Tuesday, December 21, 2010

A Met Velázquez Is Vindicated - Brilliant Use of Tech to Demonstrate Restoration!

---------------------------------From NY TIMES online 12/120/10

Below is a story from the NY TIMES / ARTS sections 12/20/10. It's an interesting story about the restoration of a great old master painting. However, it is accompanied by 2 REMARKABLE interactive media items embedded in the online version of the paper: they are photographic simulations of the restoration, allowing the viewer to manipulate the image to see the progress of the restoration process from 'before' to 'after' - There is also an embedded podcast player of a very worthwhile (short) interview with the people behind the restoration.:
1) Main story @
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/12/18/arts/20101218-velazquez.html , and
2) follow the links at the top of the story for more... # 4 leads to another interactive simulation of the restauration

The Restoration of a Velázquez
After technical studies and a yearlong restoration, curators and conservators at the Metropolitan Museum of Art now believe that a full-length portrait of Philip IV that has been in the Met's collection since 1914 is by Velázquez and not his workshop. The attribution reverses a finding made in 1973 when museum officials downgraded this portrait, along with 299 other old master paintings, saying they were either by the artist's workshop or a follower... for the full story, go to: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/12/18/arts/20101218-velazquez.html

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

iPhone / iPad for Visual Art? Ask David Hockney

From: http://www.ipadshouse.com/ipad-%E2%80%93-the-new-digital-canvas/

I'd be interested in how the iPhone or iPad could be used to make worthwhile art no matter who weighed in on the challenge. That David Hockney, one of the world's most established artists, (and one who has made such good sense in his work by exploring traditional representation as well as pushing its boundaries) has made an important splash with it is especially thought provoking and inspiring.

Here's a short
NPR Interview with Mr. Hockney about his current Paris exhibit of a body of work done exclusively on these devices. Also, here's one of many worthwhile articles recently written about the exhibit and Hockney's "iART" titled Digital Art Evangelist David Hockney's iPad Flowers Bloom in Paris.
As iPhones and iPads continue to be eyed by schools as viable supports for learning, Hockney's lead looms as having more and more importance for educators who want to include art in the student expereince. It behooves those of us who are adept at making Visual Art, teaching it, and using technology in this context to familiarize ourselves with it and support our colleagues as they consider it, too.