1. Read Docent’s responses. 2. Look closely. Go back & forth. 3. Describe what you see.
People:Lacking.
Place:The upper level of Morgan Great Hall. The bust is of John Pierpont Morgan an art collector and philanthropist. Morgan became one of the wealthiest and most powerful businessmen, in the world, in the 1800s. Hartford, CT is his birthplace.
Objects & Things:The wall displays curvilinear, intersecting pathways of connecting, geometric shapes. These are painted with several layers of solid, acrylic pigment laid down closely, but not overlapping another.
1. Read Docent’s responses. 2. Use accredited sources. 3. Ignite your imagination.
Interpret:Sol LeWitt redefines the role of the artist with his belief that “the work of the mind is more important than the work of the hand.” LeWitt explains: “All of the planning and decisions are made beforehand and the execution is a perfunctory affair. Conceptual art does not require the physical skill of the artist - like a drawing, painting or sculpture.” LeWitt’s team simply follows his instructions. Some think his work is refreshing and relevant, others say shocking and lacking craftsmanship. Anyway, the exchange of opposite opinions is positive for the art movement.
Conclude:LeWitt brings his playful version of ancient cave paintings to life on a grand scale. Visitors look up from the museum’s lower level to see the classic space undulating with bright colors on its walls. Wide smiles appear on faces. Adults say they experience a sense of optimism and freedom. Young and old remember being scolded for drawing on walls. Whirls and Twirls use to be the last stop, on my guided tours, at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, in Connecticut.
Go back to Era & Artist, Painting, History & Culture. Contact me for help.
VISUAL ARTS ENCYCLOPEDIA – Postmodernist art. Web.
ARTIST, PAINTING, HISTORY & CULTURE LeWitt, SolPersing, Stephen, Photographer, et all “Art in America” October 2005 Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, Auerbach, Art Library, Hartford, CT John Teahan, Librarian. Photo: by Bill Cunningham, The New York Times, Sol LeWitt, in 2001. Art & Design. LeWitt, The New York Times, 2007
Wall Drawing #1131 (Whirls and Twirls)Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, Hartford, Connecticut. Web.
Postmodern era, Conceptual Art movementStanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Plato, Stanford Education, Conceptual Art, 2014. Web.
ESSENTIAL TOPIC Subject Matter: Art of ConceptsVISUAL ARTS ENCYCLOPEDIA – Postmodernist art. Web.
1. Read Docent’s responses. 2. Look closely. Go back & forth. 3. You may see things differently.
Color:The reflection of light on an object, or a surface produces color. The brighter, the more color you see. The overall appearance is one of vibrant, saturated Primary and Secondary colors. Secondary Colors are a mixture of two primary neighbors on the color wheel. Open the Essential Topic to see them on the six-sided "Basic Color Wheel".
Line:A line is the path of a moving point. It can be of any length or width. Connecting lines create geometric shapes on the 2-dimensional Picture Plane (flat surface).
Positive & Negative Space:Areas with painted marks are Positive. The dramatic design pops off the surrounding Negative, white spaces. Your eyes can rest a moment in Negative Space.
1. Read Docent’s responses. 2. Look closely. Go back & forth. 3. You may see things differently.
Direction/ Movement:LeWitt creates a wavelike sensation using the Elements of Art, color, line, and shape, to direct you through the wall painting.
Repetition/ Rhythm:Emphasis is placed on the flow of visual units of color in regular and irregular patterns.
Variation:Multiple changes in the elements of a composition create variation. LeWitt’s visual idea eliminates any chance of monotony.
1. Read Docent’s responses. 2. Look closely. Go back & forth. 3. Perspective is an artful illusion.
No.The entire Picture Plane has the same clarity. Foreground, Middle ground, and Background are lacking. Creating the illusion of Perspective is not required.
1. Read Docent’s responses. 2. Look closely. Go back & forth. 3. Consider new Subject Matter.
Art of Ideas/ Concepts:This work is different - not only in concept, but in the course of creation - because “Ideas” matter more to the artist than building a narrative.
To keep up with new Subject Matter to paint, the Art of Ideas/ Concepts has been added to the original hierarchy of History, Portraiture, Genre, Landscape, and Still Life.
1. Read Docent’s responses. 2. Look closely. Go back & forth. 3. Consider Conceptual art.
Era:Postmodern/ The Age of Postmodernist Art. (1970 – present)
Movement:Conceptual Art. American. (1960s - present)
Controversial. Seeking to challenge and probe what the qualifies of art are and what the function of the artist should be.
No single style. LeWitt is the forerunner of the Conceptual Movement.