Having Fun Exploring Yucatan!

This is about my trip to Yucatan that I took in April with my family. I lived there for about four years and I have tons of family there so it is my home away from home. This first picture is in Uxmal in front of the Pyramid of the Magician. As you can see it's HUGE! When I went a few years ago you were able to climb it, but now it is closed. If you look on the left of the pyramid, you'll notice a vertical line that is lighter in color than the rest of the pyramid, that's where a big fat chain was. It's not too bad going up and the view from the top is amazing, but I can't say the same about going down. It took me about an hour to go down!

The next stop on our trip was la gruta de lol tun. This was my favorite part of our journey. Over the opening of the cave is a carving, it's hard to see because it is very weathered but the guide told us that it had something to do with people from further south. I have to admit that I wasn't paying much attention to the guide, I was too busy admiring the cave itself, it was beautiful! There were stalactites and stalagmites, some had been cut using a type of string made from heneken. There was a wall that had hand prints on it and one of the hands only had four fingers, hmm....strange. Again, I wasn't paying much attention to that poor guide, I wish I would have so I could share more information. There was a sculpture of a head that is not Maya. It was left exactly where it was found.

A few days later we made our way to Chichen Itza. I don't know where to begin, it just has so many buildings. I'd have to say that my favorite one is the ball court, it's much bigger than I thought it was going to be and the hoops on the sides are pretty small compared to all the rest of it. I was a bit disappointed (so were my kids) that we weren't able to climb anything. This is a picture of the ball court (and my husband, he was thrilled to be walking in the hot sun! hehe)

From there we went to Valladolid to visit the cenote of Zaci which is right in the city. It was really pretty, I highly recommend it to any one who happens to visit the area. Valladolid is also a beautiful city, the downtown area is like a mini-Merida.


On a previous trip to Yucatan I went to eat lunch in a little town a few miles east of Merida called Izamal. The food was delicious traditional Yucatecan food. As my husband and I are leaving we notice a huge mound, so we decide to climb it. It turns out that it's a Maya site called Kinich Kak Moo. I know the letters are too small to read but here is some info that is written: the base measures 200m x 180m and the height of the upper temple is more than 34m. It was built around 400-600A.D. and must have covered much older buildings.

My Visit to Lalbagh Kella

Bangladesh is the name of a small country about one-fifth the size of California and the neighbor of India. Bangladesh got its independence from Pakistan in 1971 and yet in such a short period of time, made itself a place filled with wonderful features such as art, culture and history. The experience of my first visit to the Lalbagh Kella Fort, one of the most visited places there by the locals and tourists was somewhat unforgettable and makes me wonder how art was and still is an important part of our world history.

Dhaka is the capital city of Bangladesh and next to its popular Buriganga River lies the Lalbagh Kella Fort. The incomplete Mughal palace was established in 1678 by prince Muhammad Azam, who was recalled my Aurangzeb, son of Shah Jahan who built the world known famous Taj Mahal situated in India. Prince Azam's successor Shaista Khan was in charge of completing the palace but for some reason couldn't. The palace consists of three parts, the Mosque, the Tomb of Bibi Pari(daughter of Shaista Khan) and the Diwan-i-Aam. The designs on the buildings are very beautiful and reminds me of the Mesoamerican Pyramids and how people back than gave such importance to the exteriors of a building rather than how people mostly care about the design on the interior these days.

Just outside the palace is a small museum where all the valuable precious items are kept from the palace. Among the few items that the museum consists of are words written in Arabic on stone slabs, swords from original battles during that time and vases given to the royal family from other visiting countries such as China. Like how they used to keep tombs in Mesoamerica inside pyramids, there is a tomb of Bibi Pari who died inside the palace. The vases from visiting China shows its similarity to that of foreigners visiting a city of the Zapotec.

From art we can learn so many things about our past cultures and what they believed in. I am very curious about one thing and want to ask everyone who is reading this information about why now in the 21st century people are more concerned about the interior of their building rather than the unique architectural design outside. I think that a building itself can define a person and their artistic ability. I have visited Lalbagh Kella quite a while ago but it never occurred to me that the way the palace was built and the arts on its walls might represent a special meaning about the people who lived inside it until I learned about the meaning of the Mesoamerican art history.

Information collected from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lalbagh_Fort

Bamboozled

Join the Chaffey Art Organization (CAO) on Wednesday, September 24 at 6:00 PM in the Wignall Museum for a screening of Bamboozled (2000).

Written and directed by Spike Lee, this satirical film features black actors donning blackface makeup and shows the violent fall-out from the show's success. Lee, never one to shy away from controversial issues related to race and racism delves into the parallels between minstrels and contemporary hip-hop personas. Whether you agree with Lee's perspective or not, the film provides ample content to discuss afterwards.

Members of CAO will lead the screening and discussion of this provocative film. This event is free of charge and light refreshments will be served.

Non-Obstructive

Chaffey's own Shari Wasson will be exhibiting her artwork in Non-Obstructive, a group painting show and video installation at the Irvine Fine Arts Center September 28-November 1, 2008. The artists reception will be on Sunday, September 28, 4-6 pm.

More Monstrosities of Minstrelsy

Look for this article by Jennifer Killian in the September 22, 2008 issue of The Breeze, the Chaffey College student newspaper. Ms. Killian is also the winner of the 2008 Art Writing scholarship. She writes a regular column on the visual arts, Outside the Lines.

More monstrosities of minstrelsy

Daring to expand the minds of close-minded America, Jason White and Aaron White succeeded wonderfully at a lecture and a minstrel history show on Monday, Sept. 15 in the theater.

The presentation compliments the current exhibit of Mammygraphs at the Wignall Museum Gallery on campus through Sept. 27.

The Whites both graduated from Cal Arts in with a degree in theater. This was where, in a history book, they saw their first icon of Blackface. Again, the topic of blackface has risen and reality of the monstrosity sets in. The lecture included an articulate array of horrifying facts and pictures about minstrelsy.

Jason White led the discussion, and broke down each twisted step of minstrelsy. He discussed the history of not only the act, but down to the very characters of blackface: the Coon, the Zip Coon, the Sambo, the Mammy, the Pickaninny, Uncle Tom, the Tragic Mulatto, the Jezebel, and the Brute man. He also touched on how these forms have all filtered down until today, when we have the pimp/thug.

The lecture was an eye-opening experience for a person of any race. Minstrel shows did not just make fun of African Americans, but also those of Irish, Indian, German, Chinese and Jewish descent.

"[We are] unleashing a ghost that has been dead for so long," Aaron White said.

This is exactly what both Jason and Aaron accomplished when they hit the stage. Minstrel acts were meant to be comical; hence, the pair made their show comical. With each bit though, Jason and Aaron brought out the undertone of seriousness in the matter.

They portrayed not only a minstrel act as it would have been, but also slipped in how in American culture today, people still use stereotypes. The show had much positive feedback from the audience, especially at the end when the question and answer portion came about.

Positive and enlightened questions came from the new knowledge. Although the show is not allowed to be called a good minstrel show, according to Jason White, "There is no such thing as a 'good' minstrel show."

It surely can be called inspirational.

The Hammurabi Code Translated

Examining art history in greater detail by quantifying our resources and examining both primary and secondary materials seems to do more justice in understanding and appreciating the significance of art and history. In most of our undergraduate texts on the Hammurabi Code, we may only briefly investigate its significance and examine mostly secondary source materials due to scarcity of time. So for those interested in learning the greater details may consider reading the actual cuneiform text, especially when the translation in English is available for the researcher by many dedicated scholars, anthropologists, linguists, etc. The University of Washington State has a web page with a translation provided online, translated by L.W. King (1910) and edited by Richard Hooker (1996).

Hammurabi was an Amorite King who reunited and ruled the region of Mesopotamia around 1792-1750 BCE. His subjects were known as the Babylonians and his achievements focus greatly on the discovery of the first known legal code written in human history (Art-3 Text/Stokstad, 37). By archaeological findings, a Stele of Hammurabi appeared in 1901 in the middle east and is now a prominent artwork viewed by many. Furthermore into the Hammurabi Stele cuneiform as a primary source, it is interesting how the ideas and mandates are organized into the inscribed stone stele. The introduction begins with a coming judgement by the key god Anu, whom reaches out to Hammurabi and makes an intriguing dissertation to his rule:

"the exalted prince, who feared God, to bring about the rule of righteousness in the land, to destroy the wicked and the evil-doers; so that the strong should not harm the weak; so that I should rule over the black headed people like Shamash, and enlighten the land, to further the well-being of mankind ." (The Code of Hammurabi, Ed.Richard Hooker)

He then continues to create a sort of biography or a type of resume of his accomplishments in favor to the gods. He is portrayed as an enduring and righteous leader, dedicated to his sacrificial devotions, and worthy of his endeavors. Perhaps viewed as folklore, yet objectively, this is how people lived during those days and it gives you a glimpse of how people viewed society and leadership at the time. These ideas transpose into the Stele as you can see Hammurabi attentively listening to Shamash, humble and subordinate to his lord.

As you read further, you will encounter all the codes/laws (numbered 1-282) and some history to include excerpts on key mesopotamian civilizations like Sumer and Akkad and what his relations were to these ancient civilations. There are also, decrees of condonement of the gods and also much judgement towards those whom appear to be their enemies, and may sound like prayers when read aloud.

How this work of art and historical artifact was characterized reveals to us that this was no ordinary vestige of ancient civilization. It revealed a great level of sophistication, organization, and content to their society and those involved in creating the Stele of Hammurabi. To learn more, just check out the translation.

The Code of Hammurabi. L.W King. 1910.
Ed.Richard hooker. 1996. Washington University.
http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/MESO/CODE.HTM

Highbrow vs Lowbrow Art

In the current LA Weekly, Doug Harvey penned an article titled Juxtapalooza that focusses on the spread of "lowbrow art". Harvey discusses some of the latest trends of the "movement" and points out some of its more obvious influences from the Postmodern era. A major underpinning of the discussion looks at the tension between creating art that is viewed as subversive or unorthodox and at the same time is being threatened by acquiring "mainstream" commercial success.

"Even among art that aims to be free of traditional categories and definitions, there is an ever-present danger of calcification and rampant commercialization," warns a recent dispatch from Atwater Village gallery Black Maria promoting its upcoming "No Brow" exhibit. "These dangers threaten to turn even the most unorthodox of movements into an exercise in mainstream banality. The very success of the Lowbrow movement may curb those features that once distinguished it from 'Highbrow' art, with its rules and value judgments."

I found the perspective of the article to be a somewhat entertaining romp through one narrow aspect of the LA contemporary art scene, but rather shallow. The idea of artists pushing the boundaries of the techniques, styles, and acceptable decorum found in what is viewed as "mainstream" art and then ultimately becoming viewed as part of the "mainstream" art movement that they once decried has been one of the major moving factors of art innovation since at least the rise of humanism. The frame of the article, high vs low art, is older than art scholarship itself, and one in which I seriously question its value in 21st century art discourse.

Generation after generation have redefined and beaten into conformity their contemporary perspective of what is high or low art. The anti-establishment-revolutionary-lowbrow-goth-punk-fetish-emo-skater-(fill in your subculture category here) artist of today has had many names in history: Rauchenberg, Duchamp, Picasso, Monet, Delacroix, Caravaggio, Michelangelo, Giotto, and so on. If we understand that the very polemic of this discussion (high/low, inside/outside) has become a central aspect of supporting the argument, doesn't it risk becoming part of the very structure for defining "mainstream" art and therefore self-serving and possibly irrelevant for developing a broader and more nuanced understanding of contemporary art movements?

Or am I just over thinking this?

Free bus trip to the Getty

The Associated Students of Chaffey College is sponsoring a FREE bus trip to the J. Paul Getty Museum of Art at the Getty Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, October 25. This is NOT a yellow shool bus. It is a chartered bus with comfortable seats, air conditioning and movies. Seats are limited, so students need to reserve a seat on the bus NOW at the Student Activities office in Campus Center East. This trip is free to all Chaffey College students who have paid the college service fee, which is funding the trip. Students need to bring their tuition payment printout and ID when reserving a seat.

The details: Students will meet the bus on the morning of October 25 at 9:00 AM in parking lot #7 (east of the Bookstore). Entrance to the museum is also free. The group will stay at the Getty Center for about four hours. Students can bring a lunch or there are several cafes and a restaurant at the museum. The exact time that the bus will arrive back at Chaffey will depend upon traffic, but it is usually between 4:00 and 5:00 PM.

View a poster for this event and find out about more art related events at Chaffey at www.ChaffeyArt.org.

The Jazz Singer

Wednesday, September 10, 12:30-2:00 PM
Wignall Museum Project Space

Join Broadcasting & Cinema Professor Daniel Jacobo to watch this historic 1927 film. The first feature film to utilize Synchronous Sound, The Jazz Singer tells the story of Jakie Rabinowitz who goes into show business over his father's objections. Nominated for two Academy Awards, The Jazz Singer includes scenes in which Al Jolson performs in blackface, which fell out of favor as a theatrical act in the early 20th century. A discussion about the film will take place after the screening.

The event is free and light refreshments will be provided by the Chaffey Art Organization (CAO).

The Irvine Museum

This Blog entry is on my weekend visit to the Irvine Museum Located in Irvine, Orange County, California. The Irvine Museum is a small exhibit greeted by a facility security guard and a receptionist near a little bookstore next to the entry way. Filled with paintings done in the artistic style of Impressionism, the walls are filled with landscapes and views that have a regional emphasis in California's environmental scene. Artists have always been fascinated with nature. It is interesting how the collected artists here at Irvine chose Impressionism to promote their appreciation for the environment. According to the Docent, Impressionism is a unique artform where there is less emphasis on form than on the manipulation of colors in a freelance sort of state. From a distant viewpoint, the objects within the painting can seemingly be recognized with structure and distinction. However, when the viewer closes into a certain area, to their surprise, it looks much like a splotch of paint. This is what makes Impressionism so unique in that the artist chooses to control the selection of colors to allow the mind to blend those colors together and manisfests itself into an image with depth perception, shadows, and tone. i.e. An Oil Canvas by Millar Sheets (1907-1987) called Birth of Spring (1937) depicts a stony brook with vegetation on the bottom, center of the canvas. The artist chose to use vertical strokes on the sides of the bank and horizontal strokes to depict the rocks and from a close eye view, it is hard to imagine how those unimpressive strokes would blend to create a definite object, but when it comes into perspective at the ideal viewpoint with the mountains, plains and rocks revealed, the image become much more clear. Impressionism goes beyond realism, mimesis, and canon that sets strict guidelines in the creation of art. It seems to give the impressionist more freedom of movement and imagination to suite their artistic needs. Some famous artists of the Impressionist Movement are to include Van Gogh, Monet, and Renoir. The artworks here at Irvine are all around a century old and were created by actual students of the Impressionist movement. I had a great time at the Irvine Museum. For more information and images, here is a link. Check it out. http://www.irvinemuseum.org/

New VP&CA Blog

The Chaffey College School of Visual, Performing & Communication Arts has a new blog. It is a place where you can find and comment on the latest news on programs and special events in the areas of Art & Art History, Broadcasting & Cinema, Communication Studies, Dance, Digital Media, Fashion Design & Merchandising, Interior Design, Music, Photography, Theatre, and the Wignall Museum. You can also follow on twitter!