Still life, stained glass, sculpture, etc. I passed and studied several pieces of art today at he Getty. On a couple different occasions I had some 'ah ha! that's awesome' moments. While I was in a photography exhibit I took into account the beautiful and dramatic lighting on the photograph's subjects. I thought to myself, 'Wow they look stunning, it's funny how I can admire them so much based upon a job-well-done by the photographer'. For a moment it was funny to see these people so closely, so in-depth, and no one was around to tell me to 'stop creeping' or 'back up from that artwork you're going to stare a hole through it!'. It was the feeling of when you're photo-stalking someone on facebook whom you barely know. Harmless, but also slightly meaningless. And then I got to the Northern Europe room. There were several pieces of stained glass that I took a close view to and then I stopped. All day I had been introduced to new pieces of art, nothing like I hadn't seen before, but nonetheless, I hadn't really seen it before. And then I found myself just staring almost in awe. It was Jesus. The first recognizable subject of an art piece I had seen all day. An intricately designed sculpture made of clay that was formed into what I would have considered one of the best depictions of Jesus that I've seen (you know what I'm talking about....how in most instances Jesus is a white dude with a small nose and a major beard. Which of course, based on his birthplace, he would have looked much different). I was impressed and taken. It was neat, it was just like seeing an old friend :).
That day at the museum in addition to looking at captured and still pieces of art, I also took the liberty to check into the faces of those viewing the art. What were they thinking? I wonder why this painting makes them smile? What the heck was she whispering and chuckling to herself about as she walked away from 'womanhouse', the kitchen with rubber boobs glued to the walls?
Why when looking at the people in the museum do they all look so uniquely and artistically put together, but can all be easily identified as 'an art person'?
