Thursday, November 17, 2011

Villa Romana del Casale - Piazza Armerina, Sicily

Villa Romana del Casale, located in the hinterlands of central Sicily, is a early 4th Century C.E. Roman estate called a latifundium.   The Villa contains some of the finest Roman mosaics in the world. One of the rooms contains mosaics of Roman women in what look like rather modern two piece swimming suits.  Two women are playing catch.  One is exercising with dumb bells.  Another has a large exercise ball.  Some are running.  What strikes me is how modern these ladies appear.  They look like they could be straight out of your local spa.  Compare them to the hunting scene mosaics.  What a difference!

In the slide show I have included a series of images showing a conservator repairing some of the mosaics -  a very tedious task.  The Villa is a huge conservation site including giant cranes.
I can see why Italy is going broke.  Trying to save all the antiquities in Italy would break any country

Click on the following link for more information on the Villa Romana del Casale.

Click on the slide show for the full screen display.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Rick Dula – Logan Lecturer

Rick Dula – Logan Lecturer
Hyper-Realist and the Precisionists


Santa Cruz Site #2, 1999, Rick Dula   
What really fascinated me was his hyper-realist paintings of industrial decay.  My thought was, ‘This artist is carrying on the artistic style of the mid twentieth century Precisionist, but with a twist: so many of his painting are of industrial decay not the images of the growth of a mighty industrial power”.

Deb’s Arrow, (1987), Rick Dula
In fact. Rick stated in his talk that Precisionist Charles Sheeler’s work was one of his influences.

Notes from the Road - Richard Serra



“Reinforce the floors!!!  Richard Serra is coming!”  Words to heed when Richard Serra is in town with his metal sculptures.  Look at our Serra piece, Basic Maintenance (1987) on the 3rd level of the Hamilton Building.  Though it looks light, balanced on its edge on the floor, in fact it tips the scales at 5900 lbs.!
Click here to read the complete essay.