Tuesday, March 8, 2011

LACMA Visit

    Visiting the museum was a great experience. There was so much to look at in the short time I had. My favorite style to view was expressionism and realism.  The most unusual pieces I chose were by German Expressionists named George Bellows and Magnus Zeller. The shapes were sharp and the painting gave me the impression of emptiness in the subject by Bellows  His painting depicted vibrantly colored portraits of women with black eyes. I suppose it was quite avant garde in the early twentieth century. Magnus', The Orator appeared theatrical. The faces of the people in the entire painting had the same hard angled lines with varying expressions; it was like they were wearing masks.
   Another painting I viewed was Frida Kahlo who was married to the artist Diego Rivera. He painted her portrait. I have a book of her work at home and it is like a pictorial autobiography. There are many paintings depicting her painful physical ailments due to a car accident in such great detail.  Also, I chose American artist, George Bellows. The oil painting of Emma is his wife. Beautiful detail and color attracted me to this picture.
   


  
  

LACMA Pictures

Frida Kahlo by Diego Rivera
The Orator, 1920 by Magnus Zeller, Germany
Emma in the Purple Dress, 1919 /1920 by George Bellows
The Young Mechanic, 1848
Portrait of a Girl, 1919-1920 by Max Pechsteinm, Germany

Identity Collage

   My life has been shaped by the people in this collage most.. A picture of my parents is on top of the page in the middle.  My ethnic background is mostly German, Scott-Irish and a bit of French, too. I feel my humor and attention to detail was most  influenced in my family of origin. To the left of this picture is my mother and her three siblings.  While growing up they were so much a part of my life. My family celebrated many holidays together and I always enjoyed visiting the cousins anytime for fun in the pool or a game of hide and seek. Below this picture is my sister, Terri and her husband Michael. I am one of five children; however, Terri is the one who I stuck with most. She influenced  me by her nurturing style and her friendship. The picture in the middle is my husband, John, my daughter, Veronica and myself years ago. The picture to the right of that is us plus two. When I married my husband who is Mexican, I fully embraced the cultural diversity I was marrying into. Also, I have become more informed about cultural differences, and I can accept what is different more readily. I am open to diversity so much more than my family members.  I have been positively affected by the family gatherings, music and food shared. I enjoy traditional folklore music; moreover, the danceable music such as Cumbia, Bachita, Reggaeton,and Salsa is more inspiring to me to dance to.The Mexican food dishes are a part our familys' life. We don't eat a lot of traditional dishes,yet  I make homemade beans and spanish rice regalury and chiles and tortillas are a staple item in my kitchen.   On the bottom left side of my collage I have a picture of my nieces and my husband and I at our engagement party.  I thought I would insert this picture because it symbolized the beginning of cultural diversity in my life. Last, on the bottom right I have a picture of my children presently. They are my everything. They are unique individuals who understand diversity and acceptance. 

Collage Picture