Posted on 10/06/2009 11:41:59 AM PDT by Baladas
The White House on Tuesday released a list of 45 artworks that first lady Michelle Obama, working with curators from the White House and area museums, has selected for the private residence, the offices in the West Wing and East Wing. They are all loans, the White House said.
The choices, which provide the first inkling of the Obamas' artistic taste, are not a survey of American or European art but concentrate mainly on artists who are well known and mainstream. In the residence, for example, are 11 pieces by George Catlin, the American 19th-century painter who specialized in Native American scenes. There are also three works by Josef Albers, the German-born American artist who fled Germany when Hitler closed down the Bauhaus art school; he went on to paint seminal "square" abstractions that were hugely influential on American abstraction. Also acquired are four pieces by William H. Johnson, the 20th-century African American artist whose work ranged from vivid landscapes to scenes of ordinary people.
In addition, the Oval Office is now home to a patent model of Samuel F. B. Morse's telegraph, on loan from the National Museum of American History, as well as several examples of Native American pottery.
The inclusion of almost a dozen pieces by Catlin is sure to reopen the debate that always accompanies his work, namely whether it was a sincere homage to the Native American or a touristy view.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Don't forget to check out that slideshow if you have a sec - speaks for itself.
OMG - the second one looks like a piece of carpeting. The rest could have been done by a child.
So they have time to choose art but no time to think about our soldiers plight?
So, when is FLOTUS going to do the TV tour through the WH?
Ugh - that slideshow - empty and tasteless.
Wasn't this the artwork found on the famous blue dress and in the sink off the Oral Office during klintoon's term??
Glenn Ligon’s “Black Like Me #2” from 1992 will hang in the private residence. Ligon’s work is known to explore the topics of racial and sexual identity.
Sounds perfect for Obama. He seems to be exploring his own racial and sexual identity.
The Obamas are deeply superficial and dangerous people. I think of our soldiers and pray for them all.
I’m surprised. I would have expected self portraits.
I laughed when I saw this. I remember it from college art classes, as the ultimate example of "will they believe THIS is art?" art.
Homage to the Square. Absolutely amazing and though provoking piece of ... uh ... art.
I told Mrs Drango if she continued to be good, she would get a chia 0bama for Christmas.
Surely there must be a picture or two of Assata Shakur.
Michelle knows every bit as much about art as this redneck does about space shuttle piloting............
I adore Richard Diebenkorn but some of the contemporary stuff they chose looks like it is from the same school of taste that picks out Michelle’s wardrobe. A couple of those at the slideshow, in particular the Alma Thomas, makes my head hurt.
......the Obamas LACK OF artistic taste........"
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