Saturday, November 19, 2011

Famous (And Infamous) Artists of the Electric Guitar

!: Famous (And Infamous) Artists of the Electric Guitar

Does the artist make the electric guitar, or the electric guitar make the artist? I suspect the answer to that question would vary significantly depending on who you asked. A manufacturer such as Gibson, Fender, or Yamaha would probably reply that an artist can only be as good as his instrument. But a guitarist, while likely to acknowledge the importance of a good guitar, would probably want to take the lion's share of the credit for himself. This is the "chicken and the egg" question of the musical world and one to which we will probably never know the answer. Fortunately, even without knowing it, we can still enjoy the outrageous talent that electric guitarists have displayed over the decades.

Keith Richards. My favorite quote about this gentleman comes from comic Robin Williams's 2002 Live on Broadway performance: "I know there is a cure for whatever bioterrorism they send at us. I know that there is one, and it lies within Keith Richards, I know that. He's the only man on the planet who can go 'Anthrax? (sniff) Alriiiight!'" Sums it up, don't you think? Mr. Richard, guitarist for The Rolling Stones, is a wonderful example of the rock and roll electric guitar player. He's rebellious, scandalous, filthy rich and still going strong.

Eddie Van Halen. A poster child for the big hair era of the 80s, this man is still recognized thirty years after the release of his band's first album, which was entitled "Van Halen." Hey, if both the band and the album are named after you, that kind of says it all. Van Halen didn't confine his talents to his own band, either, and he contributed a guitar solo to the song of another 80s icon. The icon was Michael Jackson and the song was Beat It. No wonder this guy is still (in)famous.

Carlos Augusto Santana Alves. No, I didn't know he had four names either, to me he'll always be "Santana." This gentleman first became famous over forty years ago and he's showing no sign of slowing down. His genres include rock, blues, salsa and jazz fusion. His music has experienced a resurgence in popularity over the last decade or so and in 2003, Rolling Stone named Santana number 15 on their list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of all Time. Talk about getting the industry's stamp of approval.

Jimi Hendrix. There has possibly never been an electric guitarist who more strongly influenced the industry or who more perfectly embodied a generation. He has, posthumously, been inducted into both the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the UK Music Hall of Fame. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a statue on the streets of his hometown, Seattle, Wash., and an eternal place in the annals of not only American music, but American history as well. A tremendous performer and a brilliant innovator, Rolling Stone named him number one on its 2003 list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. He remains one of the most famous artists ever to have lived.


Famous (And Infamous) Artists of the Electric Guitar

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Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Native American Folklore

!: Native American Folklore

Native Americans have always been a diverse and intriguing people. Scientific evidence shows us that they had been living in North America for many years before the "discovery" of America. Their culture was rich and diversified with many different tribes, each with their own set of values, beliefs and practices. While each tribe was unique in different ways, there were many beliefs and customs that they held in common. Most of these tribes believed in one god or higher power of which was considered to be the source of all creation. They did not necessarily perceive this one power in the way that most other religions, such as Christianity, Judaism or Muslim, do in a human-like form. Instead, they interpreted this higher power as an all encompassing energy force or great light. In fact, many of these people worshiped the sun as a physical manifestation of the great and divine power.

Other beliefs that were commonly held amongst Native American tribes included the belief that every living thing, including all plants and animals, had a spirit. Even some non-living things such as rocks were believed to have a spirit. In some cases, the belief was that animals not only had spirits, but that these spirits embodied particular attributes of the higher power and that each person could have an animal spirit as their guide throughout life.

To determine which animal was a tribe member's personal guide, they were often required to spend time alone in the wilderness in fasting and prayer until they received a vision that revealed to them their animal spirit. This was usually done in early adolescence around the ages of 12 or 13 and these young people could spend many days on this quest which was considered a vitally important part of determining their future.

Many rituals were performed for great events and even for the everyday activities of life. Dances, songs and artwork were a vital part of these rituals which were performed before a great hunt or battle, to give thanks for a plentiful harvest or to pray to the Great Spirit for an end to drought or famine. These tribal people painted, carved, sculpted and sewed as a way of expressing their faith and their pride in their families and tribes.

Storytelling was also a rich part of these people's cultural beliefs. Stories were used to pass down historical events, teach lessons or just to entertain the tribe. Some stories were told of how animal spirits accomplished great feats and literally changed the shape of the earth.

Today, there are a great number of people fascinated with Native American folklore and culture. The works of many contemporary artisans exhibit a significant influence by the traditions of the Native Americans in designs of their southwestern jewelry, artwork and clothing. These artisans obviously believe that this is an important way to keep alive the rich and unique cultural influences of the past.


Native American Folklore

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Friday, November 11, 2011

Western Painting - Neo - Dadaism - Dadaism Revived the American Way

!: Western Painting - Neo - Dadaism - Dadaism Revived the American Way

Neo-Dadaism - The Concept
Neo-Dada is the term given to the mid 20th century, 1958 to be specific, art movement, including Fine Arts, literature, theatre, and graphic design, which was similar to the earlier Dada artworks. This genre challenged the concept of 'Aestheticism' associated with the traditional form of art and extended the boundaries of the category arts.

The History
In 1960, American art historian & critic Barbara Rose (born 1938) helped promote the term 'Neo-Dada.' The same year, another American art critic Irvin Sandler (born 1925) explained the term as "an avant-garde fad." Two years later, Neo dada was considered the most popular and talked about art movement. An alternate name 'Junk Culture' was also given by English art critic Lawrence Alloway (1926-90) to describe the artwork of the likes of American artists Robert Rauschenberg (1925-2008) and Claes Oldenburg (born 1929).

The Details
In the art mediums other than painting, like performance, dance, films, and Installation Art, Neo-Dadaists used their own bodies as the base. Even unsettling or threatening performances involving destruction, violence, and aggression did not deter them.

The Correlations
Neo-Dadaist works include the ones faring between Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art. The artworks themed on everyday life, visual philosophy, and/or spirituality, with a focus of depicting positivity and optimism in life. This inspiring art form came to people's notice towards the end of the Abstract Expressionist (origin 1950s) reign and dispersed as the other similar movements, such as Assemblage Art (origin 1950), Pop Art (origin late 1950s), Nouveau Realism (origin 1960), Happenings (origin 1957), Junk Art (origin 1960s), and Fluxus (origin 1960s), gained momentum. Neo-Dadaism formally ended in 1962.

The Artists
In 1958, the first bunch of artists were designated Neo-Dadaists. They were American artists Jasper Johns (born 1930), Robert Rauschenber, and Kaprow Allan (1927-2006). Marcel Duchamp (French - 1887-1968) and Kurt Schwitters (German - 1887-1948) are considered as the strong influences to the Neo-Dadaism. The versatile Robert Rauschenberg delivered exemplary artworks in right from painting to performance art to collage. He had challenged the modernist outlook of paintings, art, and sculpture as a spiritual journey and believed that there was no limit to creativity. He felt life was open to art. Owing to his revolutionary approach and disinterest in typical art style, formal art critics hated him.

Some other artists include Nam June Paik (Korean-American - 1932-2006), Joseph Beuys (German - 1921-86), Yoko Ono (Japanese-American - born 1933), Yves Klein (French - 1928-62), Jean Follett, Edward (American - 1927-94) and Nancy Reddin Kienholz (American - born 1943), and Jim Dine (American - born 1935).

Recently, the term Neo Dadaists was used to refer to an international group of art performers from Kroesos Foundation, led by Mark Divo. In 2002, they took over the origin point of Dadaism, Cabaret Voltaire in Zurich. They displayed their artworks there, until they were evicted on Mar 02, 2002.


Western Painting - Neo - Dadaism - Dadaism Revived the American Way

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