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Posts tagged ‘travel’

Mar 20

Jerusalem view
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Back from Israel

Jerusalem view

Southern view of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives.

I’m back from two weeks in Israel!

It was an incredible trip filled with history, archaeology, art, religion and cultural experiences.  I visited Tel Aviv, Jaffa, Acre, Nazareth, Cana, Tiberias, the Sea of Galilee, some of the Southern desert, the Dead Sea, Bethlehem and of course Jerusalem!  What a trip!

The jet lag is wearing off and I’m starting to go through my pictures now, so I’ll be bring you more stories shortly.  But for now, here’s a classic view of Jerusalem – one of the best “old cities” I have ever explored.

Mar 3

Bowls for sale in the Grand Bazaar, Istanbul, Turkey
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Ceramic Folk Art from Around the World

The monthly ArtSmart Roundtable brings together some of the best art-focused travel blogs to post on a common theme.  This month we are focusing on National Art – whether iconic styles that remind us of a certain place, or a movements that developed in and became emblematic of a region.   Be sure to check out everyone’s posts below!

Italian olive dish

Simple but very functional, I got this olive dish in Siena, Italy.

Every culture makes utilitarian objects like furniture, clothing and ceramics.  Folk art is decoration applied to these functional items which reflects the tastes of a people.  In addition to seeing works from professional artists in a national museum, I am always on the look-out for local craftspeople or cultural museums that show off local folk art.  As a lens to compare several cultures, let’s take a look at some traditional ceramic styles around the globe.

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Feb 17

Cliffs of Moher
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The Cliffs of Moher, Ireland

There wasn’t sunshine all day, everyday when I visited Ireland.  But when the sky was clear, the landscape was simply beautiful.  During one of these occasional blue sky moments, it’s better to be at one of the most amazing vistas on the island – the Cliffs of Moher.

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Feb 10

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Saint John’s Hospital and Hans Memling, Bruges

St. John’s Hospital in Bruges is an excellent example of when preservation and art exhibition are done correctly.  A former pilgrim’s hospital, the grand hall and church have been transformed into a museum.  The space exhibits art and medical objects from the history of the clinic, plus a very special section dedicated to Bruges’ most famous resident and Flemish Primitive painter Hans Memling.

Memling Museum, St. John's Hospital, Bruges

Memling Museum, St. John’s Hospital, Bruges

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Feb 3

picasso Woman and Child on the Seashore
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Pablo Picasso: Creative Chameleon

The monthly ArtSmart Roundtable brings together some of the best art-focused travel blogs to post on a common theme.  This month we are discussing Contrast.  You can link to all the ArtSmart contributions below. For February we welcome a new team to the ArtSmart group – Lydian and Pal of Art Weekenders! They are based in Amsterdam and love sharing ideas for art and culture based getaways.  We’re so excited to welcome them to the Roundtable!

Pablo Picasso - "Portrait de Dora Maar"

Pablo Picasso – “Portrait de Dora Maar” 1937 (Photo: Musee Picasso Paris)

Contrast is a fundamental concept in art.  Artists use colors, movement, shapes and volume to add contrast and build emotion in their work.  But what happens when an individual internalizes the concept of contrast and applies it to his or her own career?  Pablo Picasso was an incredibly gifted artist but I have always been struck by how deliberate and thought-out his works were.  Wanting to explore new creative approaches, Picasso radically switched between several styles throughout his career, each one unique and captivating.  That to me is his genius and a real lesson in Contrast.

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