A Long Look Podcast

Welcome back to "A Long Look!" For the rest of the season, I'll be presenting paintings from the Evans-Tibbs Collection, one of the most important collections of works by Black artists in America.

It was the mission of Thurlow Evans Tibbs Jr. to raise the profile of Black artists by collecting and exhibiting their work in his Washington DC gallery from the 1970s through the early '90s and by documenting their careers in an enormous archive. He inherited his love of art from his grandmother, known as Madam Evanti, the first professional African American opera singer to perform internationally.

Joining me in this introductory episode is Tibbs scholar Sandy Bellamy, an adjunct art history professor at Howard University and manager of the Percent for Art Commissions program run by the Washington DC Department of General Services. Sandy takes us through the fascinating history of the collection, and the rich legacy of Black art scholarship born at Howard University decades earlier.

SHOW NOTES

"A Long Look" theme is "Ascension" by Ron Gelinas youtu.be/jGEdNSNkZoo

Episode theme is "Opportunity Walks" by Kevin MacLeod. https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4173-opportunity-walks http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Artwork information https://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/special/american-art-evans-tibbs.html

https://www.nga.gov/content/dam/ngaweb/exhibitions/pdfs/2019/the-evans-tibbs-archive-of-african-american-art.pdf (PDF)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1997/01/17/art-dealer-thurlow-evans-tibbs-jr-dies/fb689a7d-8032-4c9f-a325-b66dce0490fa/

Digitized Evans-Tibbs archive items https://library.nga.gov/discovery/collectionDiscovery?vid=01NGA_INST:NGA&collectionId=8153325980004896

BOOKS MENTIONED The New Negro, Alain Locke

Modern Negro Art, James Porter

This colorful panel painting depicts an episode early in Jesus's career–the moment he called Peter and his brother Andrew to join his ministry. It was part of an enormous altarpiece for the cathedral of Siena.

We'll find out what prompted the cathedral powers to hire Duccio, Siena's top artist and how innovative he was in depicting stories of Mary and Jesus's lives. And we meet a few friendly fish!

SHOW NOTES

"A Long Look" theme is "Ascension" by Ron Gelinas youtu.be/jGEdNSNkZoo

Episode theme is "Canzona 'La Foresta' (For 2 Trumpets and 2 Trombones – Rondeau)" composed by Giovanni Cavaccio. Performed by Michel Rondeau. Courtesy of musopen.org

https://musopen.org/music/33104-canzona-la-foresta/

https://musopen.org/music/performer/michel-rondeau/

Artwork information Miklós Boskovits (1935–2011), "Duccio di Buoninsegna/The Calling of the Apostles Peter and Andrew/1308-1311," Italian Paintings of the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries, NGA Online Editions, https://purl.org/nga/collection/artobject/282 (accessed May 17, 2020).

Maestà information https://smarthistory.org/duccio-maesta/

https://operaduomo.siena.it/en/sites/museum/

Duccio information https://www.britannica.com/biography/Duccio

The post The Calling of the Apostles Peter and Andrew by Duccio di Buoninsegna appeared first on A Long Look.

Salomon van Ruysdael absolutely nails the feeling of optimism, enjoyment, maybe even relief, as his fellow Dutch citizens ferry across a river on a soft spring evening. They're setting out to explore their hard-won, brand new Dutch Republic. You might remember from a previous episode about their war for independence against Spain, they spent 80 years fighting for this moment.

We'll find out the ferry might have meant more than just transportation to these folks and how it came to the Gallery after a long restitution battle.

SHOW NOTES

"A Long Look" theme is "Ascension" by Ron Gelinas youtu.be/jGEdNSNkZoo

Episode theme is "The Four Seasons, Op. 8" composed by Antonio Vivaldi. Performed by the Modena Chamber Orchestra https://musopen.org/music/performer/the-modena-chamber-orchestra/composer/antonio-vivaldi/

Artwork information Arthur K. Wheelock Jr., "Salomon van Ruysdael/River Landscape with Ferry/1649," Dutch Paintings of the Seventeenth Century, NGA Online Editions, https://www.nga.gov/research/publications/online-editions/dutch-paintings-seventeenth-century-river-landscape-ferry

Salomon van Ruysdael information https://www.nga.gov/collection/artist-info.18427.html

Goudstikker restitution https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Jacques-Goudstikker-s-recovered-art-2452469.php

https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/22/arts/design/22heir.html

The post River Landscape with Ferry by Salomon van Ruysdael appeared first on A Long Look.

George Inness painted this scene of a train chugging through a bucolic landscape for the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad to commemorate the opening of their big, new train roundhouse in Scranton PA. This hub would allow them to expand service from the Great Lakes to Hoboken NJ, right across the Hudson River from New York City.

We'll find out how George fell in love with painting and how his wife's wisdom prevailed against his artistic pride!

By the way, the Hoboken terminus played a role in another episode, Blue Morning by George Bellows.

SHOW NOTES

"A Long Look" theme is "Ascension" by Ron Gelinas youtu.be/jGEdNSNkZoo

Episode theme is "Over The Water, Humans Gather" by Doctor Turtle https://doctorturtle.bandcamp.com/album/free-turtle-archive-everything-cc-by-by-turtle

Artwork information https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.30776.html

Cikovsky, Nicolai, Jr. "George Inness and the Hudson River School: The Lackawanna Valley." The American Art Journal 2 (Fall 1970): 36-57, repro.

George Inness information "George Inness Artist Overview and Analysis". [Internet]. 2020. TheArtStory.org

Content compiled and written by Sarah Ingram. Edited and revised, with Synopsis and Key Ideas added by Greg Thomas. Available from: https://www.theartstory.org/artist/inness-george/life-and-legacy/

First published on 30 Nov 2019. Updated and modified regularly [Accessed 02 Apr 2020]

Inness, George. Life, Art, and Letters of George Inness. The Century Co., 1917. http://hdl.handle.net/2027/nyp.33433066280367.

Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad information https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delaware,_Lackawanna_and_Western_Railroad

The post The Lackawanna Valley by George Inness appeared first on A Long Look.

To be honest, I wasn't sure how appropriate it would be to start another season of an arts podcast during the Covid-19 pandemic. But the incredibly creative work of so many museums, galleries and people around the world convinced me to join in.

Because the Gallery is closed, I'll be choosing artworks on their site that allow for zooming and panning to see details. As always, you're invited to do the same! I'll include a direct link below the image in each post. The pan and zoom features work best in a desktop or tablet browser.

Looking forward to sharing new long (distance) looks with all of you and hope you stay safe and healthy.

SHOW NOTES

"A Long Look" theme is "Ascension" by Ron Gelinas https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGEdNSNkZoo&feature=youtu.be

The post Season 5 Begins appeared first on A Long Look.

The blossoms are starting to bloom, so "A Long Look" is going on spring break!

If you've been enjoying the show I'd really appreciate if you would spread the word! Personal recommendations are one of the top ways people discover podcasts. Another way you can support the show is by leaving a review or rating on Apple Podcasts or your favorite app.

And don't forget, "A Long Look" can be enjoyed by listeners who are blind or have low vision! They can listen on their iOS devices using Apple Podcasts or the Overcast app. So, if you have friends or relatives who are part of these communities, let them know too!

Thanks to all of you who spend part of your day with "A Long Look"! If you have any questions or comments, I'd love to hear from you! The comments section is just below this post.

SHOW NOTES

"A Long Look" theme is "Ascension" by Ron Gelinas youtu.be/jGEdNSNkZoo

When Berthe Morisot and her sister Edma wanted to learn how to paint, their parents willingly obliged. After all, that was part of an upper-class young woman's education. But when their teacher saw their incredible talent, he warned their mother, "…they will become painters. Are you fully aware of what that means? It will be revolutionary…" And he was right! For a woman to become a professional painter was almost unheard of in 1850s Paris.

But Berthe did it, even after her well-meaning mentor Édouard Manet made some…uh…improvements to this painting just before the deadline for submission to the all-important Salon. Prepare to cringe!

See the artwork at https://www.nga.gov/artworks/46661-mother-and-sister-artist

SHOW NOTES

"A Long Look" theme is "Ascension" by Ron Gelinas youtu.be/jGEdNSNkZoo

Episode theme is "Fauré Nocturne no. 4 in E-flat major, Op. 36" composed by Gabriel Fauré. https://musopen.org/music/7909-nocturne-no-4-in-e-flat-major-op-36/

https://musopen.org/music/performer/european-archive/

https://musopen.org/music/composer/gabriel-faure/

Artwork information https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.46661.html

https://www.artble.com/artists/berthe_morisot/paintings/portrait_of_the_artist's_mother_and_sister

Morisot information Stuckey, Charles F., William P. Scott, and Suzanne G. Lindsay. Berthe Morisot, Impressionist 1st ed. New York: Hudson Hills Press, Mount Holyoke College Art Museum in association with the National Gallery of Art, 1987.

Shennan, Margaret. Berthe Morisot : the First Lady of Impressionism Phoenix Mill: Sutton, 1996.

https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-berthe-morisot-brought-radically-feminine-perspective-impressionism

When Jasper Cropsey painted Autumn – On the Hudson River, he set out to create a breathtaking vista to promote the idea of American grandeur and vast potential. Like Breezing Up (A Fair Wind) by Winslow Homer, it was meant to be optimistic and suggest endless possibilities. Ironic, since it was painted one year before the Civil War started.

We'll find out how Cropsey's talent took him from a Staten Island farm to meeting royalty at St. James Palace and his connection to an elevated railway in Manhattan.

See the artwork at https://alonglookpodcast.com/autumn-on-the-hudson-river-by-jasper-cropsey/

SHOW NOTES

"A Long Look" theme is "Ascension" by Ron Gelinas youtu.be/jGEdNSNkZoo

Episode theme is "Kiss Inflation" by Doctor Turtle. https://doctorturtle.bandcamp.com/

Artwork information https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.46474.html

American Paintings of the Nineteenth Century: Part I (PDF) https://www.nga.gov/content/dam/ngaweb/research/publications/pdfs/american-paintings-19th-century-part-1.pdf

Jasper Cropsey information http://www.newingtoncropsey.com/JFCropsey.html

Gilbert Elevated Railway information https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/01/realestate/01scap-001.html

Ever Rest information http://www.newingtoncropsey.com/EverRest.html

Rene Magritte is one of the best known Surrealist painters and loved turning expectations on their heads. Which could explain A LOT about some of the more unsavory parts of his life!

And we'll find out how he turned a simple view of a front lawn into something mind-blowing!

See La Condition Humaine does not have an open access image available. You can see it at https://www.nga.gov/artworks/70170-la-condition-humaine

SHOW NOTES

"A Long Look" theme is "Ascension" by Ron Gelinas youtu.be/jGEdNSNkZoo

Episode theme is "Menuet antique" composed by Maurice Ravel. Performed by Luis Sarro. Courtesy of musopen.org

https://musopen.org/music/4704-menuet-antique/

https://musopen.org/music/performer/luis-sarro/

https://musopen.org/music/composer/maurice-ravel/

Artwork information https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.70170.html

Magritte information Morris, Desmond. The Lives of the Surrealists London;: Thames & Hudson, 2018.

Elliott, Patrick. Another World : Dalí, Magritte, Míro and the Surrealists. Edinburgh: National Galleries of Scotland, 2010. Print.

What You Need to Know about René Magritte (Artsy article) https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-rene-magritte

René and Georgette Magritte with Their Dog After the War, Paul Simon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lj5RgpgfPE

It's Christmas and that means it's time to look at another of the Gallery's gorgeous Annunciation paintings. The elaborate inlay work decorating almost every square inch of this Renaissance room almost makes you miss the main event! Masolino has chosen to show the moment after Gabriel's astounding news but before Mary's response.

We'll find out why the room is so tilted and the real reason behind Mary's silence.

See the artwork at https://www.nga.gov/artworks/18-annunciation

SHOW NOTES

"A Long Look" theme is "Ascension" by Ron Gelinas youtu.be/jGEdNSNkZoo

Episode theme is "Angeli, Archangeli" composed by Andrea Gabrieli. Performed by Michel Rondeau. Courtesy of musopen.org.

https://musopen.org/music/43293-angeli-archangeli/

https://musopen.org/music/performer/michel-rondeau/

https://musopen.org/music/composer/andrea-gabrieli/

Artwork information https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.18.html

Tempera painting (video) https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/special-topics-art-history/creating-conserving/painting-materials-techniques/v/tempera-paint

Mary pose information https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2018/11/30/pregnant-pause-mary-and-annunciation

"Christmas Story in Art" (video) https://www.nga.gov/global-site-search-page.html?searchterm=christmas%20story%20in%20art&category=Audio%2FVideo&pageNumber=1&lastFacet=category

SUGGESTED READING Color: A Natural History of the Palette by Victoria Finley