Avatars of Love

In my quick research from the Internet for this Blog, I tried to look up famous muses throughout history. Of course, I didn’t take into account how many there have been. But, I am using this tool to describe my great nephews who, I believe, inspire me. After all, when I’m with them I really don’t worry about the rest of the world and humanity’s problems, I just enjoy my life. 

Three examples of muses for reflection sake —

From Madison Magazine: Masters and heir Muses

“Perhaps the relationship between French couturier Hubert de Givenchy and his muse Audrey Hepburn would become the most productive (and famous) designer/muse relationship in history. Hepburn, who met Givenchy in 1954 as they were both starting out, wore the designer’s creations both on and off the screen for almost 40 years, becoming almost as intrinsic to the brand as Hubert himself. (Remember that black dress she wore in Breakfast at Tiffany’s?)”

http://www.madisonmag.com.au/news/feature-masters-and-their-muses.htm

POSTED 08.10.2010 @ 15:53 • Retrieved March 27, 2011.

From ArtQuotes.net: Salvador Dali Biography – Famous Spanish Artist  

“In 1929 Salvador Dali met his wife Helena Diakonova, a Russian immigrant that was already married and was more than 10 years older than him. Know as “Gala” she became Dali’s muse, lover, supporter and business manager. The couple were married in 1934 and she remained a major part of Dali’s life up until his death.”

http://www.artquotes.net/masters/salvador-dali/biography.htm

Retrieved March 27, 2011.

From Da Vinci’s Muse: A Lifestyle of Creative Purpose and Worth

It is difficult to cover Leonardo’s muses because the history of this great Renaissance genius is not fully documented and known. It’s also very controversial since some believe he may have used a male lover as the model for the Mona Lisa. I absolutely love his paintings and I’m upset that he didn’t finish all of them for us to enjoy. So watch and see Leonardo for yourself. Make him your muse. As a side note, my Art History professor hated when people referred to Leonardo as “Leonardo da Vinci” because she said “da Vinci” was not his last name, it is where he was from — remember that!

http://www.davincismuse.com/quotes-from-leonardo-da-vinci

Retrieved March 27, 2011.

These are my great nephews that truly inspire me with their innocence and beauty! True Angel, Jose Angel, and Ezra Angel.

Energy — What To Do? click on post for 100% view

To Japan with Love

I’ve never had the opportunity and/or time to study Asian Art or Asian Art History. Hasn’t just about everyone been exposed to some of it in one way or another. I believe it influenced Art Nouveau and the Impressionists? Don’t remember too well, it’s been 15 years since I took my Art History courses. I grew up in San Diego and, from my memories, I know Californians are greatly aware and influenced by Asian Art, languages and culture. I believe during the 80s and 90s, studying Japanese was really big in California. Maybe that had to do with the huge Japanese companies setting foot in the United States in their effort to find cheap labor (at least cheaper than theirs). With this March, 2011 earthquake and its catastrophic ensuing tsunami along the Japanese coastline, it would be most respectful to honor the Japanese with a small, tiny glimpse at their great artistic lineage — hopefully, paying homage in some small way …

Searching the Web this totally cheesy commercial Web Site packed a punch, at least for me:
http://www.asianartmall.com/woodblockarticle.htm
Retrieved 2011, Copyright Atlantic PC, Inc.

A small excerpt:
During the 19th century, some of the most exhibited and represented artists of Japanese Woodblock Prints are Utagawa Toyokuni I (1769-1825), Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1865), Utamaro Kitagawa (1750-1806), and Ando Hiroshige (1797-1858).
I’ve included these names in case you’d like to look them up.

Ok, that was “Old Time” Japan. Feast your eyes on some contemporary Japanese Graphic Design!
Check this Web Site out (now it asks for a donation for disaster relief).
http://gurafiku.tumblr.com/tagged/2010s

Hageman, Ryan. Retrieved March 13, 2011. A collection of visual research that encompasses the history of Japanese graphic design.
Listed in Mr. Hageman’s Web Site Page, to die for work from:
Tadanori Yokoo | Shigeo Fukuda | Yusaku Kamekura | Ikko Tanaka | Kazumasa Nagai | Keiichi Tanaami | Kiyoshi Awazu | Keisuke Nagatomo | Kazuo Umezu.Mr. Ryan Hageman I hope I referenced your Web Site correctly (please don’t sue me!!)

God, now I remember their exquisite calligraphy and unbelievably rich and gorgeous history of “packaging design.” Confidentially, I will confess, I’ve even seen light porno where people “package themselves.” Please don’t freak, we’re talking artistry. It’s a culture thing! See the The Pillow Book, directed Peter Greenaway; written by Sei Shonagon (book), Michael C. Berch; starring Vivian Wu, Ewan McGregor and Yoshi Oida. I dare ’ya, I double dare ’ya!

450 Million Chinese in the News …

China has about 450 million Internet users: thought we should all take a moment and contemplate how this would affect the Internet — design and production.

For a better perspective, I decided to visit some Chinese Web Sites. So I went to www.uni.edu/becker/chinese2.html. Viewing most of these sites made me feel very reassured I could do the job. I figure I have the experience and design skills to produce a Chinese restaurant menu any day, right? Then I remembered, somewhere, sometime I’d heard that the Chinese go crazy for any and everything Korean. OK, let’s check out some cool Korean Web Sites (listed below). They do come off pretty “modern.”

My summation is: Great and inspiring artistic design is, always has been, always will be universal and culturally transcendent. Seems like the childish anime art dominates the tastes of the young Koreans (I’m starting to get into it, really). Remember the last Olympics in China? The great Chinese Art Director Zhang Yimou designed the unbelievably fantastic opening where a “digital” scroll was lowered and became a stage onto which “dancers” painted beautiful Chinese calligraphy on a lighted floor. Wow! Imagine requesting a Web Site from this great master? Wonder what it would look like?

Wait! the Chinese government is still communist! Can a government end up controlling the Internet? I suspect that would be determined by the stronghold the government has on the media of its country. China is a communist government and I think they have and, for the most part, try to censor Internet information coming in from the West. For sure, North Korea, is definitely a “dead zone” for most citizens of the world. They completely control all communications their people can get to. I believe the North Korean government has even rewritten their history. Has that happen anywhere around here?. Maybe huge world wide corporate conglomerates could probably get control of the Internet. Do you doubt it? Check out CNN once in a while, it’s really changed, huh?

Internet World Stats: Usage and Population Statistics:
http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats7.htm
http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats17.htm

Best Chinese Websites:
http://www.uni.edu/becker/chinese2.html

KoreanCrunch — Korean Top 20 Web Sites:
http://www.naver.com/
http://me.sayclub.com/
http://www.buddybuddy.co.kr/