The Easel

3rd April 2018

The 6 Most Provocative Pairings at the Met Breuer’s New Sculpture Show

Sculptures of the human body try to replicate a real human presence. Traditionally, they have been white and flawless. An “exceptionally provoking” show attempts to broaden the canvas, so to speak, to make sculpture more inclusionary. “Excellent … a morgue, a menagerie, and (perhaps?) a mea culpa on behalf of historically-flawed museums everywhere”.

Sean Scully with David Carrier

A critic once described Scully’s stripe paintings as having “grandeur”.  In interview he does come across as focused on grand themes. Past inspiration – “discord, the way people and ideas compete for survival.” Present inspiration – “to rescue abstraction from remoteness” The art world – “[it] has changed dramatically … Paris, London, and New York no longer call the shots as they did”.

How Art Historians Cracked the Case of Enigmatic Japanese Painter Hasegawa Tōhaku

Tōhaku was one of the great artists of late 16th century Japan. But where did he come from? A painting in New York may answer this question. He was probably a rural painter who moved to Kyoto and, at some point, changed his name. Impressive if true – Kyoto was known for its bold techniques while Tōhaku’s later works are nearly minimalist. More images are here and a video here.

27th March 2018

At the Gardner, the colors of heaven in Fra Angelico exhibition

This show is a big deal. The Renaissance painter, Fra Angelico, painted four reliquaries depicting the life of the Virgin Mary. For the first time in centuries they have been reunited. “The pieces gleam with gold, ultramarine, and vermilion … they seem to pulse with centuries of accumulated attention and reverence. It’s an energy some would call holy.” Images are here.

Eli Leon, 82, Dies: Champion of African-American Quilt Makers

Eli Leon was browsing in a local flea market in the 1980’s when he stumbled across a quilt. What some viewed as an improvisational craft he saw as an authentic art form. Due in no small measure to his promotion and scholarship, quilts have found recognition in the decorative arts and now appear in both private and museum collections. Quilt images are here.