Monday, November 17, 2008

Living with Art


Ok, I confess. I'm an art junkie.

I love museums. I crave color and form and light and shadow. Visual arts move me. I make up stories for the pieces that grab my attention. The real stories of the artists themselves touch my heart.

That's why it's so dangerous for me to attend art auctions when I'm at sea. However, I managed to disembark from our cruise with only one new acquisition. This is Still Life with Lemons by Constantine Cherkas and I couldn't leave the Love Boat without it. I love the geometric feel and the vibrant colors in this numbered print. (Come on, you didn't really think I could afford an original, did you?)

Cherkas' real story is one of triumph over tyrany. He was born in Russia in 1919 and studied in Moscow under artists forced to teach under Stalin's rule. Later, to escape artistic repression, Cherkas and his wife fled from Russia only to fall into a Nazi prison camp. Fortunately, they both survived and after WWII, they emigrated to the US in 1950 at the height of the Cold War. Anything Russian was suspect at that time, so this talented colorist couldn't sell a painting to save his soul. But he perservered. Now his works are found in major museums around the world. At 89, he's finally receiving the respect he deserves.

Every time I look at this piece it will speak to me of determination and commitment to a goal--useful things for a writer to keep in mind.

Now I just need to figure out where to hang it.

Have you ever seen a piece of art that moved you? Or maybe a song or some other art form? Please share.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Welcome home from your cruise! Nice choice on the art. To answer your question, I do have some music that never fails to move me...Pachelbel's Canon. Seriously, I can be doing anything or be anywhere when that song comes on I have to drop everything to listen. It represents for me a perfect life, from birth to death with it's rollercoaster of experiences and ends when you don't know it's coming, but with a satisfying sigh. It's perfection in music.

Thanks for giving me the chance to share! Enjoy your painting!

EmilyBryan said...

Thanks for posting, Kelli.

I used to keep a tape of Pachelbel's cannon in the car. Whenever my kids got unruly, I'd put in that tribute to beauty, balance and precision and the girls settled down immediately.

It was more effective than a sedative.

Anonymous said...

It's a beautiful still life! Lucky you Emily for getting a print, I just love art!

You might want to check out my watercolour paintings, just for kicks.
If you do, here is the link: http://acreativetwistbybobbie.blogspot.com/search/label/Watercolour%20Paintings
I'm not a professional or anything, but I try :-)

I'm glad you had such an enjoyable cruise!!
Welcome back!

-Bobbie

EmilyBryan said...

I popped over to see your work, Bobbie and was duly impressed.

My dad and I took a couple drawing classes while we were on our recent cruise. It was great fun. My DH, bless his heart, can only draw stick people and those not very well. Good thing the man has other talents!

Like paying for the art I buy!

EmilyBryan said...

I popped over to see your work, Bobbie and was duly impressed.

My dad and I took a couple drawing classes while we were on our recent cruise. It was great fun. My DH, bless his heart, can only draw stick people and those not very well. Good thing the man has other talents!

Like paying for the art I buy!

Anonymous said...

I'm glad you stopped by ~A Creative Twist~ Emily!
I'm so happy that you are impressed by my work. That is quite a compliment. Thank you!

I saw the comment you made and left a comment of my own! :-)

Stick people can be a lot of fun, haha. My husband draws lovely sick men playing sports, bike riding, falling out of trees, etc LOL ;-)

-Bobbie