoming exhibition.

I said another video earlier because, as you might have seen, this week was the premiere of another Ravels In Motion production, of a recent visit to Chelsea to see painter Anne Neely’s latest works. I think they’re well-worth seeing if you have the chance. (Both my videos and her works.

For more great art, check out Melissa Meyer’s dancing paintings and some intersting examples of what can be done in clay. If you feel a little tired of life during these dreary March days, see Doug Aitken’s Sleepwalkers film and read about how it was installed at MoMA.

In addition to the good times, we’ve also had some disappointing times here during our ravels, and this week proved to be full of them. Not only was favorite author Milan Kundera shown to be a communist sell out and Shakespeare unattractive, but Alessandro Twombly showed some works recently that are distrubingly similar to his father’s, painter Cy Twombly.

All these disaapointments in one week were too much for me! So goodbye, dear reader, and farewell!

I’m going to go drown my sorrows in the Costa Rican surf and chilly cervecas. (Because if you have to drown your sorrows, Costa Rica is the place to do it, no?) But fear not for I shall return to you in good time, specifically, April 6. Adios!

2 Disappointing Endings and More

In our literary ravels, we’ve discussed post-Communist Czech writer Milan Kundera and his wonderful novels and we’ve even talked a little bit about William Shakespeare. Recently, some disappointing findings have come to light.

  1. Milan Kundera was accused of betraying his countryman and according to this recent, fascinating article, it seems that the case against him is strong. As in, indisputable.
  2. Shakespeare was proved to be quite a looker, but is now maybe going back to being plain, old Shakespeare. Too bad.

And in some news ala Art Ravels, Alessandro Twombly’s most recent paintings look a lot like his father’s, the more famous painter Cy Twombly. See the photos, you decide (just like Fox news, except I’m both better looking and informed).

For ‘edification’ or a laugh, read MSN’s ‘How to Talk about Art’ in case you were reading this blog and were unsure about how to leave a comment. Then laugh at its ridiculous advice, and say whatever the hell you are thinking.

I do have a great video coming, but due to unfortunate/stupid/annoying embeding problems, you’ll have to hold on the edge of your seat in the meantime.

Twomblys: Story of a Family Resemblance

You might have noticed my affinity for Twombly the Elder here or here. I say Twombly the Elder because Cy Twombly has a son who is also an artist. Like his father, Alessandro Twombly toes the line between abstract and representational forms in his paintings such as the one above. He lives in Tuscany and likes to garden.

How did I find out those last personal tidbits? My mom’s copy of Elle Decor (inspiration comes from unexpected places) that features his home.
The artist is better known for his sculptures, like the one below. This sculpture seems to grow out of it’s narrow base in a clumpy, natural process like tree branches. Behind it you can find more of the artist’s paintings. Look at them carefully.

I love the lush colors and huge size of the naturalistic forms, but something struck me as a little strange about the paintings. They remind me of his father’s last show at Gagosian (a lot!) pictured on the left. The palate is the same, only reversed between the grouping of round blossoms and bright background. Soooo, it’s strikingly odd that father and son have such similar paintings (colors, compositions, size, material).
Does a family resemblance really extend to paintings? What happened here?