Author Archives: Monika Brzostowska

Reflection – Arts in NYC Seminar

Posted on by
1

As the semester closes, a time of reflection is called for. The questions: which event was my favorite, which event was my least favorite, and what lessons did I learn from the class, must be addressed. Each answer of course must be explained in detail and reasons for the answer must be provided. I will begin with my most favorite event this whole semester: Fall for Dance.

When thinking about this class and the events we attended, Fall for Dance, without a doubt, pops into my mind instantaneously. This was my favorite for a series of reasons. One reason being the diversity it contained. Another reason being the excitement and speechlessness that it caused me to feel. And the third reason being, the countless unique interpretations that can be made by those who observed the magic of the performance. The four sections of various dance styles and music flowed seamlessly and really captured my attention. To narrow down which sections were my favorite from the performance itself, I would have to choose the first section of classic ballet and the last section, which I call the counting dance. Many people question why I chose the first section as one of my favorite parts. My answer to them is, technique and precision. It is not easy to carry out such movements in the graceful and enchanting manner that the dancers of this ballet did. I appreciate the practice they put into it and their talents. As for the counting dance, well that one is easy to distinguish from the rest, and easy to call a favorite. It stood out because it was like nothing anyone has ever seen before. The language of the numbers, the interpretative dancing, and let’s not forget the shocking “flashing”, were put together to form one major masterpiece, and for that I applaud the choreographers and everyone else that worked to make the dance a reality.

On the other side of the spectrum, my least favorite event would have to be either the Cone Sisters exhibit or the Don Giovanni Opera. Some might attack me for saying this, but I found the Cone Sisters exhibit rather dull. The room itself being gray didn’t help either. I just didn’t see what made this exhibit so special. So, a couple of art works possessed by these two women were displayed. Okay, and? Once, again this is just my opinion. The Don Giovanni Opera was probably great to many of my fellow classmates, but considering the fact that I already saw a Don Giovanni Opera earlier in the year (which I liked much more), made it repetitive and disappointing. Comparing the two operas couldn’t be helped. The actors and staging of the second opera were just not as amazing as the first opera I saw, despite the second opera being performed at the MET. However, I still found it interesting to see how different people could take one idea and turn it into multiple productions.

In conclusion, this seminar taught me many things. It taught me how to find the information about art that I desire, how much politics and controversy there is in the art world, and best of all… it taught me how to be a “snob”. Mission complete!

Polish Art – The Forgotten Culture

Posted on by
2

This Art in New York City semester exposed me to many different types of art that were worth taking the time out to see and study, however, once again I’m disappointed that my culture was forgotten. Students constantly study Italian and American art, sometimes even art from other cultures such as that of the Islamic lands. But, what about Polish art, why is it constantly overlooked? Art historian, Andrzej Szczerski, tells us that Poland “had an extremely difficult history, but its been fertile ground for culture, even under communism, when it flourished illegally”, and he’s correct in saying so. Poland is definitely making its way into the art scene.

We can see many examples of Poland’s recent art success through various artists, venues, and works of art. Famous Polish artists include Miroslaw Balka, Wilhelm Sasnal, Marcin Maciejowski, and Edward Krasinski and famous Polish art venues include the Zacheta National Gallery and the Ujazdowski Castle. My favorite among those listed would have to be Balka for his exhibition The Unilever Series. His “box of darkness” may creep some individuals out but it is well suited to my liking. The experience of the visitors of the exhibit having to trust the organization representing the traveling immigrants and their journey is, to say the least, mind-blowing. Other aspects of the exhibit represent other historical occurrences in Poland’s history, such as the trucks that took Jews away to the camps of Treblinka or Auschwitz. Personally, I find art like his, art that is interactive and representative, much more interesting and worth visiting than some of the pop art that is so widely known in our times. Perhaps, that is only my opinion. Why don’t you check it out for yourself?

http://www.artnews.com/2011/09/27/hidden-no-more/
http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/exhibitions/unilevermiroslawbalka/default.shtm

What music can do for you.

Posted on by
4

As well all know, this semester was primarily focused on art, dance, and music. Many of us appreciate music for a wide array of reasons and each one of us has a preference for the type of music we listen to. We all have different experiences associated with each genre and different emotions that result from our favorite songs. Music can make us happy or sad. It can inspire us or relax us. Music can cause a sense of connection between those of a culture. It can be used for ceremonies and holidays. Lyrical music, particularly, can make people realize that they are not the only ones that feel the way they do and that others have gone through the challenges that they are facing. Music can affect our moods drastically and it can offer a temporary escape from reality. Music is truly a beautiful thing.

However, emotions are not the only aspects of an individual that music can affect. Data collected from music therapy clients shows that music can affect us physically. Music can shift states of consciousness, it can enable communication between the left and right brain hemispheres, and it can create brain waves associated with creativity. Music can also improve long-term memory and help with learning. This can explain why people can remember the lyrics of a song they like instantly but have trouble remembering other facts. Music can help a person heal, focus, and essentially improve their well-being. So, go listen to your favorite tracks and appreciate what music can do for you!

http://www.livestrong.com/article/157461-how-music-affects-the-human-brain/
http://www.livestrong.com/article/157875-the-effects-of-music-on-the-human-brain/

initial vs. acquired

Posted on by
4

As discussed in class, the issue of initial reaction versus acquired taste arises. You may like something at first but after a few times lose interest. On the other hand, you may not like something initially simply because you do not understand it but later, after learning about the artists struggle and purpose, learn to love the work or at least respect it. Many of the artists and events we went to this semester can fall under these two divisions. However, which division each experience falls under is entirely subjective. It depends upon a person’s opinions and preferences. Let me explain using specific examples.

Personally, the jazz portion of the Fall for Dance performance falls under the initial reaction category. I enjoyed it the first time I saw it. I thought it was very theatrical and full of spunk, however, if I was to see it again, I doubt that I would have the same reaction. I would most likely tire of it rather quickly. The last portion of the performance, on the other hand, falls under the acquired taste category. When the dance began, I was shocked and very confused. Many questions were running through my mind at that point. Why are they dancing like this? What are they doing? Why are the genders split? Why are they counting in this language? What is the point of all of this? But, as it continued, I became rather intrigued and started interpreting the dance. The counting began to entertain me. The dance became, to me, an acquired taste.

Not all people however believe in the distinction that I make, as revealed through a fellow classmate. That is where the issue of subjectivity arises. Some people think that art is an objective field. It is either good or bad the first time around, that there is no such thing as an acquired taste. Some people believe that abstract art is not art. Others believe that realistic art is not art. Everyone has a different point of view, a different judgment. That’s the beauty of it. If everyone had the same ideas and the same creations, art wouldn’t be interesting. Life, in itself, wouldn’t be interesting. This class discussion revealed many insights to me that I truthfully was not expecting. It made me realize how much I really learned and how my views on art broadened. Thank You, Professor Smaldone for allowing such a comprehension to occur.

Let’s talk about the holidays. After all, everyone else is.

Posted on by
2

Holidays are all around us now, especially in New York City. The holidays can be both a positive and a negative experience in several different ways. The holidays can be a reason for families and friends to come together or it can turn into a moneymaking scheme. New York successfully does both through the use of art, performances, and displays.

Holiday artwork can be enjoyed at locations such as the Jewish Museum where they exhibit “Hanukkah around the world” and New York Botanical Garden where large-scale gingerbread houses can be admired. Performances such as Radio City’s Christmas spectacular and New York City Ballet’s: The Nutcracker can serve as entertainment for those who find themselves in New York for the holiday season. Last but not least, displays throughout the city such as the Christmas Tree in Rockefeller Center and the 5th Avenue Holiday Windows Tour can capture the attention of families and shoppers alike.

Now that I’ve said all of this, the question of why this is relevant comes up. Well, I’d like to discuss the negative aspects of the holiday season and how beautiful art is commercialized just for the sake of making a profit. Commercializing art degrades the value of the art, the meaning behind it, and its essence. (As we have read previously) Finding this commercialization is too easy. Let’s list some more examples: holiday cards, holiday movies, decorations, gifts, wrapping paper, holiday stamps, and much more. Greedy people turned the season of compassion and joy into a season of demand and hunger (for money and items). Art that was made intricately over a long period of time is now used on cards and stamps. The problem I have with that is that people tend to look over the art itself and look for what’s inside or what they can gain from it. If people took the time to really appreciate what they were buying and receiving and returned to a state of humbleness then it would be an entirely different story. Art should be treasured for the intrinsic value it possesses not the money it can make.

De Kooning : MOMA

Posted on by
Reply

Willem de Kooning, a 20th century artist, was recently the focus of my Sunday afternoon, and all in good reason. He was a very notable artist due to the changes and contributions he made in abstract art, but also because he challenged himself in his art work and as a result grew as an artist. One can see these changes and personal experiments by examining his early works, his later works, and most importantly, the works that allowed him to progress from beginning to end.

De Kooning began his artistic career with commercial art and early abstract art. An example of his early works is his painting Father, Mother, Sister, Brother (1937). In this painting, he uses the three primary colors; red, blue, and yellow on a white canvas. It appears as though the blue figures are the father and brother while the red figures are the mother and sister. It is considered abstract but it is so simple that inferring which figures represent what roles is not too challenging. Although his early works were very simple, his future art works became more complex and detailed. From commercial art and simple abstractions he was led into modernized figurative drawings such as his Portrait of Elaine (1940-41) and from there he started his famous Woman paintings series. We can see the use of his geometric shapes and abstractions in his painting Pink Lady (1944), which depicts a seated woman with her head, tilted back in one direction and her body erect in another. The positioning of the woman in the painting is humanly impossible and a little frightening to be honest. It also seems as though there are two faces joined together in this painting. De Kooning focused much of his career on Woman paintings however he also did black and white paintings such as Painting (1948), abstract landscaping done with large-scale brush strokes – Suburb in Havana (1958), sculpture and printmaking – Seated Woman on a bench (1972), and finally ended his career with reductive abstractions such as Untitled XIX (1983).

Looking at the span of his artistic career, we can notice times of very simple abstractions and times of very “busy” and intricate abstractions as well as his favorite media (oil paints and charcoal). De Kooning can be said to have experimented with the extremes. He did art works in which human figures were very realistic and works in which they were very abstract. He also did large-scale projects and miniature projects. By working with such opposites, he made a large impact on art history and push the limits of what can be created with a little imagination. De Kooning was a truly talented artist and this MOMA exhibit did a wonderful job portraying him as one. Bravo MOMA!

Early work of De Kooning

Late work of De Kooning

Macaulay Snapshot Day 2011

Posted on by
6

Waking up at 6:30 on a Sunday morning was torture and I definitely was not looking forward to attending this Macaulay Snapshot Day, however, after the exhaustion wore off and I started the video project, excitement and pride set it. I entered the building thinking that this was going to be some pointless event and I honestly had no idea what the purpose was but soon an introduction was given to the students and the idea of having such an experience started to inspire me. The students split into groups of 3 to 5 and started the project by exploring the exhibits that held the snapshots of New York that were taken on October 11, 2011. There were many different representations of New York, such as subways, bridges, apartment buildings, and even Occupy Wall Street. The benefit of this exhibit was exposing the different points of views of the Macaulay students as well as depicting certain settings that perhaps most people have not seen. It actually complemented the Arts in New York City Seminar very nicely.

The assignment given to the groups was to take a video of the images we found to be the most interesting and use them to create a video in which a story was being told about the connection we found between those images. I particularly liked the video that my group made because I got a starring role, it was created in fast motion, and the story was about chasing dreams. Our story was about a model that came to New York in search of a modeling career. Entertainingly enough, the last couple of weeks of my English class were about the same thing: female characters who came to New York in order to accomplish a specific goal. This event allowed me to incorporate a variety of data and skills that I learned over the last few weeks and to broaden my view of New York. It was definitely worth waking up early for and I am sure that future students will enjoy the event as well.

Islamic Art – MET

Posted on by
Reply

In preparation for the Islamic Art exhibit that we are scheduled to visit, I decided that learning about Islamic religion and how it influences Islamic Art would be both interesting and beneficiary. After researching about the Islamic/Muslim religion and traditions, I realized how focused Islamic Art is upon these beliefs. Whether it be to honor the religion or to mock it, it is still a crucial focal point of the art and in order to understand the art, one must have some background knowledge of the Muslim religion.

The term “Muslim” can provide information in itself to the foundations of this religion. “Muslim” means submission to God (Allah). Every practice and ritual is designed to serve that single purpose. Thus, activities such as fasting, pilgrimaging, and holding festivals (centered around the life of Prophet Mohammed) came into existence and remained very influential and critical through out the history of the Muslim/Islamic culture. These activities are often depicted in Islamic Art and supported by Islamic architecture.

For example, Islamic Architecture often possesses the following features: large courtyards, central prayer halls, minarets, a wall niche indicating the direction to Mecca, domes, iwans to separate sections, repetitive art forms, Arabic calligraphy, bright color, and fountains. These features enable many things such as allowing festivals to take place, rituals to occur, and the Islamic devotion to Allah to be represented. However, there are many artists that rebel against the rules and create art that stimulates strong reactions of both interest and anger. It is my prediction that we will see a lot of this type of art at the museum.

*After the exhibit – My prediction was correct. However, I didn’t mention earlier the many carpet works and symbolic religious motifs also found at the museum in the exhibit. The art found in this exhibit can take you to other worlds. What I mean to say is that it enables an individual to imagine what it must have been like in those times and the aura that those cultures and religious groups most likely lived with. The museum also made a smart decision by including Islamic art in their exhibits for a couple of reasons. One reason being that it exposes the public to cultures that they are not typically used to and the other reason being that it broadens the group of people that feels welcome to attend. Any museum that is capable of doing so, will receive a large crowd, a lot of attention, and of course… a lot of money.

Classical Conducting? There’s an App for That — Reaction

Posted on by
4

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/24/arts/music/new-york-philharmonic-with-jeffrey-kahane-review.html?_r=1&ref=music

I stumbled upon this article while searching through The New York Times online and thought that it was a genius plan. What better way to gain the attention of a generation that is obsessed with technology than actually using it to your benefit? By combining classical music with modern technology, the public experiences the best of both worlds (past and future – classic and modern). It keeps classical music alive and interesting to individuals that may have thought that classical music was “dead” or “boring”. I applaud his technique and hope that one day I get to experience it firsthand.

Occupy Wall Street Movement and Art

Posted on by
1

Occupy Wall Street is a movement that originated in Zuccotti Park and started on September 17, 2011. The movement began with the Canadian activist group Adbusters that initiated the protests against social and economic inequality, high unemployment, and government corruption. It soon spread through out the city, the country, and eventually it transformed into an international movement. There are many methods to making such a movement influential and successful and one of those methods is using art. CNN states that, “Art has emerged as a major vehicle for expressing the Occupy Wall Street Movement”, and they are completely correct in saying that. Many examples of art being used as a means to communicate the movement’s message can be found right here in New York City such as Occupy Museums, the “No Comment” exhibit, and the Arts and Culture committee at the Foley Square Protest (November 17th).

Occupy Museums is a series of protests that go against the “temples of cultural elitism” (Bloomberg News), also known as The Museum of Modern Art, The Frick Collection, and The New Museum of Contemporary Art. The protests consist of artists, students, and even passers-by. The protests started five weeks after the Occupy Wall Street movement began and the purpose of these specific protests was to use the democratic process to bring people together, teach people what a society that isn’t revolved around money is like, bring forth a new area of art, and to encourage experimentation outside of the limits that are set by the market, just like the exhibit, “No Comment”.

The “No Comment” exhibit was held in the former J.P. Morgan headquarters on October 8th and was scheduled to last 24 hours. It displayed art that addressed a variety of political themes through the use of pieces that were retrieved directly from the protest. The organizers of the show included Marika Maiorova and Anna Harrah. The idea for the show came to Maiorova when her September show was disrupted by metal barricades that were set up in order to help control marches led by protesters. The two women joined together, called for submissions, and received dozens of paintings, illustrations, photographs, and video installations to use for their exhibit. The exhibit served as an educational tool. It taught the public about the reality of the OWS movement and what strategies were being used to be successful activists. Ironically enough, the exhibit itself turned into a strategy, and a very effective one at that.

The most simple and evident strategies were, however, found at the protests themselves due to the efforts of the Arts and Culture committee. Methods of gaining the media’s and government’s attention included distributing flyers, presenting posters and signs, marching, rapping, performing spoken word, using the “people’s microphone”, and reciting poetry. Art captures people’s attention without using violence or breaking the law and people of all races, ethnicities, and cultures can understand images. Therefore it is the best way to go about protesting at a general assembly type of setting. Art can be a highly influential movement in itself and that is proved in these Occupy Wall Street protests.

** By showing that the Arts can contribute such a change, the protestors of the OWS movement are,at the same time, fighting for the Arts to remain strong in NYC and other areas of the world.**

sources used:
http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/01/opinion/elam-occupy-art/index.html
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/09/artists-occupy-wall-street-for-a-24-hour-show/

Turkey Lecture # 2: Elena Frangakis-Syrett (Extra Credit)

Posted on by
1

On November 9, 2011, I attended another lecture held at Queens College to further my knowledge of Turkey and its history. Having previous experience with the lectures about Turkey that Queens College offers, I knew that this one was sure to not disappoint. I was correct in my assumption when Elena Frangakis-Syrett educated the attendees about Turkish empires, particularly, the Ottoman Empire. The lecture consisted fascinating information about the rise and fall of the Ottoman Empire as well as information about the women that possessed power during the time of the Ottoman Empire. The combination of her lecture and the outside research that I conducted, I was able to learn the following facts.

Frangakis-Syrett explained that a strong empire was created due to a number of working factors. These factors included possessing a strong military, having exquisite knowledge of war and artillery, having economic growth, taking over the right lands at the right time, setting up an efficient trading system, creating alliances, ruling flexibly by not converting the people that the empire took over, cooperating with Europe (in the case of the Ottoman Empire), allowing a proper system of tax revenue to exist, and having a group of loyal administrators. The Ottoman Empire successfully used these factors in order to rise and it stayed very powerful and thriving until other factors contributed to the empire’s downfall.

Difficulties and issues arose during the course of history that caused the Ottoman Empire to collapse. These issues included the revolution of soldiers due to their unhappiness with their lack of pay, bad climate conditions, disconnection between economic growth, society, and demographic growth, falling prices and the inflation that followed as a result, wars in Europe. Perhaps the biggest issue that contributed to the collapse of the Ottoman Empire was the fighting the occurred among the Turks. With everything from economic failings and bothering climate conditions to revolutions and wars working against the empire, a collapse was not only inevitable but also expected. After seven hundred years of flourishing as one of the strongest empires, the empire collapsed and became a legendary story to pass onto future generations. The Ottoman Empire serves as a great example of how to obtain power.

Frangakis-Syrett really captured my attention when she mentioned that women started to gain their own power during the era of the Ottoman Empire. She provided the sultan’s wife and mother as examples of such women. She further explained that these women were often used in peace talks and also formed alliances with other women of power in different countries that were in the same position. This stimulated my question about the women in our country. Is the amount of power that these women from the past held the same as the power that the women of our country hold today?

Frangakis-Syrett’s lecture was not only an enjoyable and educational one but it was also one that raised many questions for me to pursue. I plan to purse these questions in my own time as well as at the next lecture, which will take place on December 7, 2011 and will contain information about Sufism. I look forward to learning more.

Fall for Dance Festival 2011

Posted on by
1

The Fall for Dance Festival at City Center is a ten-day annual event that features multiple and different dance companies for the purpose of introducing new audiences to various types of dance. It originated in 2004 and has been a tradition ever since. At this event, dances such as ballet, tap, and tango are presented and each of them has a different story to tell. I had the amazing opportunity to experience these “stories” for myself this past Tuesday. (November 1, 2011) I enjoyed each of the four performances but I enjoyed them for completely different reasons.

The first performance was The Australian Ballet directed by David McAllister. For most of this performance, the concentration was on pairs of ballet dancers. The French term for this type of dance would be pas de deux, meaning step for two. When I told people about my reaction to this performance many of them laughed and thought I was joking. I can tell you however that it was no joke. This performance really did make me feel as though I was intoxicated or perhaps under some kind of trance. The movements, the precision, the meaning, and even the colors felt so unreal. I was speechless and completely captivated. It was like nothing I’ve ever seen before. It made me reminisce about my days of ballet as a child. I find that many people cannot truly appreciate ballet until they understand how difficult it really is to execute each step properly and to express the story in such a way that the audience can feel it and relate to it. From experience, I can really admire these dancers and say that they did a phenomenal job.

The second performance was a more comic one in the sense that the mood was lighter, the music faster, and the dancer more humorous. Steve McRAE made the audience laugh without even saying one word. His mix of tap and ballet was conducted in such a rhythm that people, including myself, interpreted it as being funny. The difference in speeds at which he tapped was quite impressive for two reasons. One reason being that tap done at a rapid speed is difficult in itself to do but his decrease and increase in speeds expressed an attitude and I believe that that is what made the audience really interested. The jazz and humor of this performance was entertaining and provided some variety in the festival that most likely appealed to all.

The third performance was the Pontus Lidberg Dance directed by Pontus Lidberg himself. This performance, as well as the following performance, can be classified as interpretive dance. Truthfully I cannot say much about this performance due to my confusion. I couldn’t quite grasp the concept of this dance. I can only state what I believe was the story. It appeared as though there was an individual that was ashamed of his bodily characteristics and due to this shame could not undress along with the others. Throughout the dance it seems as though the group attempts to convince him to join despite his differences. In the end, he finally undresses and joins the rest of his group. It is likely that this was representative of not being prejudice and of accepting others despite their differences.

The fourth and final performance was an unforgettable experience. The images, the words, the story, and the movements are all embedded into my mind. The Hubbard Street Dance Chicago directed by Glenn Edgerton was nothing short of jaw dropping. This dance contained many dancers as opposed to the other dances where fewer dancers were incorporated. Also, for the majority of this dance the female dancers and male dancers appeared to be competing. It was clear that a story was being told through the movements and the sounds that the dancers displayed but it would take more analyzing in order to really understand what it was symbolic of. The counting towards the end of performance was shocking at first, then it became exciting, and finally, after it being repeated twenty times, it became annoying. Being flashed by the dancers isn’t something I particularly enjoy either. As far as this dance goes, I can say that it has its positive qualities such as the deeper meaning but for the most part I rather disliked it.

I couldn’t have picked a better time to attend this dance festival because it contributed to the ideas I have for my dance video, it provided me with inspiration to keep working on the video, and as most dance performances do, it reminded me of why I love dance. Dance is not just something you do. It’s a feeling, a story, and a lifestyle. This festival portrays just that and does an extraordinary job doing so. I will definitely be attending another one in the future!

Rubin Museum of Art

Posted on by
Reply

The Rubin Museum of Art was a territory that I ventured out to this past weekend and I found it to be quite interesting and very informational. I, along with a group of friends, had many new experiences with this museum and despite the trip being assigned we still managed to have an enjoyable time. The museum does a great job of inviting its members to make connections and to visit again by organizing events such as the “Taste of the RMA” tour, 5-minute talks, and Friday K2 evenings.

The “Taste of the RMA” tour was a detailed introduction to the type of art and culture that can be found at the museum. The guide explained that Himalayan art from the Himalayan Mountains, Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan, India, Mongolia, and China was currently being exhibited. She further explained that much of the art was based upon Northern Buddhism by depicting Bodhisattvas, tantric deities, female deities, and wrathful deities. The art was very symbolic. This was accomplished by using representative postures, gestures, and implements. The tour guide helped us examine the art fully by explaining the history and philosophy of the pieces. My tour concluded with an illustration of the structure found in Tibetan scroll paintings. At the uppermost position of the paintings are the root deities, under those are the central deities, following that the entourages, and finally at the very bottom of the paintings are the protectors. These beings were also mentioned in the 5-minute talk that followed the tour.

The purpose of the 5-minute talk was to concentrate on one work of art found at the museum in order to learn and interact with it. The focus of our discussion was Magzor Gyalmo, a 19th century Tibetan/Mongolian statue that depicted a wrathful deity. Wrathful deities in Buddhism represent wisdom, compassion, and overcoming obstacles. These deities, this statue included, are made for the sole purpose of reminding people to suppress the negative aspects of human nature such as the Ego. This statue is symbolic of such suppression because the Magzor Gyalmo is sitting on top of a mule that is covered with a blanket of her son’s skin. Magzor Gyalmo skinned her son as a punishment for not listening to her demands. Another example of suppressing the negative aspects of human nature can be found in the skulls embedded in her headdress. The skulls represent impermanence and teach us to sever our ties with the Ego and the attachments we make to people and to the world. This discussion left me with something to contemplate at the conclusion of the night, which was the Friday K2 evening.

The K2 evening was an excellent way to end the night for a multitude of reasons. The Himalayan- inspired cuisine and music along with the relaxing and high class atmosphere provided an excellent location for a group of friends to not only test new foods but also to reflect on what was observed earlier throughout the museum trip. There was a bit of confusion early on concerning what exactly a K2 evening comprised of but we soon realized that the purpose of the evening was to attract more visitors and also to encourage previous visitors to return for another visit. The Rubin Museum of Art is a warm and friendly place to learn about different art cultures. It was a memorable experience even the second time I went!

Turkey Lecture: Lawrence Kaye (Extra Cred.)

Posted on by
2

Lawrence Kaye led a lecture at Queens College on October 26, 2011 in honor of the Year of Turkey. Kaye’s lecture introduced the issue of Turkey trying to safeguard and recover its cultural heritage. The lecture is held from a legal point of view and shows examples of what Turkey must overcome when dealing with the art world. There are many cases, both in the past and in the present, that are representative of these issues and many of them were illustrated during this Turkey lecture.

A prime example of Turkey’s cultural heritage being jeopardized would be the Metropolitan Museum of Art court case. The museum was suspected of controversially acquiring a set of golden treasures. The museum was accused of taking and holding in secret, the “Lydian Hoard” which was taken from the tombs near Sardis, Turkey. The MET kept the story low key until one day someone recognized a new set of coins at the museum that closely matched the description of the Lydian Hoard. Obviously, the evidence of the museum’s guilt was becoming clearer. Not only is theft shown in this case but also the issue of identity theft arises when these same Turkish coins are labeled as “East Greek Treasure”. This case is one among numerous that depict Turkey’s struggle to keep its identity intact.

Lawyer and archaeologists have been working together on cases such as these to restore Turkey’s heritage and to reunite Turkish artwork with its proper locations. After many long and complex legal battles, some positive results have been attained. In the case of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, after a six-year legal battle, an agreement was made to return more than 200 gold, silver, and bronze objects from the sixth century B.C. to the Turkish Government within 30 days. A success story for Turkey and it’s cultural heritage preservation. This is a success that doesn’t only make lawyers proud but it is one that can also make artists such as myself very happy. Artwork deserves to be and must be credited properly. The locations of art pieces should be agreed upon with the museums and the artwork’s original country. This way all threats of improper identification and theft can be resolved.

This lecture definitely exposed me to the legalities found in the art world, which I had no knowledge of before, and also reminded me about my philosophy pertaining to art. Every day there are copyright law cases, plagiarism, and other incidences where people try to take credit for someone else’s work. Kaye expanded my concept of this by showing that this problem doesn’t only occur between two people or two companies but it can happen between two countries as well. Overall, this lecture was phenomenal and I look forward to attending the next one.

CUNY Food Fest

Posted on by
1

After reading a Macaulay Monday article about the CUNY Food Fest that was taking place on October 23rd, I decided that it seemed like a good idea to experience it for myself. I printed out my ticket, took the subway, and entered into a night that turned out to be both inspirational and life changing.

I walked into the room in which everyone was set up and to be honest I was a little lost. I looked around and saw everyone cooking different dishes. Luckily, a volunteer spotted my confusion and explained the process. I was assigned to a group that was learning how to make an apple cobbler. Soon enough, we all got to work peeling and cutting apples, making the graham cracker topping, and putting it all together. I’ll never look at an apple the same way again, but it was worth it when our dish was served at the communal dinner.

The communal dinner was quite a sight to see and definitely an event that changed my view on food and how it affects our lives. After tasting all the unique dishes that the students prepared and finding out that they were all vegetarian and vegan, I was stunned. How can something that tastes so good actually be good for you? Growing up in a society that revolves around McDonalds, you tend to not value healthy food and you definitely grow up thinking that the only delicious food is food that contributes to life threatening diseases. Yummy! Okay, perhaps I’m being a bit dramatic and also hypocritical. I mean everyone knows that pizza, pumpkin muffins, and coffee are my weaknesses. The problem with junk food is not having it but rather how much of it we have and how much healthy food we lack. This dinner inspired me to change the way I was eating by incorporating more vegetables into my diet and eating less junk food. What are the benefits? I feel better both physically and psychologically and I look better. Who knew that one night could change so much?