Dallas Musium of Art

Musium : Dallas Musium Of Art

Date visit : July 23rd 2015

This is the first time I have come to Dallas Museum of Art, this is really one of the biggest museum in the country. They have such a huge collection, various types of art, almost every main culture in the world, spreading out from acient to modern world.

Visiting Dallas Museum of Art appeared to be the most excited thing that I’ve done so far, having new experieces, seeing new things. I have realized that art is not only about painting, it’s about creatity and imagination of human being. Inside the museum, there are tons of art pieces, it’s not obvious to understand all of the art pieces, it’s normal to be obscure of what you’ve seen, you would ask yourself “what is the meaning of that?” or “why people create that piece of art? ” or “what is the beauty of it?”. Despite of lacking the experiences in art, somehow I still have feelings of enjoying these pieces of art.Below are art pieces that I found interested which represented for function and purpose of that masterpiece.

The first piece I would like to discuss here called “Adam and Ave” which was created in 1933 bay Alfredo Martinez, Mexican artist (1872 – 1946). Martinez depicted the first human beings created by God as having the physical features of people in his own country(Mexico). Adam and Ave are depicted in muted colors at the base of tree with snake slithering around them. Eve holds an armadillo while a jackal looks on. It’s kind of strange compare to other versions in other culture. They look like people. I thinks this piece is an example of art for commemoration because the title,”the fisrt Americans” is intended to honor the native dwellers.

The second piece is called, ”Head of the rain god Tlaloc and two frogs”, created in (1300 - 1500) by Mixtec culture. These sculptures was used by Mixtec people in praying for the rain, the head is Rain God Tlaloc, made from ceramic, looks old, strange mysterious, the god of rain is sculptured with big eyes,wearing a shamanlike hat, accompany the God are two frogs which are the symbol of the rain, and I think the frogs are the servant of the God of rain. Because of their purpose of use I think this is a great example of art for worship and ritual.

The third piece is called “the blue chair” which war created in 1931 by a Mexican artist named Rufino Tamayo, who was born in 1899 and died in 1991. This piece was made from oil on a canvas, picturing a black woman sitting on the blue chair wearing a weak pink dress and a gray hat, she looks sad as if she was worrying about something, the whole paint is dominated by dark and sad colors, it’s like the artist was trying to express his feelings through the woman, that’s the reason why this piece is an example for art of self-expression.

The next piece is called “Mask” which was created in middle formative period 900 – 500 B.C by Gulf coast Olmec culture. This Mask was made from jadeite. There are signs of use that this mask was put in fire for a ritual activity, the mask I think that was from a Olmec people’s face. The mask looked natural without any expression on the face. Because of purpose of use, I think the mask is an art of worship and ritual.

The next piece is called “Bowl with ceremonially costumed figures”, which was created in late classic period A.D 600 – 900 by people of State of Veracruz, south cetral region. This piece was made from ceramic. The bowls depict scenes in which ceremonially costumed human figures engage in ritual activity. On the outer of the bowl, there are six male figures seated or kneel in one knee. Everyone of them wearing a patterned hip cloth, a necklace of a circular beards, a buccal mask which coves the lower part of the face. I think this bowl was made to remember ritual activity of Veracruz people, that’s the why its an example for art of commemoration.

The next piece is called “The Silversmith Jose Maria Rodellega” which was created in 1975 by  Rafael Ximeno y Planes (1759 - 1825), a Mexican artist. This piece was made from oils on canvas, an masterpiece of Spanish colonial art, this piece is about a portrait of a silversmith name Jose Maria Rodallega. He, Jose Maria Rodallega is one of the most famous silversmith in Mexico. In this paint, he is hoding a hammer on the left hand and a piece of iron stick on the right hand, doing his job to fix a crown-liked shape in his working place. I think it is an art of persuasion because Rafael seems to trying to persuade the viewers that Rodellega is the best silversmith in Mexico.

The next piece is called “Drouth stricken area” which was created in 1934 by Alexandre hogue(1898 - 1984), a American artist. This piece was made from oils on canvas. The whole theme of this paint is the scene of drought in desert, a skinny cow waits for the water right next to the windmill that seems to never come, a buzzard awaits for the cow’s death, although there is a house in the picture, it appears as if the area was abandoned for a long time. I choose this paint as an example of delight because of my feelings when I saw this paint.

The next piece is called “Grey, Blue & Black – pink circle ” which was created in 1929 by Georgia O’keeffe (1887 - 1986), a American artist. This piece was made from oils on canvas. In the center of the paint there are “nodes recall the headdress of Hobi Kachina dancers. The surrounding whorls of color amplified the suggested motion of the dance and the consonant rhythms of the universe” – quote. This piece is colorful and abstract, makes people hard to understand but enjoy it with delight, that’s why I choose this piece of art as delight.

The next piece is called “At the piano” which was created in 1890 by Cecilia Beaux (1855 - 1942), a American artist. This piece was made from oils on canvas. This piece depicted a man sitting in front of the piano wearing a suit and perhaps practicing. The main color of this paint is brown, kind of peace and quiet, the face of the man look calm and gentle, I think this piece of art is self-expression because I can see what the arist want to express himself through “the man at the piano”.

The next piece is called “The peaceable kingdom” which was created in 1846 - 1847 by Edward Hicks born in 1780 and died in 1849 . This piece was made from oils on canvas. This piece depicted fantasie situation in which all kind of animals and human beings appear and share the environment, in the picture there are lion, jaguar, cow, goat, tiger, fox and kids enjoying with each other, without fighting. That is not real, but I think the artist want to show that how the world is beautiful when every single animal include human share the world with peace.