Make A Can Opener Work Like New Again
12 Ways To Bring Color To Your Porch
The AP reports that the White House is now home not just to the Obama family, but to the largest collection of modern and abstract artwork ever assembled by a sitting president. The President and First Lady have chosen works by little-known African-American and Native American artists as well as big names like Jasper Johns, Mark Rothko and Edgar Degas. President Obama even displays artifacts such as patent models on the bookshelves in the Oval Office.
Obama White House Artwork
This colorful abstract work hangs in the White House's East Wing, near Michelle Obama's office.
Alma Thomas, Watusi (Hard Edge), 1963, from the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden's permanent collection, gift of Vincent Melzac, 1976.
This text-based artwork features words from "Black Like Me," a 1961 book. It now hangs in the living quarters.
Glenn Ligon, Black Like Me #2, 1992, from the Hirshhorn's permanent collection, museum purchase, 1993.
Several George Catlin works, typically depicting Native Americans, hang in the Obamas' living quarters at the White House.
George Catlin, A Crow Chief at His Toilette, 1861/1869, Paul Mellon Collection.
Susan Rothenberg, Butterfly, 1976, National Gallery of Art, gift of Perry R. and Nancy Lee Bass.
Josef Albers, Homage to the Square: Midday, 1954-1957, from the Hirshhorn's permanent collection, gift of Joseph H. Hirshhorn, 1966.
Edgar Degas, Dancer Putting on Stocking, CA. 1896-1911/CAST 1919-20, from the Hirshhorn's permanent collection, gift of Joseph H. Hirshhorn, 1966.
Alma Thomas, Sky Light, 1973, from the Hirshhorn's permanent collection, gift of Vincent Melzac, 1975.
Leon Polk Smith, Stretch of Black III, 1961, National Gallery of Art, gift of Eleanor Ward.
Giorgio Morandi, Still Life, c. 1955, National Gallery of Art, gift of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Lenart in honor of Rusty and Nancy Powell.
Nicolas De Stael, Nice, 1954, from the Hirshhorn's permanent collection, gift of the Joseph H. Hirshhorn Foundation, 1966.
Many of the chosen artists are still living. Jeri Redcorn, 69, told the AP she started "jumping up and down" when she found out that her traditional Native American pottery is on display in the Oval Office.
The wider art community is excited, too. The National Gallery's curator of modern and contemporary art, Harry Cooper, told the AP that, "This is great art to live with. A lot of it is challenging. There are different styles: figurative art, abstract art. A lot of it is avant-garde."
The works were chosen by the Obamas, who are longtime art collectors, with the help of their decorator, Michael S. Smith, and White House curator William Allman. They took care not to choose any artwork that is currently on display, pulling instead from museum storage, according to the New York Times. Currently, the borrowed pieces are only displayed in White House offices and living quarters. To hang new art in historic public spaces, the First Family would need the approval of the Committee for the Preservation of the White House.
Earlier this year, Smith said, "The White House's permanent collection is a wonderful record of America's 18th- and 19th-century classical artistic strengths. The pieces of art selected for loan act as a bridge between this historic legacy and the diverse voices of artists from the 20th and 21st century."
Reader comments (Page 5 of 43)
LOL...Quit it, uraqt. You're scaring me. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Linda, bless your heart. Apparently calling names is acceptable as long as it's done by you. Let me point out , slowly just for you, the names you called me: IDIOT, FLAMING IDIOT, EVIL MEAN SPIRITED MORON...is about it? Now, get down off your soapbox, pull out some of the soap that came in it, and wash out your dirty mouth.
Amd just for the record, I don't play the "Political Party" game by calling myself liberal, democrat, republican, or conservative. I voted for who I know will get us out of the mess we're in..and it's no fault of his that we are in the mess we're in. He's trying to fix it. You may not agree with him, but at least have the individuality to think for yourself and not follow the other lemmings off the cliff.
diva --i feel so sorry for you--living your entire life with such a severe learning disability.NOone with a teaspoon full of brains voted for that moron. tell me What has he accomplished NADA what experience did he bring to the whitehouse ? NADA . prances around like hes on parade forever campaining Yes the chickens have come home to roost and sadly America is going to suffer for many years to come
ReplyBut who's in the White House? LOL Obviously, there were more brains involved in his election than the prior two. At least our current President was legally elected. And since you seem to have such a loose grasp on reality, his time in office hasn't even been one year yet. Are you so close-minded that simply because he ISN'T republican he will fail? I seriously cannot WAIT when the day comes that he makes you bitter old fools see yourselves the way we all see you. BTW, American started suffering 9 years ago. All he's doing is trying to pick up the broken pieces that were left to him. Give him time. He'll prove you wrong. And typically, you'll run onto that train as well saying you supported him all along. Lemming. Know the word?
Anne 10-08-2009 @ 3:00PM
ReplyAbstraction like this is not something a child can do. This artwork is intelligent because of the time it was created in.?????????????????
Didn't they teach grammar when you went to school?
Should have read..."This artwork is intelligent because of the time in which it was created." NOT..."because of the time it was CREATED IN!!" Your IQ is showing!!!
Hi Jean, You are right. Actually I write well grammatically usually. As far as my IQ, I think I have a good mind for art education as well as writing. Too bad you can't see the good things people demonstrate and will only judge the bad things. Whatever you do, don't attempt to ever teach or lead in an educational system.
So is your ignorance towards others. Don't you have any input to provide here other than to attempt, feebly, to correct others? Are you so perfect that you have that right? Have you NEVER made a mistake?
BTW, the comment you corrected, incorrectly, should read: "This artwork is intelligent because of the time it took to create it." Before you correct others, you really should step back and make sure you know what you're doing. Your correction is merely the same thought, only worded differently.
Apparently, your IQ isn't much higher...But thanks for thinking that you're more clever. It gave me a laugh for the day.
Yes, pretty much the same thing Brighton said. While it may not be considered good form in prescriptive grammar to end a sentence in a preposition, it is not incorrect form. You also have to take context into account. Seeing as no-one is attempting to create a formal speech, and colloquial or informal speech patterns seem appropriate for this forum, ending a sentence in a preposition in this case is acceptable.
Too funny!!!!! Let's just hope that he continues to mainly invite his Chicago cronies and czars to the White House. Anyone else, with even a modicum of taste, would be shocked to behold anything so gauche!
ReplySOME PEOPLE NEED TO GET OVER THEMSELVES WE ALL CAME FROM THE SAME PLACE, FROM THER SAME DNA RED YELLOW BLACK OR WHITE THEY ARE ALL PRECIOUS IN HIS SIGHT GROW UP GROW UP GROW UP OR SHUT UP YOU SHAME YOUR SELVES AND OTHERS WITH YOUR TRASH COMMENTS
ReplyDid you not READ the article? All artwork is on LOAN to the Whitehouse, with the exception of pieces already owned by the Obamas and LOANED to the Whitehouse. It's hard to make intelligent comments when you don't bother to educate yourself on the subject, isn't it? Do you just see the word "President", or "Obama" and page down to write your swill?
ReplyO.k., while the artwork that they chose lacks emotion or anything intellectual, I have to differ with all of the people who are calling anyone who disagrees with the artwork choice as fat, mindless, right-wing, Republicans-----come on, people. Are we a nation or what? Do you have so much hatred in your cold heart that you cannot be open-minded enough to think that someone could possibly disagree with your opinion? It wouldn't matter what Obama & clan did, you would think that it's the greatest, the best, the most intelligent, whatever. It is clear to see who is closed-minded and hate filled. Your guy won the election. Get over it. I did. My prayer is that our country is strong enough to sustain 4 years of his judgment or lack thereof. Consider his appointees. Radical, far left and conservative-hating people. I would like to see if you can name one single 'moderate' person. Good luck. There isn't one. Fact is, I'm an American first---yes, a flag waving, pledge talking, patriot walking American. I would fight for my country, would you? I think not since you are so busy finding fault with the "other" team. You have no idea what your guy stands for or what his agenda is. Obama doesn't frighten me. You do. I hope that you can somehow mature and listen to someone other than Oprah and the star-studded American-hating actors/actresses that have forgotten that their freedom has been paid in full by the lives of our armed forces. Don't like this? Catch the next plane to Afghanistan. Move to Cuba. Relocate to Kenya. Hang out in Venezuela. Do anything you like. Hate America? I invite you to leave.
ReplyPicture 11 of 17 sums up his Presidency …
Reply“Maybe … No …”
“On second Thought,”
“Maybe I’ll …”
“Wait a Minute … ! … !”
Although there is something missing, all of his d@mn apologies to the rest of the World made on foreign soil!
I’m embarrassed that he happens to be my President :-(
The apologies for the ARROGANCE of the Bush Administration? I believe he won an award for that... oh yeah! THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE.
This is art? I'm not surprised they think so. Obama doesn't know anything about running a country so why should he know what art is. An elementary school student could do this good. He is pathetic.
ReplyElementary school students also start learning the difference between "good" and "well" around fifth grade. Just sayin'.
Most of it is not my style. I think my dog could do as well on most of it.
ReplyTo: Divabrighton
ReplyFirst of all, you are just as opinionated as the person you critized, and if the truth be known it should be you people who hang themselves in the closet, what a bunch of blind mice.....open your eyes to reality, we are losing our country... oh, "about the Art", it's horrible and I agree with everyone who thinks it is....by the way, that's just about everybody.
Now I AM confused. Of course I'm opinionated. It's my right, and I have a brain to do so. On the other hand, you agree with everyone else. How individual is that???
Now, don't you have an airport bathroom stall you should be tapping your foot in? Oh wait. I've mistaken you for a DIFFERENT republican hypocrite. You should be sending sexually explicit text messages to your underage male intern. Oops. Still not you. I do get my republican scum confused. You're all so...icky.
What a cheesy, racist thing to say! People with your mindset make me embarrassed to be white.
Reply