Monday Madness!

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This morning we played Monday Madness! And I learned to "Trust the App!" (and no pre-plan the art! Hahah!) We surveyed a beautiful mural, also our Top of the Day by Seth Globepainter (real name Julien Malland) entitled by the community: Lady Liberty. Painted on the side of a Government Building with the artistry & assistance of students from the Mayor's Summer Youth Employment Program & the Museum of Public Art. 

We saw an exquisite interpretation of Lady Liberty with allusions to The Underground Railroad & Harriet Tubman -- a nice connection with Vera's Black History Month featured painting, COrnell Barnes The Last Supper which also has Harriet Tubman as well as other black icons & heroes. The teens who helped Seth paint this huge wall painting added their own touches .... lots of Louisiana artifacts from the state bird to crawdads to the fleur-de-lis as well as nods to their high schools & graduation dates. 

Next up was a VERY busy The Archdukes Albert and Isabella Visiting a Collector's Cabinet by Hieronymus Francken II painted around 1621-23. The painting is complete with marmosets, a two headed dog! (thank you, Jerry), Priapus the Naughty Satyr, a perpetual motion machine, musical instruments & a wall of paintings within the painting. The Collector's Cabinet gave us sooooo much to look at, Bruno gave the painting BACK! He thought it would make him feel, "too messy!" 

The Blue Grotto, Capri by Albert Bierstadt was painted around 1857-60 is oil on cardboard! We couldn't see it, but this drawing has an inscription on the reverse: "Mr. Walters with the compliments of the author." And it's tiny which might account for the reason that it looks different from other Beirstadt's we have seen. 

Bierstadt visited Naples and Capri in the summer of 1857. The Blue Grotto which is on the north side of the island of Capri had become renowned as an attraction for tourists during the 19th century (and naturally, moreso today!) It's entrance is only about three feet high & must be entered in a small rowboat. The interior of the grotto is about 39 feet high & its depth is 50 feet -- a stark contrast to this tiny painting. Luba saw the light at the back of the grotto & said, "That light, that hope, is within reach." 

Lovely sentiment for sure. 

  • Seth Globepainter, Lady Liberty -- link --
  • Hieronymus Francken II, The Archdukes Albert and Isabella Visiting a Collector's Cabinet  -- link --
  • Albert Bierstadt, The Blue Grotto, Capri  -- link --



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