Wu-Lang Clan
Posted on January 22, 2020
I can’t resist a good opportunity for a pun. Iconic and revolutionary hip-hop artists, the Wu-Tang Clan shaped their genre and used the written word to write and re-shape the legacy of East-Coast rap. I’m a fan of artists Jiangmei Wu and Robert J. Lang (hence “Wu-Lang Clan”), both featured in Above the Fold and both visiting the Woodson Art Museum and kicking off 2020 in innovative and grand style.
Making Fleeting Magic
Posted on January 15, 2020
This weekend, January 18-19, the Woodson Art Museum hosts origami artist Jiangmei Wu and snow sculptors as they work wonders with paper and snow. These artists’ transformations are magical. Whether you visit to marvel at their results or satisfy your curiosity about the artists’ tools and techniques, inspiration and insights are in store.
A New Decade
Posted on January 08, 2020
Turning the calendar to January always lifts my spirits. It’s not only a new year, but also a new decade. While I look forward to what’s ahead, sharing our 2019 collection accomplishments seems most appropriate for this week’s Woodson Wanderings blog post.
Acuity
Posted on January 01, 2020
Today the world ushers in the year 2020, in the Gregorian calendar. It’s the beginning of the ‘20s, end of the teens, and a Leap Year . . . and for like minds who enjoy wordplay, it’s 20/20.
Christmas Joy
Posted on December 25, 2019
It seems like only yesterday that I was immersed in art history classes as the calendar turned to December and the end of the semester loomed large. I knew that each professor – regardless of genre or period being taught – would wrap up his or her final class with a brilliant nativity scene. It was as if it were an art historian’s badge of honor to produce a vivid image accompanied by Merry Christmas greetings.
That’s a Wrap
Posted on December 18, 2019
With Christmas a week away, I fear another day of shame for me, watching my wife and kids open presents with my dumpster fire of a wrapping job.
Where Once There Was a Square, Now There Is a Story
Posted on December 11, 2019
Three new exhibitions opened Saturday at the Woodson Art Museum – Above the Fold: New Expressions in Origami, FaunaFold, and Alchemy Unfolding – transforming the freshly de-installed galleries from blank boxes into immersive spaces, a metamorphosis not unlike those generated by origami artists who create captivating, multidimensional designs from squares of paper.
Baking it Forward
Posted on November 27, 2019
The holidays are fast approaching. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, just twenty-seven days until Christmas.
I’ve always loved this time of year, especially the traditions and family gatherings. My definition of family has evolved over the years to encompass many close friends with whom we celebrate.
Baking was among my family’s annual traditions and it’s something I’ve continued. I use several of my grandmother’s and mother’s recipes and have added my family’s favorites as well as newly discovered taste treats.
Eye of the Beholder
Posted on November 20, 2019
I like art; most often, it’s a visceral connection. I enjoy being with art and experiencing it. I relish casual and informal “conversations” with artworks. I then imagine why a particular work “speaks” to me. Being curious by nature, though, I often also research works – learning to better appreciate the art. Research may include internet searches, tapping the collective wisdom of fellow curators, asking others in a gallery why they like the artwork, or asking an artist friend’s opinion. What results is a breezy, personal comment on art, reflecting the “eye of the beholder.”
The Power of Positive Reviews
Posted on December 04, 2019