Art History Humor

AHOW #002

The simplicity and power of this tool is astounding. This tool could be one of the very first objects to have been made by human hands. Think of the tools you use everyday, the rate at which technology changes, and the tools that have become obsolete in your lifetime. This stone chopper is where all of today's technology started. The tool is where humans start to separate themselves from animals. What will you leave behind that will last 1.8 million years?

I have included in this post the podcast of AHOW #002 and a link to a video of Sir David Attenborough talking about this chopper while holding it. This short video gives some insight into its use.
AHOW #002

First Post

So here we go. Here are some interesting articles from this month's Smithsonian magazine. I try to find articles that come at art and art history from different directions and Smithsonian and National Geographic do that. These magazines can make the artwork and the artists a little more assessable than Art News. Here is a link.

Smithsonian

Wolfgang Laib

It is important for my advanced studio students to be exposed to artists and their methodology. One  assignment I found helpful in exposing students to new artists has students research a current artist and report back to the class by way of presentation an artist profile. Artist Wolfgang Laib was the first artist profile assignment I gave out to students. I have lost the original article but below are two different interviews with the Laib.

Wolfgang Laib interview

Newgrange Lesson

I find Newgrange more fascinating than Stonehenge for a couple of reasons. First is Newgrange's clarity of purpose, and second is the solstice. For my lesson I discuss the solstice cycle and its impact on human culture, and through this discussion the reasons for the construction of Newgrange.

Newgrange

Passage tomb "Floor plan"

Side elevation of interior

corbelled dome

Kurbstone #1

Tri-spiral