Adjustable Bases Sculpture

Dear Art Lover,

    

     I mentioned in the last post that the legless-ness of the giant horse bronze sculpture made me wonder if the artist Gustavo Aceves intended to exhibit this piece closer to the ground or perhaps “floating” above water, as if the horse’s legs were submerged.

     In any event, the massive base elevating this sculpture is very interesting.  Having been married to an engineer, as well as having done a lot of weekend-type shows to sell my beeswax candles and later, my art, I have been fascinated with collapsing furniture design.  Or at least, flexible, in the sense of how to use it.  You might imagine how expensive it must be to create a support structure for every single public and temporary art exhibit a city might have. 

     So, look at the design of this base.  The strong rectangular beams are supported on round columns every so often.  Yet, they may attach in several different angles due to the pie-shaped wedges on the top of each pier.  Simple, wonderful, versatile!  Great.  Painted black, the support beams are almost ignored by the brain as far as aesthetics of the art go, but physically imposing enough to keep the viewer at a natural distance for protection of all concerned.  You may note that the leveling on the ground is done simply by adding slabs of plywood as needed to keep the pillars on the same plane.

Related posts:

http://artbyborsheim.blogspot.it/2017/11/gustavo-aceves-horse-sculpture.html

http://artbyborsheim.blogspot.it/2017/10/gustavo-aceves-lapidarium-sculpture.html

Today, I would like to show you one of my pastel drawings.  Bologna, Italy, is famous for its porticos [covered walkways] and I was fascinated my first time in that city by how small this man I drew looked beside and within the architecture.  This image gives me peace and also curiosity, as I wondered what he was watching or thinking.  I liked also his child-like pose.  I hope that you do, too.

 

Shown Unframed, but comes with Museum Glass, frame, and mat

Please contact me if you are interested in this artwork.

"Pensive in Bologna"
23" x 17"
Pastel on Wallis Pro Paper
by Kelly Borsheim

$1500
[Framed with offset white mat, black wood frame, & Museum Glass, a non-reflective glass]

For close up views of the original art, click on this link:
http://www.borsheimarts.com/pastels/2010/PensiveInBologna.htm

Peace and thank you,

Kelly Borsheim, artist

http://BorsheimArts.com

Architecture San Pancrazio Marino Marini Museum

Dear Art Lover,

Entrance designed to enhance sculpture

     This post about the Museo Marino Marini of the sculptures and drawings of the late Tuscan artist Marino Marini (1901-1980) will focus on the architecture of the building in central Florence, Italy.  The space was once the church of San Pancrazio [a saint that I have never heard of, but to be fair, that is not unusual for me] and it is located in a piazza [open square] of the same name. 

     The Romanesque church dates back to the 9th-11th century AD.  It was reconstructed in the seventeenth and early nineteenth centuries.  At some point, probably in the late 1900s, it was deconsecrated, and redesigned for public use, especially cultural activity.  It was donated to the City of Florence in 1980.  Marino Marini was from Pistoia, a Tuscan city [this year it was awarded the City of Culture in Italy and many events were happening in this jewel of a town that I have yet to visit].  In any case, Marino Marini spent enough time working in Florence that the Florentines decided to honor him with a museum permanently showcasing his works, while the underground floor hosts guest artists.  There is another Marino Marini museum in Pistoia.

      The restoration work of the ancient church, reconstructed in the seventeenth and early nineteenth centuries, devoted to civilian purposes, which had profoundly changed its appearance, were initiated in 1982 and concluded in 1986.

Angled catwalks to different levels.

     Architects Lorenzo Papi and Bruno Sacchi were responsible for the re-design of the space.  I understand their changes started in 1982 [the year that I graduated high school and one of my sisters was born while I started at university].  It ended in 1986.  If you did not know this had been a church, you might not think of it.  Although I believe that the high ceiling dome [over where the altar would have been], with its half-decayed fresco, is perhaps your biggest clue.  Read more on the Wikipedia page link below if you are interested in their description of how the architecture was changed and what the architects wanted to emphasize about the work of the Italian sculptor.


    The wooden “catwalks” and angular balconies and overall design are a contrast to the graceful curves in the former place of worship, but perhaps are a transition between what I found to be the harsh straight lines and angles in many of Marini’s compositions.  I think the teak-colored wood and rusty/burgundy accent colors are peaceful and a good compliment to the whitewashed walls and some grey stone [pietra serena] of the building.  Nice to see sculpture from many viewpoints. I hope that you enjoy some of my snapshots during my recent visit.

I could live here or at least work ;-) 

Curves and angles make the world a more interesting place!

I like it that they kept some of the history of the place.

. . . and tried to hide the "modernization," although this looks about from 1980s.

The top catwalk shows drawings and a hint of the dome fresco.

I love these steep stairs that go to the windows.

Past posts on the same subject:

The sculptures by Marino Marini in Florence, Italy:

http://artbyborsheim.blogspot.it/2017/10/marino-marini-sculptures.html

The drawings by Marino Marini:

http://artbyborsheim.blogspot.it/2017/10/marino-marini-drawings.html

Helpful related links:

http://museomarinomarini.it/

https://www.visitflorence.com/florence-museums/museum-marino-marini.html

https://www.visittuscany.com/en/ideas/ancient-modern-and-contemporary-the-marino-marini-museum/

Happy birthday to my charming and dancing niece, Elyse!

Peace,

Kelly Borsheim, artist

http://BorsheimArts.com

P.S. IF original art, while affordable, is STILL a bit out of your budget, or the piece you adored has sold?  Or do you like arty things in different formats, to surround yourself with art?  Looking for a gift?  See my store online for pillow, phone cases, shower curtains, towels, tote bags, and yes, even prints on metal, wood, canvas, and so much more:

https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/1-kelly-borsheim.html

Murals Skadarlija Belgrade Serbia

Dear Art lover,

     This post is about the murals I saw in Belgrade (Beograd), Serbia.  It is by no means any serious list since I only spent half a day there and most of that was spent in the Nikola Tesla Museum and later drinking wine with three friends.   This first one lends a peaceful air to the neighborhood.  I enjoyed its pastel round shapes contrasting with the square windows and forms of the buildings.

 

     This second and third images are not actually murals.  The first appears to be something like giant pieces of corkboard over the windows, but it gives a feeling of having pictoral elements.  The second is a restaurant on a famous street called Skadarlija.  It is the oldest street there, I believe.  The cobblestones feel like a massage on the feet.   Anyway, I thought the repetitive use of small flower boxes going vertical had a charming effect.   This next is another restaurant on the other side of the street.  Also, not really a “real” mural, but pretty.  [I did make a disclaimer that this is not an exhaustive list, right?]

 

     This next series is of an ambitiously large mural consisting of painted buildings on real buildings.  I hope you enjoy.  This mural is also on the Skadarlija Street in Belgrade, Serbia.

Kickstarter update:  19 backers have now helped me raise 29% of the funds needed to give the foundry.  Two people have even increased their original pledges!  $3,350 of a goal of $11,500.  Thank you and let us go for the other 71% please!  https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/borsheimarts/casting-call-im-melting-melting-into-bronze/

Casting Call: I’m Melting . . . Melting! Into Bronze

Destroy to Create: Melted wax sacrificed to pour bronze sculpture. Hot art: Make it happen before these wax figures are truly lost.

Thank you so much for helping me make some bronze art a reality,

Kelly

~ Kelly Borsheim, sculptor, painter, writer, teacher

http://BorsheimArts.com

P.S.  This art post is dedicated to my Aunt Annie, who left us last night.

Architecture Belgrade Serbia

Dear Art lover,

     Beograd means “white city” in the Serbian language.  My friends there explained the origin of the name comes from the impression of travelers after a long journey as they came upon the city.  I had thought it might be something similar to the case of the “Black Sea,” which is named for the dark color of the water created by an abundance of dark green plants in it.  But I had also been told that it was a contrast to the nearby “White Sea,” which long ago was given another name.

       Today I want to share just some of the architecture with you that I saw in Beograd.  My friend Biljana and I rode the bus for a brief day trip on a Saturday afternoon.  The first two images are views I took while waiting to change buses in Pancevo; the rest are from Beograd.  Biljana is like many of my friends:  very patient with me.  I cannot ever seem to just walk directly anywhere.  My eyes are constantly noticing shapes, color, and textures.  My companions often find themselves walking ahead of me and then turning to wait for me to recover from many distractions.  Enjoy these snapshots.

Kickstarter update:  19 backers have now helped me raise 29% of the funds needed to give the foundry.  Two people have even increased their original pledges!  $3,350 of a goal of $11,500.  Thank you and let us go for the other 71% please!  https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/borsheimarts/casting-call-im-melting-melting-into-bronze/

 

     You may participate in my attempt to raise funds to pay a bronze casting foundry, even if you cannot pledge, by helping to spread the word to your contacts, but also... Leave a comment on my Kickstarter project page site.  Or ask a question.  Activity from many sources helps the Kickstarter staff see interest and they may choose my project as a favorite, getting it better seen amongst their funding clients.  thank you so much! 

CastingCall: I’m Melting . . . Melting! Into Bronze

Destroy to Create: Melted wax sacrificed to pour bronze sculpture. Hot art: Make it happen before these wax figures are truly lost.

Thank you so much for helping me make some bronze art a reality,

Kelly

~ Kelly Borsheim, sculptor, painter, writer, teacher

http://BorsheimArts.com