Monday, January 9, 2012

2012 Museum Exhibition Overview + New England Lobster Bake


Explore the subject of the tree in Jewish tradition through the lens of contemporary artists. 
Courtesy Contemporary Jewish Museum, San Francisco
ART:
2012
A Look at this year's
Museum Exhibitions
LUCIAN FREUD: PORTRAITS
July 1–October 28, 2012
Ft. Worth, TX

Courtesy The Modern

JENNY HOLZER
"Venice Installation"
(in Second Antechamber)
Bentonville, AR

Courtesy Crystal Bridges


Weegee: Murder is My Business
Jan 20 – Sept 2
NYC

Courtesy International Center of Photography

The Ungovernables
February 15 – April 22
NYC

Courtesy The New Museum

Dan Flavin: Drawing
Feb 17 – July 1
NYC
Dan Flavin, drawn proposals for "in memory of Sandy Calder. Courtesy of The Morgan Library and Museum.

John Chamberlain: Choices
Feb 24 – May 13
NYC
Courtesy Guggenheim Museum

The Steins Collect: Matisse, Picasso, and the Parisian Avant-Garde
Feb 28 – June 3
NYC
Including paintings and prints by Paul Cézanne, Edgar Degas, Paul Gauguin, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Édouard Manet, and Auguste Renoir, etc. 
Also check out Tomás Saraceno’s Cloud City on the Met roof.

Keith Haring: 1978-1982
March 16 – July 8
NYC

Courtesy The Brooklyn Museum
Edouard Vuillard: A Painter and His Muses, 1890-1940
May 4 – Sept 23
NYC

Courtesy The Jewish Museum

Caribbean: Crossroads of the World
June 1 – Dec 1
NYC

Courtesy el Museo del Barrio

This Will Have Been: Art, Love, and Politics in the 1980s
February 11 – June 3

Jeff Koons, Rabbit
Courtesy Museum of
Contemporary Art, Chicago

Roy Lichtenstein
May 16 – September 3

Courtesy
The Art Institute of Chicago

Do Not Destroy: Trees, Art, and Jewish Thought
Feb 16 – June 30
San Francisco, CA

Courtesy The Contemporary Jewish Museum

Rineke Dijkstra
February 18 – May 26
San Francisco, CA

Courtesy SFMMA

State of Mind: New California Art circa 1970
Feb 29 – June 17
Berkeley, 
CA

Courtesy Berkeley Art Museum

Arthur Tress: San Francisco 1964
March 3 – June 3
San Francisco, CA

Courtesy de Young Museum
1945-1980, From Rico Lebrun to Paul McCarthy
Jan 22 – May 20
LA, CA




ALINA SZAPOCZNIKOW: SCULPTURE UNDONE, 1955-1972
Feb 6 – April 29 
LA, California


Courtesy The Hammer Museum

Robert Adams: The Place We Live
March 11 – June 3
LA, California

Courtesy LACMA


Ends of the Earth: Land Art to 1974
April 8 – July 30
LA, California
The first large-scale, historical-thematic exhibition to deal broadly with Land art, capturing the simultaneous impulse emergent in the 1960s to use the earth as an artistic medium and to locate works in remote sites far from familiar art contexts. (no photo available) 

Rita Ackermann
March 15 – May 6
Miami
One of the few contemporary artists to discuss her work in terms of "style" rather than practice, Ackermann has forged a new visual language in painting, drawing and collages, which ranges from psychologically intense expressionism to colorfield abstraction. (no photo available)

The Record: Contemporary Art and Vinyl
March 18 – June 10
Miami

Courtesy Miami Art Museum

Charles Ledray
April 6 – July 1
Miami


Courtesy Bass Museum

Joan Miro: The Ladder of Escape
May 6 – Aug 12
Washington, DC


Courtesy National Gallery of Art
(Sources: All listed museum web sites / press departments)

FOOD
A New England Lobster Bake,
no matter where you live!
Maine Lobster Seafood Bake
Are you planning a special mid-winter meal for 2, or 4, or 6, or even 8 people?  "Lobster Gram", a Biddeford, Maine mail order company, has a new option for a memorable stay-at-home party or host a unique "winter" New England bake in the backyard, dressed in your knit caps, heavy coats and sitting around your new fire pit.

The company will ship anywhere in the US, a perfectly prepared Maine Lobster Seafood Bake which you can prepare in just a few minutes - right out of your freezer. This selection of lobster, shrimp, mussels, scallops, corn-on-the-cob, and new potatoes comes in a disposable steaming tray, ready for your oven. 

Here is what you will receive in the "LOBSTER GRAM Maine Lobster Seafood Bake Dinner for Two":
  • Two 5-6 oz. Maine Lobster Tails
  • Eight shrimp
  • 15 mussels
  • Four Sea Scallops
  • Two half-ears sweet corn
  • 10 baby potatoes
  • Garlic butter sauce
  • Preparation Instruction
The packaging and instructions ensure each item will be prepared to perfection with minimal effort! Below is the price list (shipping is an additional charge).

L.G. SKU
item
Price

MAINEBAKE2
Maine Lobster Seafood Bake Dinner for 2
84.95

MAINEBAKE4
Maine Lobster Seafood Bake Dinner for 4
139.95

MAINEBAKE6
Maine Lobster Seafood Bake Dinner for 6
199.95

MAINEBAKE8
Maine Lobster Seafood Bake Dinner for 8
249.95


Online order Link:
Contact: LOBSTER GRAM: 1-800-LIVE-LOB  (1-800-548-3562)

Until later,
Jack
ARTSnFOOD, All rights reserved. Concept & Original Text © Copyright 2012 Jack A. Atkinson under all International intellectual property and copyright laws. Images © individual artists, fabricators, respective owners or assignees.
Posted by at 1 comment:

Monday, January 2, 2012

Remembering Lucian Freud - New Year's Resolution Time

David Hockney posing for Freud in his studio.
Freud - Full Length Nude Self Portrait (detail)

ART:
Lucian Freud
(1922-2011)
painted reality
in the flesh

Lucian Freud, grandson of the father of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, passed away last year. He was considered one of England's great artistic treasures and although collected by many conservative Brits, his paintings were often very graphic, spread-legged nude portraits.

Nude with Leg Up (detail)
I remember, with some humor, strolling through a solo exhibition of his work at a public venue in the Lake District of England. All of the other (English) patrons viewing the work on that Sunday had on their Sunday best outfits, with the women all wearing very large wide-brimmed hats with feathers, artificial flowers, etc. (Visualize the ladies' hats at the recent Royal Wedding.) It was so bizarre to see all of these very prim and proper Lords and Ladies "very seriously" viewing Freud's gigantic paintings which included prominent and graphic depictions of male and female genitalia a few inches in front of them as they made no mention of the obvious and showed little emotion one way or the other. 

Reclining Nude
Freud was not a pornographer. He was a realist, showing us a reality we do not really want to see, in paintings of "the man or woman next door" often undressed and vulnerable and in unflattering poses. But, there is a voyeurism built into these paintings, which cannot be denied. 
Naked man on Bed (detail)
He painted only from life and his subjects would have to pose for hundreds of hours, until he was finished. In his signature style, he rendered these subjects with a heavily loaded brush in slow and decisive strokes, using white paint very generously with his hog bristled, stiff brushes. His palette was mostly neutral with a range from fleshy, creamy to dark browns and the same range with gray tones. The occasional rosy cheek was used as an accent. His paintings attained a remarkable presence to be mere oil on canvas and every rag and floorboard was given a sense of importance. 


The 89 year old painter created almost all of his work in his stark London studio with walls encrusted in paint wiped from his brushes and his palette. He had a famous firetrap of used oil soaked rags piled like a mountain in one corner. Most of his subjects were acquaintances and his paintings were always displayed in ornate traditional frames, not the simple frames most contemporary artist use today. He also produced very masterful and elegant etchings on paper.

Lucian Freud moved beyond caring what anyone thought of him or his work which allowed him to create a great legacy with his life's work. 


Mr. Freud made us aware there is beauty in all shapes of humanity, not just the ideal.





FOOD
It is New Year's Resolution time and there are hundreds of diet and exercise plans out there. 
The reality in this shopping mall of choices is that most actually work, but for those of us who want to get into better shape through diet and exercise, we must actually follow the guidelines and stick with the program. This year I am setting goals for the year, for each month, for each week and a plan for each day.

"The reward for a thing well done is having done it."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson 

Here are Trainer Vic Magary's 55 reasons to eat right, exercise and get into shape.




1.  You’ll have more energy to play (with your kids or with friends).
2.  Standing in front of the mirror will make you smile.
3.  So you can walk up a flight of stairs without huffing and puffing.
4.  Because despite the eroding of our palates from a lifetime of processed crap, real food tastes better.
5.  People guess your age at least five years less than your actual age.
6.  You’ll reduce your chances of getting many cancers.
7.  Using the last notch on your belt feels great.
8.  Donating your “fat clothes” to the thrift store is a good thing to do.
9.  Wearing a bathing suit comes with zero hesitation.
10.  Nothing beats when someone who hasn’t seen you for several months unexpectedly runs into you at the grocery store and says, “Wow!  You look amazing!”
11.  Because climbing a tree is just as fun as you remember.
12.  You’re sick of feeling tired, sluggish, and having a general lack of energy.
13.  Discipline gained from sticking to a healthy diet and fitness regimen transfers to other areas of life.
14.  A spontaneous hike in nature no longer scares you.
15.  You’ll reduce your chances of heart disease.
16.  When you keep your promises to yourself, you feel unstoppable.
17.  Moving the couch, placing a heavy box on a high shelf, or carrying a bag of mulch is no big deal.
18.  You can pick up a child (your child or grandchild).
19.  You are certain you will have plenty of room in an airplane seat or amusement park ride.
20.  On those rare occasions when you do eat a piece of chocolate cake or a cheeseburger, you enjoy it so much more.
21.  You’re game for anything – whether that be ballroom dancing or indoor rock climbing – you know your overall fitness level will take care of you.
22.  Because push ups are cool.
23.  Having your blood pressure checked or getting your cholesterol results will no longer make you anxious.
24.  Food no longer controls you.
25.  You’ll reduce your chances of getting Type 2 diabetes.
26.  You hate the terms “muffin top” and "spare tire".
27.  Improved energy levels can translate to better performance on the job which could potentially mean more money.
28.  You command more respect when you are fit.
29.  Dogs only play with people who eat broccoli.  Seriously!
30.  You’ll set a healthy example for your children to follow.
31.  It’s been FAR too long since you looked down and could actually see your toes.
32.  It feels so good to fit into those skinny jeans.
33. Making your ex-girlfriend or boyfriend or spouse regret what they’re missing might be shallow, but damn if it doesn’t feel good.
34.  Because you refuse to “outgrow” another pair of pants.
35.  Bending down to pick up a dropped coin should not be an ordeal of extreme effort.
36.  So if you do need extended medical care, the orderlies, nurses, or physical therapists can move you without calling in reinforcements.
37.  You’ll fight off osteoporosis.
38.  It feels good to be able to help someone push their car out of the snow.
39.  The words “pool party” should not strike fear into your heart.
40.  Because the desk job and the commute to and from the desk job need counterbalanced with intense physical exertion.
41.  A sudden adrenaline fueled sprint – whether to get out of the way of a speeding car, avoid a mugger, or beat your nephew in a foot race – should not result in a pulled hamstring or near cardiac arrest.
42. Sex is better.
43. Because it’s always fun to prove the doubters wrong.
44.  Because you are sick of wasting money on little frozen boxes that have the words “Healthy” or “Lean” blazoned across them and still being overweight.
45. When people hug you, they can fit their arms all the way around.
46.  You can sit on cheap plastic lawn chairs without fear of them breaking.
47.  “How many burpees can you do in 10 minutes?” is always a great way to start a conversation.
48.  Because that last exercise contraption you bought from the late night infomercial is now doing time as a glorified clothes hanger.
49.  You want something more that requires your body.  Maybe it’s climbing Mt. Everest.  Maybe it’s getting the newspaper at the end of your driveway without feeling lightheaded.  But there is something more.
50.  Life is too short to be a slave to reality television and pizza delivery.
51.  Pull ups are easier when you weigh less.
52.  So that the chains on a swing set don’t dig into your hips when you swing with your kids.
53.  You can use a public restroom and fit into the regular stall instead of the handicapped stall.


* 54.  Because there is no magic potion, pill, or powder to make you thin and strong.  Only you can do that.


* 55.  MAINLY because it’s simple!  
And you know it’s simple:
- to eat real food in limited portions
- and to exercise outside of your comfort zone.  

But simple does not mean easy. 
Good Luck and have a Happy Start to this New Year.

To access Trainer Vic Magary's workout and food log click on the link below. You should also check out his diet plan.
http://www.vicmagary.com/training-and-diet/

The Beginner's Guide To Using The Gym


Another trainer's diet and exercise program:
Until later.
Jack
ARTSnFOOD, All rights reserved. Concept & Original Text © Copyright 2012 Jack A. Atkinson under all International intellectual property and copyright laws. Images © individual artists, fabricators, respective owners or assignees.
Posted by at No comments:

Monday, December 26, 2011

de Kooning at MoMA + What to do for a Hangover! (A Special Food Issue) + Fairwell to 3 Artists




ART:
"de Kooning,
a Retrospective"
at MoMA, NYC
(Closing January 9, 2012)

Dutch American Abstract Expressionist Artist Willem de Kooning (1904-1997) 
He was a part of the group of artists who came to be known as the New York School. 




"In 1926 the Dutch artist Willem de Kooning entered the United States as a stowaway and eventually settled in Hoboken, New Jersey, where he supported himself as a house painter. In 1927 he moved to a studio in Manhattan and came under the influence of the artist, connoisseur, and art critic John Graham and the painter Arshile Gorky. Gorky became one of de Kooning’s closest friends. From about 1928 de Kooning began to paint still life and figure compositions reflecting the school of Paris and Mexican mural influences. By the early 1930's he was exploring abstraction."  (Encyclopedia Britanica)



"The female figure was a theme to which de Kooning returned repeatedly. He began painting women regularly in the early 1940s and did so again later in that decade and more seriously in the 1950s. Often they are depicted in an almost graffitilike style, with gigantic, vacuous eyes, massive breasts, toothy smiles and clawlike hands set against colorful layers of paint." (The NYTimes)



The MoMA exhibition de Kooning: A Retrospective, up through January 9, 2012, is devoted to the full scope of the career of Willem de Kooning (American, b. the Netherlands, 1904–1997). In the show are some of the artist’s most famous, landmark paintings—including Pink Angels (c. 1945), Excavation (1950), and the celebrated third Woman series (1950–53)—plus examples from all of his most important series, ranging from his figurative paintings of the early 1940s to the breakthrough black-and-white compositions of 1948–49, and from the urban abstractions of the mid-1950s to the artist’s return to figurations in the 1960s, and the large gestural abstractions of the following decade.



The following is a short overview of de Kooning works included in the MoMA exhibition.
Woman 1 c.1950-51

Woman II


Pink Angels c.1945

Woman to Landscape
Easter Monday c.1955-56

Excavation c.1950

Gotham News c.1955

Seated Woman c.1952

Two Women with Still Life c.1953


BOOK:
de Kooning: A Retrospective 
By John Elderfield
MoMA's Chief Curator Emeritus 
of Painting and Sculpture

Published in conjunction with this large-scale multi-medium posthumous retrospective of Willem de Kooning's career, the publication offers an unparalleled opportunity to appreciate the development of the artist's work as it unfolded over nearly seven decades, beginning with his early academic works, made in Holland before he moved to the United States in 1926, and concluding with his final, sparely abstract paintings of the late 1980s. The volume presents approximately 200 paintings, sculptures, drawings, and prints, covering the full diversity of de Kooning's art and placing his many masterpieces in the context of a complex and fascinating pictorial practice. An introductory essay provides an in-depth exploration of de Kooning's development, context and sources, theory of art, and working methods. Sections devoted to particular areas of the artist's oeuvre provide an illustrated chronology of the period and a brief introduction, as well as detailed entries on groups of works. With lavish, full-color documentation, this landmark publication is the most complete account of de Kooning's artistic career to date.
Paperback, 504 pages, 628 illustrations. SIZE: 12h x 9.5w x 1.25"d PUBLISHED: 2011 ISBN: 9780870707988
$39.95 Sale
Item #798
(sources: MoMA Press Department & Website , Encyclopedia Britanica, the NYTimes)

Farewell to 3 Artists
Passages

 2011 saw the passing of three great artists: the famous British artist Lucian Freud (grandson of the father of psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud), the American Sculptor of crushed automobile parts John Chamberlain and the American "Scribble" Painter Cy Twombly.

 Lucian Freud, "Queen Elizabeth"


Cy Twombly “Untitled” 2007
Image from Gagosian Gallery
He once described his work as 
“more like I’m having an experience than making a picture.”





Book: John Chamberlain: New Sculpture [Hardcover] by Thomas Crow Price: $100.00 or  $62.00 at Amazon.com

Links to obits and more images:

FOOD
What to do 
for a Hangover!
"The Morning After!"

The classic Bloody Mary!
If New Year's Eve is the official "drinking holiday", then January 1st  is the official day for hangovers and hangover cures. The symptoms are usually a dry mouth, nausea, extreme fatigue, dizziness and a headache.

For a hangover, most who have experienced one say to find a quiet environment and plan to stay in bed for 8 hours and more, hopefully sleeping. Put on some soft music, turn off the TV, turn off your cell phone and stay away from the computer. No sudden movements and taking an aspirin and shower will make you feel better.

Remember your body is out of balance.
- A glass of yellow Gatorade will help with dehydration and electrolytes. Water is always an option for hydrating (sip slowly at room temperature). Drinking 2 eight oz glasses before you go to bed on New Years Eve will help the most.
- Proteins and some starchy carbs usually help (some believe cold pizza, soft tacos or egg sandwiches with mayo on white bread work). 
- Drinking black tea or black coffee will put some caffeine into your system. 
- If you feel nauseated, try some Coca Cola, chicken soup and toast in small amounts. Also consuming some Jello or pudding has been know to help.
- Some say taking another drink will help ease you back into reality. A Bloody Mary is a good choice.
- Raw Cabbage, Sauerkraut, Sauerkraut juice and Sauerkraut soup are ancient cures.
- Although I have never made or even tasted the heavy Mexican dish called "Menudo", many serious drinkers swear it is the best cure for a hangover. Try eating some flour tortillas along with this dish. Menudo supporters say the hominy soaks up the alcohol still in the stomach.

-----------------
Bloody Mary: For Your Hangover

Ingredients
1 oz SMIRNOFF NO.21 (Vodka)
4 oz Tomato Juice
.5 oz Worcestershire Sauce
.25 oz Tabasco Sauce
Pinch of salt & pepper
Sqeeze of Lemon, serve with the slice
A stalk of Celery
Directions
Pour all your ingredients over cubed ice in a highball glass and stir well. Sip slowly. (source: Smirnoff Vodka)

-----------------
Drinking Sprite & Soda Water

Your hipster college roommate may have suggested the copious consumption of herbal teas. But now, Chinese scientists have declared that a swig of Sprite might be just what the doctor ordered. A group of researchers from Sun Yat-Sen University in Guangzhou conducted experiments and found that Sprite and soda water promote the rapid break-down of acetaldehyde.
Acetaldehyde causes the dreaded feelings. When a person’s body is exposed to acetaldehyde many of the symptoms of a hangover, like headaches and wanting to throw up, manifest themselves.  

Promoting the rapid break-down of acetaldehyde and reducing the time acetaldehyde stays in your body, will minimize the harmful effects of drinking alcohol.

(Source: Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou)
-----------------
Sauerkraut Hangover Soup

Ingredients

3 slices of bacon
1 sm onion chopped
1 teaspoon paprika
4 cups water
1 ham hock
1 green pepper seeded, deribbed and chopped
1 tomato sliced
16 ozs sauerkraut
1 Tblsp flour
1 cup sour cream, + some for accompainiment
1/2 lb spicy smoked sausage, thinly sliced 

Directions
In a Dutch oven over medium-high heat, brown bacon until fat is rendered. Remove bacon with a slotted utensil and reserve for another use. Add onion to bacon drippings and saute until translucent (about 5 minutes). Add paprika, the water, ham hock, pepper, and tomato. Cover, bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until meat is tender (about 1 1/2 hours).
Drain sauerkraut and turn into a colander. Briefly rinse under cold water and drain again. Add sauerkraut to the Dutch oven and simmer 20 minutes; do not overcook.
Remove ham hock from pot; pull meat from bones and return meat to pot. In a small bowl stir together flour and the 1 cup sour cream. Add to soup mixture along with sausage. Reheat to serving temperature, stirring; do not boil.
To serve, ladle into soup bowls and serve immediately. Pass a bowl of sour cream.
(source: rupissed.com)

-----------------
Prairie Oyster Hangover Cocktail
(one version)

Ingredients
  • 1 large can of tomato juice
  • 3 Tablespoons vinegar or lemon juice
  • 1 lemon sliced
  • 4 slices of onion
  • 3 Tablespoons of sugar
  • 4 stalks of celery sliced
  • 2 teaspoons of Tabasco sauce
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • olive oil
  • 1 egg yolk per glass
Directions
Mix top 8 ingredients in a container, let stand overnight. Strain.
Rinse a cocktail glass with the olive oil and discard oil. Pour in mixture, except egg yolk, to the glass, then place the egg yolk in carefully. Serve with a small spoon and a glass of ice water.

-----------------
Menudo: A Meal to Cure a Hangover
My recommendation for this dish is to find a restaurant serving it and go there, but for the brave, here is a recipe. (I have not tested this recipe.)

Ingredients
  • 3 gallons water, divided
  • 2 1/2 pounds beef tripe, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 6 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 1 large white onion, finely chopped
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons salt
  • 1 tablespoon ground black pepper
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons dried oregano
  • 2 tablespoons ground red pepper
  • 5 de arbol chile peppers
  • 6 japones chile peppers, seeds removed
  • 6 cups canned white or yellow hominy, drained
  • 1/2 white onion, chopped
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 2 limes, juiced
Directions
  1. In a large pot, bring 1 gallon water to a boil. Place tripe in the pot, reduce heat, and simmer 2 hours. Periodically skim off fat with a spoon. Drain water, reduce heat, and pour in a fresh gallon of water. Continue to simmer tripe for 2 hours; drain.
  2. Pour remaining 1 gallon water into the pot with tripe, and bring to a boil. Stir in garlic and 1 white onion. Season with salt, pepper, oregano, and red pepper. Reduce heat, and simmer 1 hour.
  3. Preheat the broiler.
  4. Arrange the de arbol chile peppers on a baking sheet, and broil about 2 minutes, just until they begin to scorch. Remove from heat, slit lengthwise, and remove seeds. In a blender or food processor, blend the de arbol chili peppers and japones chile peppers until very finely chopped. Mix into the pot, and continue cooking 2 hours over low heat.
  5. Mix the hominy into the pot. Continue cooking 1 hour. Serve with remaining onion, cilantro, and lime juice.
-----------------

Popular home-brewed remedies against hangover: eating eggs, sipping a bit of castor oil, Vitamin B effervescent pills, tomato sauce, work or anything that keeps you distracted from the discomfort. 



Before going to sleep, after a night of drinking, try a concoction known as Hangman’s Blood. “Into a pint glass, doubles of the following are poured: gin, whisky, rum, port and brandy. A small bottle of stout is added and the whole topped up with Champagne … It tastes very smooth, induces a somewhat metaphysical elation, and rarely leaves a hangover.”


It goes without saying, when drinking consider moderation and avoid drinking too much alcohol within any one 24 hour period. If you are prone to headaches, always avoid over consumption of alcohol.

Until later,
Jack
ARTSnFOOD, All rights reserved. Concept & Original Text © Copyright 2011 Jack A. Atkinson under all International intellectual property and copyright laws. Images © individual artists, fabricators, respective owners or assignees.
Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)