(crappy Moto Cliq phone image is mine, free-non-commercial use with attribution)
Welcome to the inaugural post for a new section of this blog: The Arts.
I visited the Blanton Museum of Art in Austin, Texas last month and had a great time. Among the pieces I particularly enjoyed were works from Lorenzo Lippi, Paul Gavarni, James-Jacques Tissot, and Josefina Guilisati, just to name a few. Ms. Guilisati’s work was an exhibition consisting of massive white back-less bookshelves which bore repetitive but distinct paintings of a set of aluminum kitchen pots.
The image above is a fascinating Untitled work that I call “The Wrapper.” The artist, El Anatsui, used pieces of aluminum beer cans to create what looks like a traditional piece of clothing in many parts of West Africa — the wrapper. You have to see it in person to truly appreciate the size. I appreciated that this installation was constructed from 100% metallic materials yet appeared to drape like any ol’ piece of cloth. I also wonder about the significance of using the beer cans, especially if this was meant to be a wrapper that men would wear.
The Blanton Museum of Art is a humble, yet attention-demanding museum in the heart of Texas. The interior is open and spacious; I did not feel claustrophobic or like I was in a cluttered attic. If you’re looking for inspiration or a way to pass a few hours, I recommend a visit to this place.
