The Glass Blowers

Now I have a new place to visit next time I am on the east coast: the Corning Museum of Glass. I am currently taking a class at the Getty Villa on the ancient art in the collection, so I was there this past Wednesday when the Corning team of glass blowers arrived as part of the exhibit, "Reflecting Antiquity: Modern Glass Inspired by Ancient Rome." We watched as they showed us how they replicate ancient glass designs. Of course, I've seen glass-blowing many times before, but this was with a twist (so to speak). I was impressed with the teamwork involved, how many times the glass goes in and out of the kiln and the speed with which everything has to happen before the glass cools... no time for thinking. Apparently it takes six years of training to achieve this level of proficiency. You can watch this event Thursday–Monday, October 25–November 5, 2007, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.















The glass exhibit itself is also fascinating. I've seen it three times. I like it so much I'm tempted to buy the catalog (photography is not allowed in this particular exhibit). But do I really need another art book? And shouldn't I be focusing on tiles and mosaics? A couple of years ago I saw the exhibit at the Getty Center, "The Arts of Fire, Islamic Influences on Glass and Ceramics of the Italian Renaissance." I do own that book. (And now as I am flipping through it again, on page 94 there is a gorgeous ewer in enameled and gilded glass. I've had a bisque teapot sitting in front of me for weeks, waiting for inspiration before I start painting it. This gives me an idea.)

When I was in Boston ten years ago there was a splendid glass exhibit, "Glass Today, by American Studio Artists" at the Museum of Fine Arts. I bought that catalog because I was amazed by the extraordinary designs. It was my first introduction to glass as a pure art form. On that same trip, we visited the Sandwich Glass Museum, in, you guessed it, Sandwich, Massachusetts. Looking at the website, I believe they have expanded since my visit, but at the time I was intrigued by the collection of historical glass of that area.

I've always been fascinated by glass in one way or another. As a child I collected small glass animals, long gone now. One of the beauties of glass is the way it interacts with light (hence, the operative word "reflective" in the title of the exhibit) and photographs on the printed page can never do it justice. So, I recommend seeing the Getty exhibit in person, and in the meantime I'll cogitate on the pros and cons of adding this catalog to my collection.

From the Getty website: Reflecting Antiquity is the first major exhibition to examine the impact of the rediscovery of Roman glass on modern glassmakers. It features Roman vessels as well as modern glassmakers' reproductions of these ancient pieces, and vessels inspired by ancient ones.

(Photographs copyright roslyn m wilkins)

Music for the Masses: Illuminated Choir Books

TL and I enjoyed a beautiful day at the Getty Center today. Yes, I know, I can't stay away. Of course, I am intrigued by any kind of illustrative works from contemporary ads to ancient manuscripts, and this exhibit did not disappoint. The "masses" of the title alluding to religious services, these choir books were used by monks singing age-old chants they already knew by heart. The notations, it turns out, were there to guide them with the pitch, high or low.

While interested in the page as a whole, my main focus was on the illustration of the first letter. For instance, this example is the letter R. Having a one-track mind, I thought of these illuminations as being ideal for tiles! More inspiration...

Some of the examples on display were cut out from the rest of the page. I thought about how our ideas of conservation have changed over the ages, and even mere years. In times past, even recently, the more illustrative or figurative parts of mosaics were cut out and preserved in museums while the borders and fields were left to disintegrate on site. Today we realize the importance of context. Just as with these choir book designs, we understand the importance of seeing the page, or indeed the book, as a whole, no part being more important than the whole.

Although I admit to not having much of a musical ear, I enjoyed the audio of the chants presented with some of the items. It brought the pages to life, hearing the chants as they would have been sung by the monks as they viewed the choir books.

One point we both agreed on, why can't museums make it obvious where one should start viewing an exhibit. A simple "Start here, you idiots" sign would be helpful. We evidently started on the wrong side. When we found the side we should have started at (we didn't even realize there were two rooms at first), a lot of confusing elements became much clearer.

We also enjoyed Edward Weston: Enduring Vision. I've seen various Weston exhibits but this was about the best, with examples of the different periods of his life, and of course, the different women who inspired him! Another wonderful, and unexpected, treat was Recent History: Photographs by Luc Delahaye, images on a large scale. And the garden was in full bloom, nice to take our time strolling through.

The Getty Center is very pleasant on a weekday. Although it is very well attended at any time, my last visit at the weekend I said never again. I can't deal with crowds of people, at least not when attempting to view art.

Photo copyright J. Paul Getty Museum

Benaki Museum of Islamic Art

The Benaki Museum's collection of Islamic art, which includes examples of all its local variations from as far afield as India, Persia, Mesopotamia, Asia Minor, the Middle East, Arabia, Egypt, North Africa, Sicily and Spain, ranks among the most important in the world. Walking through the Kerameikos area of Athens along Asomaton Street, we almost missed the Islamic Museum as it is housed in a townhouse looking like any other on the street. Fortunately, this did not happen as the collection was well worth the long walk from our hotel just south of the Acropolis.

However, like the main Benaki Museum across town, photography was not allowed. I will never understand why some museums (for instance, the National Archaeological Museum in Athens) almost beg you to take photos of their collection while museums like the Benaki look at you like dirt if you dare ask if photography is allowed! Explain it to me, someone!! So, above is the ruler I bought at the museum shop showing some of the Iznik patterns on display in the museum. This is one of the best souvenirs I ever bought as it sits on my desk inspiring me with tile designs and will be used on a regular basis.

Grand Bazaar Istanbul

Obviously it's been a while since I posted to my blog. Mostly that's because I was out of the country visiting London, Greece and Turkey. And as soon as I returned home I came down with this fuzzy-brained virus and cough that will not let go of me. However, after nearly two weeks of unmentionable stuff oozing from my body, I am now feeling halfway human and able to resume some of my normal functions. But it's going to take me months to catch up with all the art and archaeology-related stuff that has taken place in my life in the past few weeks. So bear with me!

Just as an appetizer, here are the two hand-painted tiles I bought at the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Turkey. There were lots of tiles on my trip, but mostly touristy stuff that did not appeal to me. But these caught my eye, and other than the Grand Bazaar I did not see anything that I liked as much as these, so I was glad I bought them when I had the opportunity.
So, among other things that I learned and experienced on this trip, I fell in love with the Iznik style of tiles and pottery. Just what I needed, one more thing to be passionate about! Of course, I have seen this style of ceramic painting many times before but for some reason I was not ready for it. However, starting with the Victoria and Albert Museum in London which has a brilliant collection, I couldn't help myself from falling head over heels.

(Photos copyright roslyn m wilkins)