Art and the Biennale

 Medusa : Venice, IT

The Arte Biennale is an every-other-year event in Venice. This year is the 55th Biennale and we glanced in on one of the exhibits featuring an artist from the Republic of Slovenia. The photo above is of a wood carving and modern interpretation of Medusa. It was actually in a gallery and probably not part of the Biennale, but it was a good kick off to then stumbling upon the exhibit featuring art from Slovenia.

Custom wallpaper and fabric in the exhibit for the Republic of Slovenia : Venice, IT

Photo copyright: Janet M. Kincaid, 6/2013

Gruyères: The HR Giger Museum

 Museum HR Giger : Gruyères, CH

In addition to being famous for cheese and double cream, Gruyères is also well-known for being the home of the HR Giger Museum. Giger is best known for his work on the movie Aliens. This museum pays homage to his career and his private collection. It is, to say the least, bizarre. Photography isn't allowed inside the museum, so these are all exterior shots. Kitty-corner to the museum is the Giger Bar. The last photo is from inside the bar.

Detail on the Exterior : Museum HR Giger : Gruyères, CH

A tipple... : Giger Bar : Gruyères, CH

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 10/11

Růžena Zátková 2.0

Růžena Zátková by Mestrovic : Prague, CZ

Just a few shots from the Růžena Zátková Exhibit at the Prague Castle. The sculpture above is by the Yugoslav-Croatian artist Ivan Mestrovic.

Experiencing Růžena : Prague, CZ

It was great to see people coming into the exhibit and experiencing the art and life of this little-known Czech artist. The hope is that an exhibit in Italy will be just as well received!

The Piledriver by Růžena Zátková : Prague, CZ

If you missed my entry about this exhibit back in April, go here.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 7/11

Documenting Růžena

 Růžena Zátková by Mestrovic : Prague, CZ

As I stated earlier, the whole point of this recent trip to Prague was to film the exhibit featuring the artwork of Maya's great-grandmother, Růžena Zátková. The exhibit closes today (31 July) and this art may not be seen again for several years. (The curator, Alena Pomajzlova, is hoping to do a similar exhibit in Italy in a couple of years, but that remains to be seen.) Maya hired a camera man--a lovely expat Aussie named Kieran D'Arcy--and Monday was spent shooting Růžena's art and interviewing Alena.

Lights! Camera! Action! : Prague, CZ

Left to right in the photo above: Dr Alena Pomajzlova of the University of Brno and the curator of the exhibit, Ms Maya Lucchitta, great-granddaughter of the artist, and Mr Kieran D'Arcy, videographer.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 7/11

Aida!

The conquering hero returns triumphant : Aida : Prague State Opera : Prague, CZ

Maya's father wanted all of us to see an opera, so we all got dressed up and went to the Prague State Opera and saw Verdi's Aida. It was fabulous! And for those who are about to ask, no, there were no elephants--real or imagined--in this rendition. Please excuse the poor quality. I left my big camera home. These were taken using my Apple iPod Touch.

If you have to build supports for the upper balcony, 

why not use naked ladies? : Prague State Opera : Prague, CZ

Boxes and the orchestra level : Prague State Opera : Prague, CZ

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 4/11

Růžena Zátková

Sculpture of Růžena Zátková by the Jugoslavian artist Ivan Meštrović :
Imperial Stables : Prague Castle : Prague, CZ

The whole purpose of the trip to Prague was to participate in several events related to the life and work of Czech artist and futurist, Růžena Zátková. Růžena is Maya's great-grandmother and her father's grandmother.

Her most famous work is on the left in the background, but her art was wide-ranging and
shows her mind, craft, and skill evolving over time and as a result of extraordinary
opportunities and jarring life experiences : Imperial Stables : Prague Castle : Prague, CZ

A few years ago, very tenacious researcher at the Prague Museum of Art named Alena Pomajzlova started looking into the life of Růžena. The final result is a monograph about the life of this lesser-known Czech artist and an entire exhibit at the Prague Castle featuring her work. Růžena Zátková died at the age of 38 in Leysin, Switzerland, of tuberculosis. She is buried in Prague.

Dr Ivo Lucchitta, grandson of Růžena Zátková, as seen through his
grandmother's sculpture : Imperial Stables : Prague Castle : Prague, CZ

To see photos taken by Maya at this exhibition, go here. You can also visit my Picasa Web Album to see a few more pictures of Růžena's art. If you're visiting Prague any time soon, be sure to see this exhibit.

Last Look : Růžena Zátková Exhibit :
Imperial Stables : Prague Castle : Prague, CZ

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 4/11

Conga Chairs...

Conga Chairs... : Abbey of Bellelay : Bellelay, CH

On the grounds of the psychiatric clinic at the Abbey of Bellelay, there was this sculpture of brightly painted wooden chairs. I had fun trying to figure out how to shoot these for visual appeal. I'm not sure I succeeded, but I certainly enjoyed myself.

Larger view of the chairs : Bellelay, CH

Different angle on the chairs : Bellelay, CH

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 8/10

The Paintbrush is Mightier than the Eye...

Magie/Image : Tromp l'oeil : St. Genis-Pouilly, FR

I love tromp l'oeil and Europe is full of it. The great thing about that is, you don't have to go to a museum to see it. A lot of the time, all you have to do is drive to a neighboring village and there, against the wall of a building, is a painting meant to deceive your eye into thinking it's depicting a real-life scene. This is the case in the village of St. Genis-Pouilly in France. Everytime I go to France's finest bakery, Sebastian Brocard, I pass this mural that shows us the magic of images.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 7/10

Wim Delvoye

Double-helix Crucifix : Wim Delvoye : Musée Rodin : Paris, FR

The Musée Rodin included an exhibit of the works of Belgian neo-conceptual artist Wim Delvoye. He works with metal and constructs Gothic towers, culturally-iconic gates, and new interpretations on religious iconography, among other representations.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 6/10

Rodin / d'Orsay

 Auguste Rodin's The Thinker : Musée Rodin : Paris, FR

Part of the point of the trip to Paris was to meet up with friends. Over my many years of blogging and participating in various email list communities, I've enjoyed meeting some of the people from those venues. This trip included meeting friends Aitch and Jay for the very first time, reconnecting with friend Chanson from Zurich, and having this Paris trip coincide with the visit of fellow photoblogger Virginia of Birmingham Daily Photo and Paris Through My Lens. We also had the pleasure of becoming acquainted with Virginia's friends, Mary, Gennie, and Marie. Today's activities feature a double bill: visits to the Rodin and Orsay Museums.

Nature as Art : Musée Rodin : Paris, FR

It was a lot of fun to see Rodin's work up close and personal, though I must say the building housing these masterpieces is in serious need of restoration. The Orsay, on the other hand, has to be one of the most beautiful buildings I've seen in Paris. Formally the Paris-Orleans train station, it has been restored and repurposed as a museum. Unfortunately, the Musée d'Orsay does not allow photography so I can't show you a personally-taken photo of the amazing clock that hangs over the main hall or Jean-Francoise Millet's The Gleaners (a needlepoint replica of which hung in my late maternal grandmother's home in Green River, Wyoming. It was neat to see, though, and made me think of my grandma and her artistry and love of art.)

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 6/10

Art4Health

Pop art of India's Aishwarya Rai : Geneva, CH

Currently, there is an exhibit in the library at work that features commissioned art featuring images of women from developing countries that portray them as strong and proactive with regard to women's sexual and reproductive health. The project is called Art4Health and is a collaborative effort between several non-governmental and intergovernmental agencies.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 6/10
Art copyright: Elisabetta Farina

Musée des Beaux-Arts

Pain of Content : Musée des Beaux-Arts : Lyon, FR

Housed in what was formerly the Abbey of Saint Peter, the Musée des Beaux-Arts is Lyon's modern art museum. We didn't go inside, but we did visit the sculpture garden in the courtyard of this 18th century building. The garden is home to what was/is likely a rather large Rodin. Unfortunately, it wasn't in place when we visited. I love photographing arches and colonnades and this courtyard was surrounded by a beauty. What intrigued me with this one was the writing over the door at the end. First, it's in English and second, what could be behind that door? (Click on the image to enlarge.) As for the sculpture below, I forgot to write down the name and artist, but as today is Friday, I'm calling it "TGIF"! Anyway--visit my Picasa Web Albums to see a few more pictures of this space, located just across the street from the Fontaine Bartholdi in the Place des Terreaux.

TGIF : Musée des Beaux-Arts : Lyon, FR

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 2/10

Musée du Louvre

Musée du Louvre : Paris, FR

Our second day in Paris, my sister and I went to Notre Dame and Musée du Louvre. If you've never been to Paris, this museum, like so many things in the City of Lights, is enormous! If, in the two hours we were there, we saw even one-one hundreth of what the Louvre has to offer, I'd be stunned. That said, we did see a lot of statuary, sculpture, French and Flemish art, stained glass, tapestries, and royal treasures that were c'est magnifique!

We arrived just as they turned on the lights on the Louvre. The detail in the buildings is stunning : 

Musée du Louvre : Paris, FR

One thing that struck both of us is, so often people poo-poo the collections in museums in the United States, and particularly within the Smithsonian and National Gallery systems in Washington, D.C. The fact is, though, there's a lot of high-quality art to be seen in the U.S. The difference between U.S. collections and European collections is quantity. The vast amount of art just in Paris alone boggles the mind. That said, though, the U.S. collections aren't too shabby. Okay, I'm climbing off my soap box! LOL!

Friday night at the museum : Musée du Louvre : Paris, FR

If you've been to Paris and if you're an American and you'd like to support the efforts of the Louvre and exchanges between the U.S. and France, consider making a contribution through American Friends of the Louvre.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 1/10

Modestes II

Viewing Modestes : Geneva, CH

This photo captures a group of women during a docent-led tour of the exhibit Modestes: Portraits et Histoires de Femmes au Moyen-Orient.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 11/09

Modestes

Modest: Portraits and Stories of Women in the Middle East :
Alexander Boulet, Photographer : Geneva, CH

Currently, there is a temporary exhibit of photos by the late photojournalist Alexandra Boulat on display at the Museum of the International Red Cross/Red Crescent titled Modestes: Portraits et Histoires de Femmes au Moyen-Orient. It features photos of women in the Muslim world and is quite interesting. If you live in or near Geneva, be sure to check it out. It's free.

Modest: Portraits and Stories of Women in the Middle East :
Alexander Boulet, Photographer : Geneva, CH

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 11/09

The Petrified II

Scenes Outside a Cafe : MICR : Geneva, CH

Just a couple more shots of Carl Bucher's sculpture in the courtyard of the Museum of the International Red Cross/Red Crescent.

Petrified : MICR : Geneva, CH

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 11/09

The Petrified

The Petrified : MICR : Geneva, CH

This sculpture, by Zurich artist Carl Bucher, is called The Petrified and "denounces the violation of human rights and appeals for tolerance." It stands in the courtyard of the Museum of the International Red Cross/Red Crescent, which is next to the Red Cross/Red Crescent Headquarters in Geneva.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 11/09

Academie Nationale de Musique

Poesie Lyrique : Paris Opera : Paris, FR

Just a few pictures of the Academie Nationale de Musique, also known as the Paris Opera. Unfortunately, we didn't get off the tour bus and go in. Based on photos I've seen online, we missed out on something beautiful. Next trip, I guess!

Reflective Notes : Paris Opera : Paris, FR

In 1896, one of the opera's grand chandeliers fell from the ceiling and killed a person. The event, coupled with the opera's vast underground, inspired author Gaston Leroux who penned a famous little piece called Le Fantôme de l'Opéra.

Deaf and Busted : Paris Opera : Paris, FR

Photo copyright: Janet Kincaid, 07/09

Musée Metropolitan

Montmartre Metro : Paris, FR

I'm making a bit of a stretch with the title and paying homage to Paris as a city of world-renowned museums and art and an equally well-known transit system, the Paris Metro. Today's photos feature art that can only be enjoyed if you're willing to climb the stairs from the depths of Paris' deepest Metro station to the exit up top at Montmartre. If we'd taken the elevator, we would have missed these. Fortunately (??), the elevator was closed for maintenance, so we had to hoof it. I'm glad we had no choice.

Photo copyright: Janet Kincaid, 08/09

Artsy

Art in a tunnel connecting the lake to the Botanical Gardens : Geneva, CH

This is the tunnel you can walk through to get from Lake Geneva over to the Jardin Botanique (Botanical Gardens) in Geneva. The art is rather fun.

Photo copyright: Janet Kincaid, 07/09