A Passion for Color

The Whitney Museum of American Art is exhibiting Oscar Bluemner: A Passion for Color until February 12. The museum's website states, "Examining Bluemner's evolution from a budding architect to a key innovator in the modernist shift to abstraction, the exhibition surveys the artist's entire oeuvre, from the pictorial, architectural renderings of his early years to the richly symbolic, color-infused landscapes that established his place among the leading artists of his day."
The painting shown here, "Aspiration (Winfield)" (1911, repainted 1916-1917) lifts the gaze with its impression of refracted light. Exhibition curator Barbara Haskell says, "The effect was of looking at nature through a prism."

The Fresnel lens of a lighthouse intensifies light through refraction. A prism breaks it into distinct colors. Both magnify the display of glorious light. So let this be our aspiration: As we enjoy the radiant glory of God, may we reflect it back to Him. May we refract and display His beauty in the world that He has made.

Bob

(image scanned from American Art Review, Sep-Oct 2005)

Art Right Side Up

We mentioned our artist friend, Monte. He helps us see the world from a different slant. Bob and I love words. We collect them like treasures. Monte is not a great fan of words. He will take an image over a word any day.

Monte was looking over my shoulder last week at some pictures I had from a recent trip. Sunrises. I was turning the digital images right side up. Monte abruptly said, "Stop!" For him, the images were perfect sideways. He did not even see them as sideways. He saw art right side up. I had to force myself to hold my head straight as I looked at the pictures. It kept drifting sideways. Monte's head never wavered.

approaching art chest open

A lesson in approaching art "chest open." Laying aside presumptions about how things are. Considering another view of reality. Coming at understanding sideways. Taking a deep breath of creative beauty so that your chest opens wide. Your horizon of sight, internal and external, broadens. A lesson to be liberally applied in this human life.

Joni

Jackson Lake

Julie and I were drinking in the beauty of Jackson Lake when I saw this cairn of human creativity. The aesthetic impulse springs forth in the presence of God's creative genius. We were awed by the stars that night. Bright reflections on the dark surface of the lake. A perfect venue for delight! Bob