Blogs

Curator's Corner

Peruvian Splendor: Wari Culture

Monday, December 12, 2016 | Karl Cole

If you are one of those folks (I’m not) who believe that the highest point in aesthetics was attained in the art of ancient Greece and Rome, then you probably do consider the period after the do ...

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Curator's Corner

Smoke

Monday, December 5, 2016 | Karl Cole

I happen to burn a lot of incense, because I think it’s nicer than any of those spray products that immediately fall to the floor and dissipate. And who wants a plug-in air freshener that runs u ...

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Curator's Corner

Reiko Sudo and NUNO

Monday, November 28, 2016 | Karl Cole

About a year ago I introduced you to the fiber art of Reiko Sudo and NUNO Corporation of Japan. We currently have an exhibition in the Davis Art Gallery of a Japanese-born fiber artist, Mihoko Wakabay ...

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Curator's Corner

The "Things" of Art: Lee Ufan

Monday, November 21, 2016 | Karl Cole

I really like introducing you to artists I’ve just begun to appreciate, especially if their work is a breath of fresh air on an otherwise dreary day. That certainly applies to the work of Ufan L ...

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Curator's Corner

What Type of Balance? You Decide.

Monday, November 14, 2016 | Karl Cole

I probably shouldn’t be using the word Balance after the latest election. Let’s ignore that by doing some visual exercises. I’m always intrigued with the issue of “balance&rdqu ...

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Curator's Corner

It's That Time Again

Friday, November 4, 2016 | Karl Cole

By that, I don’t mean “it’s November” or “it’s autumn.” I suspect that I’m not the only one who is tired of political ads with mean-spirited denunciatio ...

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Curator's Corner

An Autumn Idyll from Japan

Monday, October 31, 2016 | Karl Cole

One of the most fascinating things I learned (among many fascinating things) while studying Japanese culture and art when in college, was that Japanese scholars would routinely debate the virtues of a ...

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Curator's Corner

Letters Are Beautiful

Thursday, October 13, 2016 | Karl Cole

I learned long ago how venerated calligraphy is in some cultures, and we speak of that in many of our Davis books. A short while ago as I was reading about contemporary Iranian artist Parastou Forouha ...

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Curator's Corner

The Beauty of Line: Papua New Guinea

Monday, October 3, 2016 | Karl Cole

What better way to explore the idea of beautiful lines than with Oceanic art. Oceania is a vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean that covers one-third of the planet's surface. Contained in Oceania are the ...

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Curator's Corner

Artist Selfies

Monday, September 26, 2016 | Karl Cole

Selfies are actually nothing new. Artists have been making selfies for centuries. It just happens to be easier for everyday folks nowadays to produce self-portraits. I’m presenting you with thes ...

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Curator's Corner

"Kalighat" Art

Thursday, September 22, 2016 | Karl Cole

Indian art certainly has a rich and long history. I especially appreciate the aesthetic aspects of Indian art that have endured for centuries despite the fascinating multiplicity of kingdoms, vastly d ...

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Curator's Corner

The Lesser Known Calder: Jewelry Design

Monday, September 12, 2016 | Karl Cole

You are probably familiar with the art of Alexander Calder. He is, in particular, renowned for his invention of the mobile, a term coined by Surrealist Marcel Duchamp (1887–1968). He is consider ...

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Curator's Corner

Summer (Unofficially) Over: Robert Motherwell

Friday, September 9, 2016 | Karl Cole

Well, summer is on its way out, so how about a little color to lift spirits? Robert Motherwell is my favorite of the artists associated with Abstract Expressionists, because I get a sense of joy that ...

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Curator's Corner

Vacation Time Activities in Art

Tuesday, September 6, 2016 | Karl Cole

I was on vacation recently in Provincetown and, being an art history nerd, thought I would give some visual explanations. ...

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Curator's Corner

August Artist Birthday to Recognize: Hedda Sterne

Wednesday, August 10, 2016 | Karl Cole

Give credit where credit is due, I always say. Sadly, that isn’t something a lot of art history texts do when it comes to women artists. For instance, there were many women practicing some form ...

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Curator's Corner

A True "Renaissance" Person: Herbert Bayer

Monday, August 8, 2016 | Karl Cole

I was recently reading about Herbert Bayer and realized what a treasure this artist has been! I always appreciated his Bauhaus years and his contributions to graphic design, but, I had really never in ...

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