Articles tagged with: Art

Today in History, May 18th

Date: May 18, 2013 Author: Today in History Comments: Leave a reply

A few of the great historical events that happened today in history, May 18th!

1642 The Canadian city of Montreal was founded.
1643 Queen Anne, the widow of Louis XIII, is granted sole and absolute power as regent by the Paris parliament, overriding the late king’s will.
1652 A law is passed in Rhode Island banning slavery in the colonies but it causes little stir and seems unlikely to be enforced.
1792 Russian troops invade Poland.
1802 Britain declares war on France.
1804 The French Senate proclaimed Napoleon Bonaparte emperor.
1828 The Battle of Las Piedras, between Uruguay and Brazil, ends.
1860 The Republican Party convention in Chicago nominated Abraham Lincoln for president.
1896 The Supreme Court endorsed the concept of “separate but equal” racial segregation in Plessy v. Ferguson, a precedent that was overturned in Brown v. Board of Education in 1954.
1897 A public reading of Bram Stoker’s new novel “Dracula, or, The Un-dead” was staged in London.

Bram-Stoker

Bram Stoker
1904 Brigand Raizuli kidnaps American Ion H. Perdicaris in Morocco.
1911 Composer Gustav Mahler died in Vienna, Austria, at age 50.
1917 The U.S. Congress passes the Selective Service act, calling up soldiers to fight World War I.
1931 Japanese pilot Seiji Yoshihara crashes his plane in the Pacific Ocean while trying to be the first to cross the ocean nonstop. He is picked up seven hours later by a passing ship.
1933 The Tennessee Valley Authority was created.
1942 New York ends night baseball games for the rest of World War II.
1944 The Allies finally capture Monte Cassino in Italy.
1951 The United Nations moved out of its temporary headquarters in Lake Success, N.Y., for its permanent home in Manhattan.
1969 Two battalions of the 101st Airborne Division assault Hill 937 but cannot reach the top because of muddy conditions.
1969 Apollo 10 was launched on a mission that served as a dress rehearsal for the first moon landing.
1974 India becomes sixth nation to explode an atomic bomb.
1980 After rumbling for two months, Mount Saint Helens, in Washington, erupts 3 times in 24 hours.
1998 The federal government filed a sweeping antitrust case against Microsoft Corp.
2003 “Les Miserables,” the third-longest running show in Broadway history, closed after more than 16 years and 6,680 performances.

Les-Miserables

Les Miserables
2004 Randy Johnson, 40, became the oldest pitcher in major league history to throw a perfect game, leading the Arizona Diamondbacks over the Atlanta Braves 2-0.
2009 Sri Lanka’s 25-year civil war ended with the government announcing it had defeated the Tamil Tiger rebels and killed their leader.

Today in History facts are from various sites including, but not limited too: the History Channel, The New York Times, WHG Historynet.com, and HistoryOrb.com.

Today in History, March 30th

Date: March 30, 2013 Author: Today in History Comments: 2 Replies
1492 King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella sign a decree expelling all Jews from Spain.
1822 Florida became a U.S. territory.
1840 “Beau” Brummell, the English dandy and former favorite of the prince regent, dies in a French lunatic asylum for paupers.
1858 Hyman L. Lipman of Philadelphia patents the pencil with an eraser attached on one end.
1867 Secretary of State William H. Seward reached agreement with Russia to purchase Alaska for $7.2 million, a deal roundly ridiculed as “Seward’s Folly.”

Secretary of State William H. Seward

Secretary of State William H. Seward
1870 The 15th amendment, guaranteeing the right to vote regardless of race, passes.
1870 President U.S. Grant signs bill readmitting Texas to the Union, the last Confederate state readmitted.
1885 In Afghanistan, Russian troops inflict a crushing defeat on Afghan forces Ak Teppe despite orders not to fight.
1909 The Queensboro Bridge in New York opens. It is the first double decker bridge and links Manhattan and Queens.
1916 Mexican bandit Pancho Villa kills 172 at the Guerrero garrison in Mexico.
1936 Britain announces a naval construction program of 38 warships. This is the largest construction program in 15 years.
1941 The German Afrika Korps under General Erwin Rommel begins its first offensive against British forces in Libya.
1943 Rodgers and Hammerstein’s first collaboration, Oklahoma, opens on Broadway.

Rodgers and Hammerstein

Rodgers and Hammerstein
1944 The U.S. fleet attacks Palau, near the Philippines.
1945 The Soviet Union invaded Austria during World War II.
1946 The Allies seize 1,000 Nazis attempting to revive the Nazi party in Frankfurt.
1950 President Harry S Truman denounces Senator Joe McCarthy as a saboteur of U.S. foreign policy.
1957 Tunisia and Morocco sign a friendship treaty in Rabat.
1964 The TV game show “Jeopardy!” premiered on NBC.
1972 Hanoi launches its heaviest attack in four years, crossing the DMZ.
1975 As the North Vietnamese forces move toward Saigon, desperate South Vietnamese soldiers mob rescue jets.
1981 President Ronald Reagan is shot and wounded in Washington, D.C. by John W. Hinkley Jr.
1987 Vincent Van Gogh’s Sunflowers is bought for $39.85 million.

Vincent Van Gogh's Sunflowers

Vincent Van Gogh’s Sunflowers
1995 Pope John Paul II issued an encyclical condemning abortion and euthanasia as crimes that no human laws could legitimize.
1999 A jury in Portland, Ore., ordered Philip Morris to pay $81 million to the family of a man who died of lung cancer after smoking Marlboros for four decades.
2002 Britain’s Queen Mother Elizabeth died at age 101.
2006 American reporter Jill Carroll, a freelancer for The Christian Science Monitor, was released after 82 days as a hostage in Iraq.
2009 President Barack Obama asserted unprecedented government control over the auto industry, rejecting GM and Chrysler’s restructuring plans and engineering the ouster of GM’s chief executive, Rick Wagoner..

Today in History facts are from various sites including, but not limited too: the History Channel, The New York Times, WHG Historynet.com, and HistoryOrb.com.

History Through the Eyes of Artists (Guest Post)

Date: February 28, 2013 Author: Felicia Comments: Leave a reply


History through the eyes of artists

Jacques-Louis-David-The-Death-of-Marat

Jacques-Louis David “The Death of Marat”

Reading about the French Revolution in a textbook is a different experience than reading a novel on the same subject, or watching a live performance of Les Miserables or contemplating Jacques-Louis David’s “The Death of Marat.” Altogether, historical and fictional interpretations of the world around us shape our understanding in a way that a single medium could not. And in many ways, artists have played a big role in helping us understand the world.

The following are some of the ways artists have led to a greater understanding of cultures and historical events.

Native American arts

Warrior-artists among the Plains Indians were great documenters of their achievements and experiences. What began as drawings on rock and deerskin continued with pencil, ink and canvas as Native Americans came into more regular contact with Europeans. In the late 1800′s, as conflicts between the invading Europeans and natives escalated, the numbers of what came to be known as “ledger drawings” increased. They are an example of art being inspired by history in the making. It’s thought that the increase in ledger drawings reflected society’s concern that traditional Native American lifestyles were being threatened. And that turned out to be true. Thankfully, the ledger drawings now serve as valuable historical documents that show a way of life that might otherwise be forgotten.

One modern Native American artist, Joshua Hinson revives ancient themes in his work, which is well-known at the Chickasaw Cultural Center, a Native American Museum in Oklahoma. Hinson is Director of the Department of Chickasaw Language in the Division of History and Culture for the Chickasaw Nation. He also creates artwork inspired by the traditional shell engravings his ancestors were known for. In doing so, his art keeps historic themes alive while educating new generations about valuable tribal traditions

A different take on the Holocaust

Maus: A Survivor's Tale

Maus: A Survivor’s Tale

Most people wouldn’t think of “Holocaust” and “comic” in the same sentence, but Art Spiegelman took a risk more than 20 years ago when he penned a comic about one of the most horrific events in history. His Pulitzer-Prize winning comic, “Maus,” portrayed Nazis as cats, Poles as pigs and Jews as mice. But this isn’t a publication for children. In fact, Spiegelman told The New York Times that giving the comic to a child would be “child abuse.” But the method in which he chose to explore the Holocaust reached audiences in a way that different mediums had not.

Showing the reality of war

“Saving Private Ryan” is a film written by Robert Rodat and directed by Steven Spielberg. It’s set in World War II and is the story of a squad charged with finding and safely retrieving Private James Ryan after his three brothers, also serving in the war, have all been killed. The movie begins with one of the most graphic and realistic depictions of close combat civilians are likely to ever see. The makers of “Saving Private Ryan” attempted to highlight that war has real, human costs that many people never see.

Artists as historians

Visual arts, sculpture, photography, filmmaking, painting and printmaking make it possible for viewers to relive and connect with historical moments in an immediate and sensory way. Throughout time, artists and visionaries have documented political and cultural struggles, war, social inequity and human suffering and triumph.

About the Author:

Felicia Savage is an up-and-coming PR specialist and political junkie living in Indianapolis. When she isn’t sharing articles and tweeting, Felicia loves sipping tea, cuddling her cat & spending hours on Pinterest. Follow her on Twitter @FeliciaSavage.

Native American Dances and Meanings

Date: January 9, 2013 Author: Guest Post Comments: Leave a reply

Native American Dances and Meanings (Guest Post)

indian-dance

One of the most beautiful things about Native American culture is the rich forms of art this group has brought to America. Among forms of art such as painting, sculpting and storytelling, the truly unique quality of Native American dance makes it the most awe-inspiring and thought-provoking of them all. To the untrained eye, these Native American dances may look like nothing more than interesting movements designed to match the rhythm of a song. On the contrary, dances in this culture each have a deeper purpose and significance that exemplifies how powerful this medium can be in expressing an idea.

1. Stomp Dance

Practiced by the Chickasaw tribe, the traditional stomp dance begins with an announcement by one of the ground leaders, indicating that he will be leading the song. He then heads toward the ceremonial fire with a shell shaker, or rattle, in hand, leading the rest of the people behind him. Women and men traditionally alternate in this line, with the women wearing rattles around their ankles and maintaining the rhythm of the song. Tribe members walk clockwise around the fire. The lead singer then calls out to the Creator, with the men responding as if the Creator is speaking through them. Legend says that whatever the lead singer requests from the Creator during this ceremony will be brought to fruition within four days. These types of performances can be seen at The Chickasaw Cultural Center, in Sulphur, Okla.

2. Ghost Dance

The ghost dance is performed to symbolize the regeneration of Earth and the spiritual reward of the Earth’s caretakers into a carefree, exalted state of bliss. Unlike other forms of Native American dance, the ghost dance is fairly unstructured, asking only that the participants move in a manner to awaken the spirits of their deceased ancestors and communicate with them. This gives the dancers closure and courage despite the death of these loved ones. Unfortunately, the ghost dance has a tragic association, since it was the very one Indians were performing when American soldiers gunned them down at the Battle of Wounded Knee.

3. Sun Dance

The sun dance ceremony symbolizes the eternal continuity of life. This ceremony was practiced by several different tribes and was often considered one of the most important religious ceremonies of Plains Indians in the 19th century. Sun dances were held every year during the summer solstice and lasted four to eight days – beginning and ending at sunset. This not only symbolized the infinite cycle of life, but also its connection to and dependency on nature.

4. Grass Dance

One of the oldest tribal dances known today is the Native American grass dance, which mimics the quiet swaying movements of grass when the wind blows. This movement is emphasized with headdresses, fringes and ribbons on the dancers’ costumes. Another form of the grass dance involves dancing intentionally to flatten the grass and prepare the ground for a tribal ceremony. This grass-flattening technique also symbolizes victory over the enemy.

Native Americans have used dance as a way to connect with each other and honor longstanding traditions. Dance is an important part of socialization, as well as preservation of fascinating and distinct cultures.

This is a guest post by Cassandra Lynne who is an avid traveler and adventure seeker. When she’s not writing, she enjoys spending her time outdoors hiking and camping with her pup, Joy. Follow her on Twitter @goodmorningblog.

 

The Grand Staircase of the Titanic

Date: December 20, 2012 Author: Guest Post Comments: 1 Reply

The Titanic was constructed over a period of three years in Belfast by Harland & Wolf and made its ill-fated maiden voyage in April 1912. White Star Lines built the ship intending it to be the last word in size, safety, modern technology and luxury. The ship was indeed the largest passenger vessel to have been built but sadly did not live up to the theory that it was unsinkable as the ship famously went down after a collision with an iceberg with the tragic loss of 1502 passengers and crew. The vessel was certainly, however, the most refined and luxurious ship to have graced the oceans and probably the most enduring symbol of this opulence is the Grand Staircase.

Construction

There were actually two grand staircases constructed on the ship but it is the forward staircase immortalised in James Cameron’s film Titanic which has become the iconic symbol of the vessel. The staircase was for the use of the first class passengers and descended 5 decks from the first class entrance to the lower accommodation decks, lounges and dining room. It was constructed of polished oak and featured gilded balustrades and beautiful wrought iron railings. The 60ft high, 16ft wide staircase featured a mix of architectural influences with the oak panelling being of English William and Mary style and the ironwork reminiscent of the French Louis XIV period. There was a clock at the top of the staircase representing “Honour and glory crowning time” and the whole construction was lit by a huge glass dome overhead which allowed natural light to flood in. At the foot of the Grand Staircase there was a statue of a cherub which was later rescued from the wreck and now resides in a private collection.

Watery Grave

Sadly the opulent Titanic resided on the ocean floor for 73 years before its discovery in 1985. The ship was found to have split in half with the stern having almost completely disintegrated. The forward portion of the vessel was surprisingly intact but the Giant Staircase had completely disappeared. No one will ever know its fate as it could have become detached from the structure and floated away to be destroyed or it could have simply been eaten away. All that remains is a large hole which is now used to access the lower decks by exploratory submarine vehicles.

Visiting the Staircase

If you wish to see the Grand Staircase today then the only option is to visit one of two impressive replicas which have been built. The first can be found in the “Titanic The Artefact” exhibition in the Luxor Hotel, Las Vegas. The exhibition tells the story of the ship using over 300 genuine Titanic artefacts recovered from the wreck and has the reconstructed staircase as its stunning centrepiece. It has received over 20 million visitors to date and will be open until 2018. You can also see the Grand Staircase at the Titanic Belfast building in the re-developed Titanic Quarter of the city. The building houses a museum and elegant conference facilities with the staircase being constructed in the Astor Suite, a 750 seat banqueting hall. The siting of the staircase has caused controversy as it is not part of the museum tour and can thus only be seen whilst attending an event in the conference centre.

Icon

Sadly the Grand Staircase is gone forever and lives on only in photographs from the time and the ghostly images of the wreck which show a gaping hole where the staircase once stood. Even the replicas cannot recreate the opulence of the original setting and the spirit of the Titanic.

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This article was written by Stacey in cooperation with National Furniture UK, who bring the nation high quality wooden furniture at truly excellent prices.