Paradise of a Thousand Shingles

The Answers:

Keith wins. He got two answers right, and had mostly correct reasoning about why he guessed what he did. After that, all the rest of you only got one right except Andrew who was 100% wrong. Since I should be doing homework, here are the answers more quickly than our more bored readers might like.

Da Vinci's Madonna was mine. I do love the lighting, but more than that I love how Leonardo toned down the usual glorified enthroned Madonna and approached Mary's status as a peasant. I love how St. Anne's face is lined and tired. I love the symbolism of Christ holding the lamb. And the composition itself is lovely. But it still has a pictorial portrayal of Christ, and since I have second commandment issues I shouldn't like this painting. And I don't like that part of it.

Mia likes the Dali painting because "What everyone sees isn't necessarily the same. At first glance one person might see something, but another might see something else." We were surprised that Mia liked this painting, because it wasn't realistic, and was almost abstract. Mia counters that the painting makes you think, and there's no reason not to like it.

Sara chose Bernini's sculpture. I love it too, but you guys are still too prone to assign anything classical to me. We're trickier than that. This sculpture is awesome because, Sara says, "It's so realistically beautiful in all the details." The reason it isn't mine is there is no reason I shouldn't like it. I've taken a full semester of Greek art, and partially draped stone figures don't bother me anymore. Sara, on the other hand, still "groans with discontent" when our neighbors run around our back yard playing football without shirts.

And, from process of elimination, by now you know that Jessica picked American Gothic. "It speaks for itself. Just go to the Art Institute in Chicago and you'll understand. The .jpeg doesn't accurately portray the real true, like, awesomeness of it." Whatever. It's kind of ugly. And the reason Jess shouldn't like it is it isn't abstract, and Jess's aesthetic tastes are somewhat limited, as she won't take art history until next semester, so she only likes abstract art. And she especially dislikes art with people in it, unless "they're awesome like this one."

Now we at Shingle Paradise are going to eat a vegetarian dinner. Mmmmm. Then we are going to Shingle Paradise #17 for Bible study. So I'm done.

Labels: art, contest

Art we like that you wouldn't think we would like

Dear readers, today we have another exciting contest for you. This one might prove to be a bit difficult even to those of you who know us quite well (actually, especially for you, come to think of it).

In this contest, each of us Shingle Paradise residents has picked a favorite piece of artwork that no one would think we like. For each piece, there is a specific reason why we shouldn't like it (for example, if Sara only likes paintings portraying animals, hers might be a portrait. Conversely, if Mia generally detests Cubism, hers would be the one and only Cubist piece that she likes). In your comments, please say which piece you think each girl has chosen, as well as why you think she wouldn't like it.

Now, dear readers, feast your eyes (actually, in my opinion, only one is a "feast"):

Number One

Virgin and Child with Saint Anne, Leonardo Da Vinci

Number Two

Apparition of Face and a Fruit Dish on a Beach, Salvador Dali

Number Three

Apollo and Daphne, Gian Lorenzo Bernini

Number Four

American Gothic, Grant Wood

Labels: art, contest

Artwork

Today we have a very exciting contest. Each of us Shingle Paradise girls has selected a favorite piece of romance-inspired artwork. Ranging from photography to modern art, I am sure you can appreciate the aesthetic qualities of these fine pieces of art. However, whether or not you can determine which girl has picked which piece is as of yet undetermined.

Artwork Number One