Friday, April 03, 2009

TAM Docents: Antoine Predock

Hello Docents-

I had the opportunity to meet the Project Manager for Tacoma Art Museum’s building by Antoine Predock Architect PC. The project manager’s name is Paul and he was very open to having any of us contact him if there are any questions at all about the building. I thought that was a very generous offer and I am willing to take full advantage of it. He gave me his email to pass on to all of you: Paul@Predock.com. Feel free to contact him directly if you have any questions and be sure to pass along interesting tidbits you may learn to all of us during one of our trainings (or email to me and I will send out to all).

Thank you for all that you do for Tacoma Art Museum!

-Jana

 

Jana Wennstrom

Volunteer Programs Coordinator

TACOMA ART MUSEUM

1701 Pacific Avenue

Tacoma, Washington 98402

T: 253.272.4258 x3030

F: 253.627.1898

JWennstrom@TacomaArtMuseum.org

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

TAM Docents: Help Needed Saturday, April 18 & Stephanie Robison video

Hello Docents-

I need a docent willing to do a brief 5 – 10 minute introduction to the Biennial on Saturday, April 18 during the intermission of the Northwest Sinfonietta’s performance here at Tacoma Art Museum. We would need you here at about 6 pm to be available for questions in the gallery and the performance starts at 7:30 pm. Intermission is generally 45 – 60 minutes after that and I would ask that you are available in the gallery for questions until the end of the intermission (about 20 minutes total). You will get to see a great performance for free and your help would be greatly appreciated.

 

I keep trying to find something to make the Biennial easier for you to convey to visitors. This may not be it but I thought you might find it of interest. Please view the YouTube video linked below to watch a brief interview with artist Stephanie Robison.

Keep up your good work!

-Jana

 

Jana Wennstrom
Volunteer Programs Coordinator
TACOMA ART MUSEUM
T: 253.272.4258 x3030

 

 

 

From: Phoebe Keleman
Sent: Wednesday, April 01, 2009 9:11 AM
To: Jana Wennstrom
Subject: stephanie robison video

 

www.youtube.com/tacomaartmuseum

 

A quick (5 minute) video on the installation process/vision behind Wrecking Ball Cloud with artist Stephanie Robison should be the first thing to pop up.

 

Phoebe Keleman
Marketing Assistant
TACOMA ART MUSEUM
1701 Pacific Avenue
Tacoma, Washington 98402
T: 253.272.4258 x3047
F: 253.627.1898
www.TacomaArtMuseum.org

 

Become a Member Today!
Experience the Glass of Dale Chihuly

 

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

TAM Docents: Diorama edition

Hello Docents-
Ellen Ito has provided us with more interesting art information for our enjoyment and edification.

Take care!
-Jana

Jana Wennstrom
Volunteer Programs Coordinator
TACOMA ART MUSEUM
T: 253.272.4258 x3030

 

 Newsletter Vol. 2, issue 5

....In which there are dioramas and Mr. Jonathan Smith's favorite artist

 

Dioramas and models

The diorama is, like its relative the panorama, an eighteenth-century innovation, a pre-cinematic form of entertainment and education intended to provide views of significant places and events. First used in 1821 by Daguerre and Charles Bouton to describe large, hyperrealistic scenes painted on two sides of translucent fabric that produced changing imagery when illuminated. The word diorama stems from the Greek dia (through) and horama (to see).

The Diorama was a popular entertainment that originated in Paris in 1822. An alternative to the also popular "Panorama", the Diorama was viewed by an audience in a highly specialized theatre. As many as 350 patrons would file in to view a landscape painting that would change its appearance both subtly and dramatically. The effect was so subtle and finely rendered that both critics and the public were astounded, believing they were looking at a natural scene.

The inventor and proprietor of the Diorama was Louis Jacques Mande Daguerre , formerly a decorator, manufacturer of mirrors, painter of Panoramas, and a designer and painter of theatrical stage illusions. Daguerre would later co-invent the daguerreotype, the first widely used method of photography.

Daguerre opened a second Diorama in London in 1823.English artists like Clarkson Stanfield produced ever-more elaborate dioramas through the 1830s; sound effects and even living performers were added. Some "typical diorama effects included moonlit nights, winter snow turning into a summer meadow, rainbows after a storm, illuminated fountains," waterfalls, thunder and lightning, and ringing bells.

Painters of the era likeJohn Martin were influenced to create large and highly dramatic pictures by the sensational dioramas and panoramas of their day. On 1 February 1829, Martin's brother Jonathan, known as "Mad Martin," set fire to the roof of the Gothic Cathedral of York Minster. Stanfield created a diorama re-enactment of the event, which premiered on 20 April of the same year; it employed a "safe fire" via chemical reaction as a special effect. The "safe" fire proved to be less safe than planned: it set a real fire in the painted cloths of the imitation fire, which burned down the theater and all of its dioramas.

Nonetheless, dioramas remained popular in England, Scotland, and Ireland through most of the nineteenth century, lasting until 1880.

 

People Watching Diorama, Original caption: Photo shows people watching Daguerre's diorama.  Undated illustration.,  Bettmann/CORBIS, RM, Group, People, Recreation, Visual arts    Daguerre's Diorama,1823

 

 

Rick Araluce's work in the Biennial is just one example of a contemporary artist adopting the principles of the diorama as we know it, in the form of created scenes and environments. Her are a few other examples of artists who have created dioramas:

                                             http://www.we-make-money-not-art.com/yyy/01yeti.jpg             http://www.depauw.edu/photos/PhotoDB_Repository/2005/10/custom/HPIM0037-261x195.JPG

Tony Matelli , Lost & Sick, 1996                              

 

Marc Swanson , Killing Moon #3 (self-portrait as Yeti in his lair), Fits and Starts, 2004 (Remember Marc Swanson from Sparkle,Then Fade?)

 

Michael Ashkin ,#33, 1996 mixed media (252 x 48 in.)

Biennial participant Ross Sawyers builds the scenes that appear in his photographs. Another example of a photographer who creates sets is Julia Fullerton-Batten ,
who then populates her tiny locales with adolescent girls.

   

Julia Fullerton-Batten          Julia Fullerton-Batten


Chewing Gum
, 2005
C-print
16 x 20 in./ 40.6 x 50.8 cm.

 

Airport, 2005
C-print
16 x 20 in./ 40.6 x 50.8 cm.


Collaborators Jennifer and Kevin McCoy combine miniature models and scenes with kinetic elements, creating work that explores scale,perspective and viewer perception.

 

The High Seas - 01.jpg

 
This an installation view of the sculpture,The High Seas, 2007. A video camera and light circle a stationary boat model, moving up and down along a wave guide as they turn. In the projected image, the model looks like it is tossing and pitching on stormy seas.

VIdeo of this project can be found at:
www.mccoyspace.com/video/High_Seas.mov


Staff Pick

 

As you can guess from the title, this is a little section devoted to an art-related something chosen by a TAM staff member using the following criteria:Favorite artists or individual artwork, an exhibition,museum or gallery that you especially enjoy...Perhaps a book, magazine or website you think deserves to be shared.

The first Staff Pick is from our Mr. Jonathan Smith.

 

Jonathan picked artist Keith Haring 1958 1990

Of Haring's work Jonathan says,

 

"His art was relevant to the times," and he appreciates"his (Haring's) ability to depict many human conditions through pop art." 

 

The Keith Haring Foundation

The mission of the Keith Haring Foundation is to sustain, expand, and protect the legacy of Keith Haring, his art, and his ideals. The Foundation supports not-for-profit organizations that assist children, as well as organizations involved in education, research and care related to AIDS.

 

Here's a link to some very fun Keith Haring screensavers:

http://www.haring.com/extras/screensavers/index.html

 


 

 

 

Untitled        Untitled         Folding Screen

Untitled, 1978
Felt-tip Pen and Pencil on Paper
10 x 8 inches
25.4 x 20.3 cm

 

 

Untitled, 1989
acrylic on canvas
40 x 40 inches
101.6 x 101.6 cm

 

 

Folding Screen, 1983

Dimensions not given

That's all for this week,

Ellen




 

 

 

 



TAM Docents: Docents NEEDED Friday, April 24 & Monday, May 25

Hello Docents-

I have 2 tours that need docents:

Tour Type:

Chihuly Walking Tour

Tour Contact:

Jill & Paul Dymock

Date & Time:

April 24, 2009 at 11 am

Guest Count:

2

 

Tour Type:

General Museum Tour

Tour Contact:

Ina Golde

Organization:

AFC Tours & Cruises

Date & Time:

Monday, May 25 at 1 pm

Guest Count:

20

 

Please let me know if you are able to lend a hand for one or both of these tours.

Thank you,

-Jana

 

Jana Wennstrom

Volunteer Programs Coordinator

TACOMA ART MUSEUM

1701 Pacific Avenue

Tacoma, Washington 98402

T: 253.272.4258 x3030

F: 253.627.1898

JWennstrom@TacomaArtMuseum.org