The Learning Curve: Art Terms - Chiaroscuro

One of the most important things to an artist of any medium is the usuage of light in his or hers work.  Their are numerous techniques and styles devoted to this alone but in art history the universal term we use is Chiaroscuro, its Italian and translates as "light-dark"

Chiaroscuro: Italian: Noun

1. pictorial representation in terms of light and shade without regard to color.
2. a : the arrangement or treatment of light and dark parts in a pictorial work of art b : the interplay or contrast of dissimilar qualities (as of mood or character)
3. 16th century woodcut technique involving the use of several blocks to print different tones of the same  color; also print made by this technique
4. the interplay of light and shadow on or as if on a surface
5. the quality of being veiled or partly in shadow.

Now lets take a look at some examples...

Georges de La Tour - The Education of the Virgin, oil on canvas circa 1600's

Painter Georges de La Tour magnificently displays the usage of real natural lighting with in the painting.  The candle which is the source of light in the scene is partly hidden by the little girls hand. We see the hand glowing from the light behind it. This flame lights up the room they are in. The woman and child are the brightest as the light is between the two and the darkness surronds them, as there is no other light source within the space.  The little girl's face is completely lit while we see a shadow cast on the woman.

still from New Jack City

This scene in New Jack City has always been a favorite in the way it was shot.  The lady on stage dancing with two men below her watching.  The light projecting on her lights the room and cast the stark shadow behind her on to the wall. As the male characters move around the room in front of the projector there bodies cast shadows onto hers.  Its a beautiful contemporary interpretation of film noir and a classic cinematic chiaroscuro scene. 

photo by Irving Penn

                                                                                                                                                         

Irving Penn needs no introduction.  The late great photographer was a master at the art of chiaroscuro. The model with white back drop, very pink dress that becomes sheer as it goes down the leg adding to the shading. The light source is behind her, you can see the shadows creeping up just behind the arms.  The bold contrast in the 3 colors - skin, dress, background make for a wonderful oppurtunity to present the complexities of what chiaruscuro is.  Penn places the model and the light source strategically to get the achieved affects of this "light-dark" photo.

TIMES TWO POLL

Today we introduced a new poll on Facebook and Twitter called TIMES TWO we've decided it will happen every 1st Friday of the month! The first one is Ai Weiwei vs Takashi Murakami.  Were want to know what peaks the interest of our audience! So comment/vote away at http://facebook.com/PAPILLIONART or reply back to us at http://twitter.com/PAPILLIONART

ART CLASSES 2011 STARTING!!!!

The 2011 schedule for our free art classes and workshops are starting SOON! The first class being offered is our art history class starting Sunday March 27 at 2:30pm.  The class is open to students 14 and older and you must RSVP as space is limited.  rsvp@papillionart.org

P.I.A. TV Coming soon...

We have been working very very hard on our Virtual network and we are happy to say that we will kick off at the end of the month! The first original programmed web series is The Teenager Show, a free spirirted, fun loving look at the world of contemporary art from an "insider's" point of view.  The show was created by P.I.A. founder Michelle Joan Papillion.  Barbara Krueger is the inspiration behind the show's logo. PS we are taking submissions for our next SF'SS so send in those Shorts!  The next screening is April 27, 2011

We participated in ASK A CURATOR day! YAY!!!!!!!!

We were thrilled and honored to be participating in Ask A Curator day.  The interactive virtual dialogue was created for curious individuals to find out what the ins and outs of curating is all about.  We were asked questions via twitter from all over the globe.  Peep our question/answer recap below.  Our answers are in italics...#askacurator

@cp_art (asked) What do you remember about your first visit to an art museum? How old were you?

@PAPILLIONART What I remember about visiting my first museum was how big the building was, I was in 2nd grade, it was a fun school field trip.

 @cp_art How can we best approach and interest children and teenagers in modern and contemporary art?

@PAPILLIONART children/teenagers are smart & have their own opinions on art its important to listen when they share and educate within this dialogue

 @cp_art Do you think that art is "useful"? What is the aim of art making?

@PAPILLIONART OH YES! We very much think art is useful & their is no 1 aim when making it. Its multifunctional in purpose, feeling & meaning.

 @museecluny (commented) There is no reason to the rose, it blooms because it blooms. Same with art, no other use than itself.

@RachelCockett Good things to #askacurator "Would you like a drink?"

@PAPILLIONART Awww Wine! The chouce beverage for any curator!

 @tiffanyjenkins Good question via @natmelt 'curating' has become very fashionable. Is the term misused or enlightening?

@PAPILLIONART I think the term can be misused, there is no Official Handbook to Curating, some confuse producing with curating

 @Fresh274 (added) Agree curating this and that has become fashionable...there is definitely bad / uninspiring / lazy curating!

@PAPILLIONART (we commented) As a curator I'm learning a lot from the questions ppl are asking, awesome connecting 2 art go'ers. I knew #askacurator day would be fun!

 @Fresh274 Is a visual art exhibition a collaborative project between artist and curator? Is there a dominant player?

@PAPILLIONART Yes a collaboration between artist & curator sometimes one of compromise, artist more dominant Curator more guider #askacurator

 @Fresh274 Are curators a bit like pimps? #askacurator

@PAPILLIONART LOL we wouldn't call it pimpin, how about "a creative liaison b/t your art & viewer"

@deadsunflower What is the main duty of a museum curator?

@PAPILLIONART RAISE MONEY

 @JohannaHaagsman Would you be interested if artists (like me:) send a project porposal (hypothetical), or do you only work with known artists?

@PAPILLIONART Theirs a protocol 4 submitting but every known artist was once UNKnown i'd say don't be afraid 2 get ur work out

 @Fresh274 what parts of the job do curators hate?

@PAPILLIONART Looking at lousy art

 @trucks_here Q. from LA Will traditional painting/drawing be vibrant and widespread in 50yrs? or will digital tools make them obsolete?

@PAPILLIONART We hope & pray the art of traditional drawing/painting will still be vibrant Digital can never replace Humans

 @deadsunflower Who decides what's art and what isn't? (especially when talking about Contemporary Art). Critics? Time?

@PAPILLIONART Curators have a deciding factor in saying what is or isnt art we are looking @ skill, commitment, education, voice

@FineArtsCenter (responded to our answer) Would add INSPIRE! RT @PAPILLIONART: RAISE MONEY RT @deadsunflower What is the main duty of a museum curator?

@AnnieR Do art museums stay open 24 hrs?

@PAPILLIONART the @whitneymuseum was 24hrs during there recent Biennial, I wish we could be 24hrs but that makes for a cranky curator

@mdoness whats the difference between a curator & collector

@PAPILLIONART Fine line, I'm both. A curator has an objective when showing art

@artatsnow Do signatures have to be prominent to be valuable Can it be visible yet subtle?

@PAPILLIONART can be subtle or prominent

@Museodata What is the most difficult challenge for a curator? How do technologies influence the curatorship task?

@PAPILLIONART a challenge is staying current & fresh as things u see online, technology has had a big impact

@PAPILLIONART As a contemporary art curator the most difficult thing is staying on the pulse of whats GOOD in contemporary art

@PAPILLIONART Technology can play a part in influencing depending on situation but definitely helps research aspect of curating.

@elyac What type of education, internships, social networks, etc did u use to get where u are 2day?

@PAPILLIONART I studied art hstory, classics, archeology & finance when in school I interned at all the places I wanted to work

@PAPILLIONART online social networking wasn't a big deal when i was in school, i socially networked with a real artist circle in NYC

@hellokaitlin do you ever feel like your exhibits are compromised by management policies?

@PAPILLIONART when conceiving a new exhibit their is always compromise, my goal is that its not at the expense of the art

@Bass_ee Starting salary for a curator?

@PAPILLIONART Really varies, galleries vs museums not one set starting point

@jbrunotte Has their ever been a display that was pulled for "controversial reasons?"

@PAPILLIONART 9/11/02 in NYC i curated IF NOT NOW WHEN w/Jewish, Israeli, Palestinian artists, became controversial but not intention

@PAPILLIONART Photographer Renee Cox had her worked banned by the mayor of NYC for showing at the Brooklyn Museum

@CurrierMuseum Is studying History of Art the nest way to become a curator?

@PAPILLIONART I would for sure start there

@JonesDistrict Do you guys really have to include Maurizio Cattelan in every single show?

@PAPILLIONART NOPE! We don't LOL

@annecottingham Is Vancouver considered this mythic place in the intl art world that artists come from, but no one goes to for art?

@PAPILLIONART Vancouver's got a bubbling art scene, but somehow I agree with your tweet

@deadsunflower is studying the History of Art the best way to become a curator (in an art museum?)

@PAPILLIONART Its really important, beyond studying the history of art you would want to focus in on a specific period (for a museum)

@Bass_ee Do curators get to design exhibitions?

@PAPILLIONART Absolutely! That's one of the fun parts!

@LeannePrain How does one pitch an art show to a gallery? Are there any written sources you would recommend?

@PAPILLIONART Know the guidelines & submission process of gallery your pitching each space has its own criteria, than go for it

@jbrunotte How to include other arts (music, dance...) into an exhibition?

@PAPILLIONART Our audience loves that at each opening their is an aspect of performance art in the exhibition

@PAPILLIONART depending on the exhibit we spend a lot of time, thought, research w/artists in having right music/performance

@PAPILLIONART Plus were not ones to turn away from an ART PARTY, honestly we think when appropriate art should be fun & enjoyed

@PAPILLIONART I LOVE ART, you have to if you want to be a curator

@LeannePrain Great advice, thanks!

@PAPILLIONART My pleasure!

@AfikeaMuseum (responded to @deadsunflower) African art must be made for ritual use, curators look for the most esthetic examples within that corpus 

@PAPILLIONART not sure I agree w/"Afrikan art must be made for ritual use"

@AfikeaMuseum I’m thinking about traditional traditional African art, not comtempory art

@PAPILLIONART Got it. Thanks for clarifying!

Im gonna end here and call this PT 1...didn't realize how many questions we answered.  The 2nd post will be just as long as this one...stay tuned.

ART SUMMER CAMP 2010!

School is almost out and all of the young ones will be ready to stretch every single creative muscle they have stored away in their imagination.  That's where we come in.  Papillion Institute of Art has begun accepting submissions for the Summer Art Academy 2010.  A series of classes and workshops to be held through out the summer that teach young students different disciplines of the arts by professional working artists.  If you have a student that would be interested please contact the gallery directly by email art@papillionart.org with SUMMER CAMP in the subject line.  If you are an artist who would like to volunteer your time and/or talents please contact the gallery via the info listed above as well.

P.S. Its FREE!