LGBTQ+ Pride Month

To celebrate LGBTQ+ contributions to contemporary art for Pride Month, Torrance Art Museum presents a selection of artwork that examines the nuanced and varied queer experience.

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Stephen Tayo, Chale Wote Festival, 2018

https://www.dazeddigital.com/art-photography/article/41392/1/stephen-tayo-ghana-photographing-beautiful-boys-street-style-chale-wote-festival

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David Wojnarowicz, “Untitled (One day this kid . . .)”, 1990

https://whitney.org/exhibitions/david-wojnarowicz

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Mickalene Thomas, Le Dejeuner sur l’Herbe: Les Trois Femmes Noir, 2010

https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/a29762435/mickalene-thomas-artist-interview/

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Gabriel Garcia Roman, Emanuel Xavier, 2015

https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2015/05/28/409770203/not-your-mothers-catholic-frescoes-radiant-portraits-of-queer-people-of-color

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Peter Hujar, Candy Darling on Her Deathbed, 1973

https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-peter-hujar-captured-lover-friends-subversive-photographs

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Andy Warhol, Ladies and Gentlemen (Marsha P. Johnson), 1975

https://www.artic.edu/exhibitions/2937/andy-warhol-from-a-to-b-and-back-again

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Wu Tsang, Wildness 2012

https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern/charming-revolution-congress-gender-talents-and-wildness/wu-tsang-wildness/bar

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T.M. Davy, This Marram, 2019

https://gayletter.com/tm-davy-this-marram-van-doren-waxter/

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Diana Davies, Gay Rights Demonstration, Albany, NY, 1971

https://www.columbusmuseum.org/stonewall/

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Marco DaSilva, Of Water, 2019

https://www.instagram.com/quaintstruggle/

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Mark Beard, [Bruce Sargeant (1898-1938)] Seven Gymnasts on the Ropes, n.d.

https://hyperallergic.com/467481/bruce-sargeant-1898-1938-the-lost-murals/

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Max Colby, Untitled (Tom), 2017

https://www.wassaicproject.org/artists/artist-profiles/list/max-colby

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Kendrick Daye, nothing can compare , 2020

https://kulturehub.com/kendrick-daye-motivation/

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Salman Toor, The Beating, 2019

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/23/arts/design/salman-toor-whitney-museum.html

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Catherine Opie, Flipper, Tanya, Chloe, & Harriet, San Francisco, California, 1995

https://youtu.be/v6gdjAaWCf8

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Read:

Queer Quarterly: Celebrating Queer Art, Thought, & Voices

https://queerquarterly.com/

“Five stories of Queer Artists”
https://www.tate.org.uk/art/list/five-stories-queer-artists 

“Something I Saw” a daily art newsletter from a queer perspective

https://somethingisaw.substack.com/

“How the Rainbow Flag Became a Universal Symbol of Gay Rights”

https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-rainbow-flag-universal-symbol-gay-rights 

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Watch:

“Chicano artist, Ruben Esparza, reproduces historic LGBTQ protest signs”

https://abc7.com/ruben-esparza-chicano-latino-queer/5368627/ 

“Keith Haring:Street Art Boy”

https://www.thirteen.org/programs/american-masters/keith-haring-street-art-boy-x9skqg/ 

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View:

“Angela Davis: OUTspoken” rare posters and ephemera from the Lisbet Tellefsen Collection are brought together to showcase the life of queer Black freedom fighter Angela Davis (online)

https://www.glbthistory.org/angela-davis 

“Reigning Queens: The Lost Photos of Roz Joseph” photographs by Roz Joseph are assembled to document San Francisco’s drag culture in the mid-1970s (online)
https://www.glbthistory.org/reigning-queens

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Additional Resources:

LGBTQ+ Online Safety Guide from VPN Mentor

https://www.vpnmentor.com/blog/lgbtq-guide-online-safety/

QUEER|ART: non-profit arts organization 

https://www.queer-art.org/

GLAAD Resource List 

https://www.glaad.org/resourcelist 

One City One Pride LGBTQ Arts Fesitival in West Hollywood

https://pride.weho.org/

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month 2021

In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month,Torrance Art Museum examines the contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans to contemporary art.

Nam June Paik, TV Buddha, 1974

https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern/exhibition/nam-june-paik

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Masami Teraoka, How Japan Does It, 1981

https://cclarkgallery.com/artists/bios/masami-teraoka

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Tiffany Chung, Reconstruction of an Exodus History, 2017

http://www.trfineart.com/artist/tiffany-chung/#bio

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Kio Griffith, Versus (series): Pikamoto and Tarosso, 2020

https://www.instagram.com/vinylgorilla/?hl=en

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Stephanie H. Shih, Kikkoman Soy Sauce, 2019

http://hifructose.com/2019/11/13/stephanie-h-shihs-ceramics-pull-from-the-asian-american-pantry/

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Kota Ezawa, National Anthem (Miami Dolphins), 2019

https://whitney.org/media/42870

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Kenyatta Kelechi, Fukumitsu Ohana, 2020

https://halekulaniliving.tv/arts/modern-age/

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James Jean, Adrift III, 2020

https://avantarte.com/artists/james-jean/

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Toshiko Takaezu, Three Graces, 1994

https://www.toshikotakaezufoundation.org/about-toshiko/

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Maile Andrade, Observation without Judgement, 2012

https://sarweb.org/preciousness-is-making-andrade/

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Dinh Q. Lê, Crossing the Farther Shore, 2014

https://sjmusart.org/exhibition/dinh-q-le-true-journey-return

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Annie Wong, 一百鬼-100-ghosts, 2021

https://www.thenewgallery.org/%e4%b8%80%e7%99%be%e9%ac%bc-100-ghosts/

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Dianna Settles, All Things Are Dear That Disappear (Yoon, A Joint, Hainanese Chicken), 2020

https://www.instagram.com/platonicyouth/?hl=en

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Andrew Hem, Quiet, 2015

https://nohwave.co/Andrew-Hem

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Raina J. Lee, Immersive Flowerscape, 2020

https://spectrumnews1.com/ca/la-west/arts/2020/10/13/ceramicist-turns-backyard-treehouse-into-art-gallery

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Read: 

“Asian-American Artists, Now Activists, Push Back Against Hate” by Aruna D’Souza

The New York Times article about artists using their artwork to respond to the recent string of hate crimes against the Asian American community 

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/18/arts/design/asian-american-artists-activism.html

Do: 

City of Los Angeles Heritage Month Celebrations

The Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs highlights events, both online and in-person, celebrating “Asian Pacific American Heritage Month”.

https://culturela.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/DCA-2021-APAHM-Calendar-and-Cultural-Guide-FINAL-5-3-21.pdf 

See:

Chinese American Museum

The museum, located in LA’s Chinatown, is once again open to the public and has a mix of both online resources as well as in person exhibits. 

https://camla.org/ 

Avenue 50 Studio: ON BECOMING, presented by Proud Asian Women+

May 15 @ 2:00 PM - June 12 @ 2:00 PM

http://avenue50studio.org/event/on-becoming

Additional Resources:

Organizations dedicated to supporting Asian American Artists

The Asian American Arts Alliance

https://www.aaartsalliance.org/ 

Asian American Women Artists Association

https://www.aawaa.net/ 

Mental Health Month

In honor of Mental Health Month, Torrance Art Museum offers a special edition of “Please Don’t Touch the Art. Materials were compiled by TAM Registrar Hope Ezcurra.

“I used to think I was the strangest person in the world but then I thought there are so many people in the world, there must be someone just like me who feels bizarre and flawed in the same ways I do. I would imagine her, and imagine that she must be out there thinking of me too. Well, I hope that if you are out here and read this and know that, yes, it’s true I’m here and I’m just as strange as you.” – Frida Kahlo

Andrew Wyeth, Christina’s World, 1948

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Read:

Art and Images in Psychiatry

Vincent Van Gogh, Portrait of Dr. Gauchet

A compilation of essays by James C. Harris, MD, Director of the Developmental Neuropsychiatry Clinic and Professor of Psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, exploring the role of the visual arts in representing truths about mental health, coping with illness, trauma and conflict, addressing social stigma, and enriching society's understanding of mental illness

https://sites.jamanetwork.com/art-and-images-in-psychiatry/    

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Jeff Frost, Circle of Abstract Ritual (video still), 2013

View:

Sanctuary of the Aftermath

Presented at the Angels Gate Cultural Center in San Pedro, the exhibition explores works of art that address the transformation of traumatic experiences and creating new channels for connection after the prolonged period of physical separation. It is presented with a virtual online exhibition and available for viewing in person by appointment. The exhibition is presented in conjunction with events of WE RISE LA, an ongoing project of the LA County Department of Mental Health. There is a full roster of artistic events related to address mental health.

https://www.angelsgateart.org/otw_pm_portfolio/sanctuary-of-the-aftermath/ 

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John Everett Millais, Ophelia, 1851-52

Listen:

-Reflecting 'Madness' in Art-

Hosted by Ferren Gipson, the Art Matters podcast brings together popular culture and art history. 

https://www.artuk.org/discover/stories/art-matters-podcast-reflecting-madness-in-art 

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Do:

10 Art Therapy Exercises for Anxiety

If you or someone close to you are suffering from anxiety (as many of us are during the pandemic) may we suggest using one or more of the art therapy exercises to potentially help your mental state. 

https://arttherapyresources.com.au/art-therapy-exercises-anxiety

Art Therapy Activities to Do at Home

While restrictions are starting to be lifted in regards to the CoronaVirus here in the United States, some people are still working from home or due to higher risk factors are still quarantining, here are seven activities that can be done from the comfort and safety of your own home.  

https://stmargaretssportscentre.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Art-Therapy-Activities-to-do-at-Home.pdf  

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Resources:

Important Links and Phone Numbers

If you or someone close to you is suffering from mental health issues, below is a list of resources available:

SAMHSA

This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations for mental health and substance abuse treatment. Callers can also order free publications and other information. 

1-800-662-HELP (4357)

https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline 

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

A national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

1-800-273-TALK (8255)

https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ 

The Trevor Project 

A national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ+ young people.

1-866-488-7386

https://www.thetrevorproject.org/ 

Mental Health First Aid 

Compiled by the National Council for Behavioral Health, this is a comprehensive list of resources for people suffering from a vast gamut of mental health issues.

https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/mental-health-resources/ 

Earth Day Edition

Torrance Art Museum, invites you to celebrate Earth Day with them in their latest installment of “Please Don’t Touch the Art”. Compiled by TAM Registrar, Hope Ezcurra.

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1. Ana Mendieta, Imagen de Yagul, 1973

http://www.drainmag.com/contentNOVEMBER/REVIEWS_INTERVIEWS/Ana_Mendieta_Review.htm

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2. Linda Tegg, Grasslands Repair, 2018

https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2018/09/grasslands-repair-installation/

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3. Helen Mayer Harrison and Newton Harrison,The Seventh Lagoon – The Ring of Fire the Ring of Water, 1984

https://aeon.co/essays/art-lessons-from-the-1970s-for-survival-in-an-ecologically-blighted-worldhttps://aeon.co/essays/art-lessons-from-the-1970s-for-survival-in-an-ecologically-blighted-world

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4. Olafur Eliasson, Riverbed, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Denmark, 2014-2015

https://publicdelivery.org/olafur-eliasson-riverbed/

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5. Wilfrid Almendra, Between the Tree and Seeing It, à Chelles , 2014

https://slash-paris.com/en/evenements/wilfrid-almendra-between-the-tree-and-seeing-it

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6. Pekka Niittyvirta and Timo Aho, Lines (57° 59′ N, 7° 16’W), 2019

https://medium.com/world-ocean-forum/a-stunning-art-installation-showing-projected-sea-level-rise-fc05ef1825cd

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7. El Anatsui, fresh and fading memories’, 2007

https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/el-anatsui-17306/who-is-el-anatsui

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8. Anthony James, Birch Cube, 2007

https://www.fastcompany.com/1663412/breathtaking-sculptures-depict-infinite-forests

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9. Jack Henry,Untitled (ALR Series), 2019

https://www.brownstoner.com/brooklyn-life/brooklyn-art-jack-henry-bushwick-magazine-sculpture-environmental/

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10. Pia Siren, Mountain Landscape, 2011

http://www.startpointprize.eu/2011/artists/pia-siren

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11. Mark Dion & William Schefferine,Tropical Rain Forest Preserves’, 1989, remade 2003

https://www.manoftheworld.com/blog/2019/4/9/curious-by-nature-into-the-wild-with-assemblage-artist-mark-dion

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12. Serge Attukwei Clottey , The Wishing Well, 2021 in Coachella Valley.

https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2021/03/serge-attukwei-clottey-wishing-well/

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13. Doug Aitken, The Garden, 2017

http://www.designboom.com/art/doug-aitken-garden-aros-triennial-aarhus-denmark-06-02-2017/

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14. Hong Yichen/Guo Yihui/Zheng Yudi, Pure Sewage Ice Making Plant, 2017

https://m.facebook.com/pg/PollutedWaterPopsicles/about/?ref=page_internal&mt_nav=0

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15. Pipilotti Rist, 4th Floor to Mildness, 2016

https://hyperallergic.com/334093/the-extravagant-intimacy-of-pipilotti-rist/

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16. Pierre Huyghe , The Roof Garden Commission: at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2015

https://observer.com/2015/05/pierre-huyghe-on-why-he-chose-to-dig-up-the-mets-roof-garden/

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17. Agnes Denes, “Tree Mountain – A Living Time Capsule – 11,000 Trees, 11,000 People, 400 Years (Triptych),” (1992–96, 2013)

tinyurl.com/45zr6dum

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18. Allison Janae Hamilton, Wacissa (still), 2019

https://hyperallergic.com/505274/the-southern-gothic-moods-of-allison-janae-hamilton/

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19. Mel Chin, Revival Field, 1991

https://walkerart.org/magazine/mel-chin-revival-field-peter-boswell-rufus-chaney-eco-art

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20. Rob Mulholland, Skytower, 2014

https://sculptor.org/rob-mulholland/skytower-sculpture-for-sale-by-artist-rob-mulholland/

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21. Banksy, Subject to Availability, 2009

https://news.artnet.com/market/banksy-christies-1958577/amp-page

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Read: 

“A Short History of Environmental Art.” by Susanne Darabas

Green Art Collection, 2014. Environment & Society Portal (Rachel Carson Center for Environment and Society)  http://www.environmentandsociety.org/node/6806

http://www.environmentandsociety.org/sites/default/files/key_docs/darabas_history_green_art_0.pdf 

“A Rough Guide to Environmental Art” by John E. Thornes

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham,

Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom; email: j.e.thornes@bham.ac.uk

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228268551_A_Rough_Guide_to_Environmental_Art 

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Watch: 

KQED Arts and the Environment collection

KQED Arts collections have been created to help educators find the best arts-focused PBS resources to enrich learning experiences and integrate the arts into classroom curricula of all subjects.

https://ca.pbslearningmedia.org/collection/art-and-the-environment/ 

Additional Resources:

Organizations dedicated to exploring the intersection of arts & climate change

https://artistsandclimatechange.com/organizations/ 

IN BLOOM - April 2021

The Torrance Art Museum presents artwork that either is about, inspired by, or uses imagery related to the vernal season. Happy Spring everyone.

Selected by TAM Registrar, Hope Ezcurra

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1. Nick Cave, Arm Peace, 2018

https://jackshainman.com/artists/nick_cave

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2. Reneé Magritte, Le plagiat (Plagiary), 1940

https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-5650365

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3. Matthew Barney, Cremaster 5, 1997.

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2015/jul/14/matthew-barney-cremaster-cycle-art-film

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4. Diana Thater, Peonies, 2011

https://vimeo.com/channels/dianathater/111302655

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5. David Hockney, Image of Springtime in Normandy, 2020

https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-52109901

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6. Gustav Klimt, Bauerngarten, 1907

https://www.gustav-klimt.com/Bauerngarten.jsp

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7. Makoto, Exobiotanica 2, 2016

http://exobiotanica.com/award/

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8. Gerda Steiner & Jörg Lenzlinger, Falling Garden, 2003

https://www.yellowtrace.com.au/falling-garden-gerda-steiner-jorg-lenzlinger/

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9. Claude Monet, Nymphéas [Water Lilies], 1914-1918

https://www.musee-orangerie.fr/en/article/water-lilies-virtual-visit

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10. Ignacio Canales Aracil, The Fragility of Time 2, 2010

https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2015/01/delicate-vessels-sculpted-with-pressed-flowers-by-ignacio-canales-aracil/

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11. Myoung Ho Lee, Tree . . . #2, 2011

https://thetrustees.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/PLATFORM-26-Lee-final.pdf

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12. Ebony G. Patterson, …below the crows, a blue purse sits between the blades, shoes among the petals, a cockerel comes to witness…, 2019

https://www.halesgallery.com/artists/98-ebony-g.-patterson/overview/

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13. Georgia O'Keeffe. Flower Abstraction, 1924

https://whitney.org/exhibitions/georgia-o-keeffe

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14. Kapwani Kiwanga, ‘Flowers for Africa (Nigeria)’, 2014

https://www.1-54.com/london/interview-with-kapwani-kiwanga/

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15. Elias van den Broek, Still Life With Roses, 1670-1708

https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/collection/SK-A-1463

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International Women's Day

Torrance Art Museum, in honor of International Women's Day 2021, presents 21 works of art by women artists. 

Selected by TAM Registrar, Hope Ezcurra

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1. Phaan Howng, Niagra, 2018.
https://www.phaan.com/installations/niagara/1

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2. Kara Walker, Exodus of Confederates from Atlanta from Harper's Pictorial History of the Civil War (Annotated), 2005.

https://www.moma.org/collection/works/101821

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3. Shoplifter, Nervescape IV, 2015

https://mymodernmet.com/hrafnhildur-arnardottir-shoplifter-installation-art/

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4. Barbara Kruger, Untitled (No), from the Untitled Portfolio, 1985

https://www.si.edu/object/untitled-no-untitled-portfolio:saam_1986.50H

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5. Nancy Spero, Nancy Spero letter to Lucy R. Lippard, 1971

https://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/items/detail/nancy-spero-letter-to-lucy-r-lippard-6597

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6. Louise Nevelson, Dream House XXXII, 1972

https://hirshhorn.tumblr.com/post/141089436419/louise-nevelson-dream-house-xxxii-1972-nevelson

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7. Kate Just, Feminist Fan #20 (Nan Goldin, Nan, one month after being battered 1984), 2016.

https://www.airgallery.org/artists/kate-just

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8. Sarah Maple, FIGHTING FIRE WITH FIRE NO.2, 2020

https://www.sarahmaple.com/

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9. Mana Morimoto, Untitled, 2013

https://manamorimoto.tumblr.com/

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10. Jenny Saville, Strategy, 1994

https://www.artsy.net/series/artworks-changed-lives/artsy-editorial-artwork-changed-life-jenny-savilles-strategy

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11. Yayoi Kusama, Light of Life, 2018

https://learn.ncartmuseum.org/artwork/light-of-life/

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12. Shirin Neshat, Rapture, 1999

https://www.moma.org/collection/works/290434?artist_id=281&page=1&sov_referrer=artist

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13. Wangechi Mutu, You were always on my mind, 2007

https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/wangechi-mutu-7677

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14. Louise Bourgeois, Spider, 1997

https://www.artnews.com/art-news/market/louise-bourgeois-spider-christies-2019-12440/

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15. Hilma af Klint, Series VIII. Picture of the Starting Point, 1920

https://www.hilmaafklint.se/en/

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16. Jenny Holzer, Ram , 2016

https://hyperallergic.com/515025/jenny-holzer-things-indescribable-guggenheim-museum-bilbao/

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17. Ana Mendieta, Untitled: Silueta Series, Mexico, 1976

https://museemagazine.com/features/2017/11/20/w413qtz3xpqjl0lc2yzm1aar30395l

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18. Harriet Powers, Pictorial Quilt, 1895

https://www.dailyartmagazine.com/harriet-powers/

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19. Maya Asante Freelon, See You Soon, 2015

https://mortonfineart.wordpress.com/tag/maya-freelon-asante/

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20. Teresa Margolles, Vaporización (Vaporization), 2001

https://warwickhispanic.wordpress.com/2018/08/30/confronting-the-pervasiveness-of-violence-and-marginality-in-the-work-of-mexican-artist-teresa-margolles/

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21. Haris Epaminonda, VOL. XVII, 2016

https://www.artnews.com/art-in-america/features/haris-epaminonda-57248/

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BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Jacob Lawrence, Street to Mbari, 1964, tempera over graphite on wove paper - National Gallery of Art

“Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise. I rise. I rise.“ — Maya Angelou

In honor of Black History Month, The Torrance Art Museum offers a special edition of “Please Don’t Touch the Art!” - providing links to resources worth exploration.

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LISTEN:

Time Decorated: The Musical Influences of Jean-Michel Basquiat

The Broad Museum presents this three part series on youtube about the music that inspired the iconic New York Artist. 

Part 1: https://youtu.be/TBG5571XUBE 

Part 2: https://youtu.be/H7f5ZaiUZgo 

Part 3: https://youtu.be/ST6Cp3S5uLs 

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VIEW:

`STAY REAL BLACK FOR ME'

Madlozi Art Gallery celebrates the diverse expression of blackness within the African diaspora with this powerful and thoughtfully curated group show, available online through February 28th. 

https://www.artsy.net/show/madlozi-art-gallery-stay-real-black-for-me?sort=partner_show_position 

The National Gallery of Art

The influential Washington D.C. museum, shines a spotlight on African American Artists in the Collection.

https://www.nga.gov/features/african-american-artists.html 

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WATCH:

Black Art: In the Absence of Light

Released in early February, the documentary examines the historical and socio-political factors that have shaped contemporary African American Art. Available on your local HBO channel or streaming on the HBO MAX app. https://www.hbo.com/documentaries/black-art-in-the-absence-of-light 

L.A. Rebellion

UCLA opens its film vault to trace the cinematic origins of the group of African and African-American filmmakers that studied at UCLA during the late 1960s to the 1980s. 

https://www.cinema.ucla.edu/la-rebellion/project-one-films 

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“Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly.” — Langston Hughes

Read:

Langston Hughes, Kevin Young and African American Poetry

For those with a Los Angeles Public Library Card, the library celebrates not only Black History Month but Langston Hughes’ birthday on the first of February, with a database of his poetry, plays, novels, and non-fiction. 

https://lapl.org/collections-resources/blogs/lapl/langston-hughes-kevin-young-and-african-american-poetry  

Poetry Foundation

The Foundation presents a collection of poems, articles, and podcasts by celebrated thinkers, writers, and creatives to explore African American history and culture. Including work by Langston Hughes, Maya Angelou, and June Jordan amongst others. 

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/collections/101640/celebrating-black-history-month 

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Look Forward To:

Amy Sherald:The Great American Fact

Michelle Obama’s portraitist will have her first west coast show at Hauser & Wirth’s Los Angeles location. It will run March 20th to June 6th, most likely by appointment so as to follow covid guidelines. 

https://www.hauserwirth.com/hauser-wirth-exhibitions/30731-amy-sherald-the-great-american-fact 

Sanford Biggers: Codeswitch

The California African American Museum presents the first full survey of Biggers’ textile work. Scheduled for Spring 2021, check the museum’s website for updates.  

https://caamuseum.org/exhibitions/2021/sanford-biggers-codeswitch 

““I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality…. I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.”

—Martin Luther King, Jr.”

This edition of Please Don’t Touch the Art was curated by Hope Ezcurra, TAM Registrar

ART OF THE CAPITOL

Detail: Constantino Brumidi’s Apotheosis of Washington, 1865 on the Capitol Rotunda of the US Capitol Building - see article below for links to view full image.

All eyes have been keenly upon the US Capitol since the shocking events of Jan 6, 2021, and the ramifications of it all are yet to be seen. It’s worthy of note that in addition to the building as the seat of Congress, it houses a collection of over 300 historical works of art. This edition of Please Don’t Touch the Art includes links to various articles and resources to explore more.

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ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL

The Architect of the Capitol staff preserves and maintains the historic buildings, monuments, art and inspirational gardens on the Capitol campus.  They have a great deal of information on each work accessible online here:

https://www.aoc.gov/explore-capitol-campus/art

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DAMAGE REPORT

A detailed assessment of damage caused to those works is still underway, but it appears that some of the most significant works did not suffer any serious harm.  For more about that process, read:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/07/arts/design/us-capitol-art-damage.html

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UNCANNY CONNECTIONS

John Trumbull, General George Washington Resigning His Commission, 1826, 12’X18’, Oil on canvas

There’s been a lot of buzz about some of photographs from the riots relating in some manner to events within the works of art portrayed at the Capitol. National Geographic recently posted this article by an art curator that details some of those uncanny connections.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/2021/01/treasure-american-art-bear-witness-historic-insurrection/

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HALL OF STATUES

Recently, the removal of controversial art at the Capitol made the news as efforts are being made to include more Black, Indigenous and People of Color in the Capitol collection, particularly among the statuary. 

The Hall of Statues features 100 statues (two from each state). In December 2020, Virgina removed the confederate general (and notable insurrectionist) Robert E. Lee and is replacing it with a statue of Barbara Johns, a civil rights pioneer. 

https://www.npr.org/2020/12/21/948736896/virginia-removes-its-robert-e-lee-statue-from-u-s-capitol

While located in the Hall of Statues, a statue of Rosa Parks is historically significant as being the first full-length statue of an African American person in the U.S. Capitol. Recently it made the news as some troops brought in to defend the capitol posed for pictures with her.

https://www.bet.com/news/national/2021/01/14/rosa-parks-statue-in-capitol-black-troops-defending-take-photo.html

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THE CAPITOL ROTUNDA

The Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol is where the most eminent citizens are given the honor to lay in state.  The dome ceiling features a very Zeus-like image of George Washington surrounded by 13 female figures that represent the 13 original states/colonies and Greek gods along the side.

https://www.aoc.gov/explore-capitol-campus/buildings-grounds/capitol-building/rotunda

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THE STATUE OF FREEDOM

The Statue of Freedom (originally titled Freedom Triumphant Over War and Peace and also known as Armed Freedom) rests atop the U.S. Capitol. While not as well known as the Statue of Liberty, this icon of Columbia (the personification of America) shares an equally iconic pose. Of note is her military helmet adorned with stars, and an eagle’s head and plume.  She wears a Native American blanket strewn across her shoulder.

 It was designed by American sculptor Thomas Crawford at a studio in Rome and shipped as 5 plaster pieces in the mid 1800’s to the United States where it was to be cast in bronze. Interestingly, it was the work of a slave, Philip Reid, who helped make it possible to properly create and install the final version. By the time The Statue of Freedom was raised atop the Capitol dome in December 1862, Reid had been declared a free man after Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation executive order in September 22, 1862.

For more about the history - watch:

https://youtu.be/ZbR5IgkY0dQ

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THE TINY DOORS

The Capitol building features a series of tiny, odd-looking doors in the walls, which actually house a unique engineering achievement by Captain Montgomery Cunningham Meigs. He helped design the Washington Aquaduct, an elaborate system that brought fresh water from the Potomac River throughout the capitol in response to a terrible fire in the Library of Congress that tragically destroyed 35,000 volumes on Christmas Eve 1851. It’s a fascinating history explained here:

https://youtu.be/aizDj6gp0g0

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Finally, it should come as no surprise that the most featured figure in the art collection is George Washington.

https://www.aoc.gov/explore-capitol-campus/blog/artfully-yours-george-washington

We hope you enjoyed this little exploration of the works - compiled by Jason Jenn, TAM Outreach Specialist

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2020: A YEAR (ARTISTICALLY) IN REVIEW

2020 was perhaps one of the most difficult years in recent memory. But as the famous quote goes “IF THERE IS NO STRUGGLE, THERE IS NO PROGRESS”. The struggles of 2020 have inspired some incredible works of art. We have curated for you our personal favorites of this past year's “best of” art lists. Please comment what your favorite work of art, exhibit, or moment was this past year, so we may compile our own subjectively “best of 2020” list.

1. The Defining Artworks of 2020

A beautiful and poignant retrospective of this past year. Includes a vast spectrum of artists and artwork. It’s impossible to make a definitive list about such a subjective concept, but the Editors of ARTNEWS gave it an excellent amount of attention.
https://www.artnews.com/list/art-news/artists/most-important-artworks-2020-1234578712/felix-gonzalez-torres-untitled-fortune-cookie-corner-1990/

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2. The Year in Pictures: From Global Protests to Museum Heists, Here Are the Images That Tell the Story of 2020

Focusing on the artwork of photojournalists, this list reminds us of iconic moments and provides interesting photographic perspectives of many of this year's major events.

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/photos-of-the-year-2020-1930107

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3. The Best Public Art of 2020

Public art has become more important than ever with a vast majority of museums closed to the public, it has become one of the few if only ways for people to see art in person this year. Incidentally TAM is currently working on our own public art project for this summer.

https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-best-public-art-2020

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4. Best of 2020: Top 60+ Photographs From Around the World

The artwork on this list is a gorgeous photographic meditation on the elegance and beauty around us.

https://mymodernmet.com/best-photos-of-2020/

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5. TOP 10 digital exhibitions and virtual tours of 2020

The artworld had to adjust to the new reality of 2020. While a large majority of museums and art fairs have had to shut their doors temporarily this year, the silver lining is the global access to these institutions and their artwork through digital means.

https://www.designboom.com/art/top-10-digital-exhibitions-and-virtual-tours-of-2020-12-03-2020/

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We hope you enjoyed this compilation of 2020 compiled by Hope Ezcurra, TAM Registrar

ART the Vote

As the 2020 Election process proved to show: political issues, conflicting opinions, concerns, and surprises abound as always. Artists respond to current affairs and political events in many ways, and this short selection of images reflects a diversity of perspectives and responses to the democratic process.

1.  Cady Noland, Gibbet, 1993-94.

https://kunstkritikk.com/a-bit-of-the-old-ultra-violence/

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2.  Aram Han Sifuentes, "A Community of Non-Citizens: Proving Worth of Citizenship Through Stitching Samplers (A Work in Progress), ongoing

https://www.aramhansifuentes.com/us-citizenship-test-sampler

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3. Rodney McMillian, White House Painting, 2018

https://vielmetter.com/artists/rodney-mcmillian

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4. Nari Ward, We the People, 2019

https://www.wedgecuratorialprojects.org/directors-picks/2019/4/4/nari-ward-we-the-people-new-museum-new-york

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5.  Wilmer Wilson IV, "Model Citizen," 2012

https://npg.si.edu/blog/identify-wilmer-wilson-iv

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6. Chester Higgins, State of Affairs, 2018

http://chesterhiggins.com/bio/

We hope you enjoyed this collection of images compiled by Hope Ezcurra, TAM Registrar.
Other artists TAM should highlight and consider? Send us a message and let us know your thoughts:

torranceartmuseum@torranceca.gov

#Support Local Artists

1. “WE ARE HERE / HERE WE ARE”

   -Durden and Ray-

The Los Angeles gallery chose 100 artists to create public works of art. The artworks don’t really have a unifying theme but are all made by very talented and creative people within LA county lines. Coordinates to each piece are provided on a special google map on Durden and Ray’s website. This exhibit will be running until June 30th. Please make sure if you do get out of your vehicle to get a closer look at the art that you practice proper social distancing and are respectful of the work. 

http://www.durdenandray.com/the-exhibition-project

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2. “Covid Cover-Up”

-Arts Council for Long Beach-

The Arts Council for Long Beach has approached artists to create murals with positive messages over the boarded up storefronts of local bars, boutiques, and restaurants. Below is a link to the google map listing each location and the artist(s) who painted it. Please safely pull over to look at murals, and if you chose to get out of your vehicle, wear a mask and practice social distancing. 

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=11oNCZ7Z8y5t4iko0qFqw4ZBkDnzq8mVn&ll=33.792894828000776%2C-118.13385500000001&z=13

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3. “Bombay Beach Biennale”

-Bombay Beach, Salton Sea, CA-

Every year Bombay Beach hosts an ironically named biennale. This year it has been postponed due to Covid19, but a large part of the installation art from last year's art festival is still on view. For those who enjoy outsider art and are up to a drive to the Salton Sea, it is well worth the trip. Please be aware that some installations are on private property and can only be viewed from a distance.

http://2019.bombaybeachbiennale.org/app/interactive-maps/9ghx6m5QKzEZRAgyxP

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4.  “No Pants Required”

-Gabba Gallery-

Need a good laugh and some new art for your home? Gabba Gallery has you covered with their “No Pants Required” online show; all works are under $500 and all have a cheeky sense of humor. 

https://www.gabbagallery.com/no-pants-required

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5. “Sculpture from a Distance”

-Parker Gallery -

During the Corona virus outbreak the gallery in Los Feliz is open by appointment only. If you don’t feel safe going into a museum or gallery just quite yet, they are curating a sculpture show visible from their front lawn. They will be rotating pieces every few weeks, check their website to see who they are currently exhibiting works by. 

https://parkergallery.com/

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6. “This Is Weird Without You”

-Ochi Gallery-

If you are in the bay area you can see the earnest messages on wheat paste flyers created by Marcela Pardo Ariza, Juan Carlos Rodriguez Rivera & Felipe Garcia JR IRL. If you aren’t up in the San Francisco area you can view the project digitally and purchase prints from Ochi Gallery’s website.

https://www.ochigallery.com/exhibition/this-is-weird-without-you/

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TAM Video - To Save The Day! (2019)

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO PRESENTATION

TAM takes a look back to 2019’s exhibitions with a series of videos documenting the various programming.

To Save The Day! Superheroes in Art - Gallery Two

September 21 — November 16, 2019

Curated by Max Presneill, featuring works by: Enrique Chagoya, Chaz Guest, Craig Knight, Aaron Noble, Fernando Rascon, U.S. Department of Illegal Superheroes (ICE DISH)

Since their inception, the presence of super powered human beings in comic books has served as mighty metaphors for societal conditions, both the dreams and the ills. Fictional heroes have progressively led the way in addressing culture’s contemporary problems, from Otherness to citizen’s rights. Even today, with the explosion of Marvel and DC characters onto the silver screen, we see how this dynamic explores human frailties and strengths, our moral and ethical positions, as well as the trials and tribulations of our world.

Contemporary artists have shown the same engagement with our times, often utilizing these comic book denizens as a way to critique the same issues.

Video documentation by L.A. Art Documents (TAM Outreach Specialist Jason Jenn)

For more information, please visit http://www.torranceartmuseum.com/to-save-the-day

John Baldessari: A Loving Look Back...

John Baldessari : A loving look back at the titan of conceptual art

by Hope Ezcurra

1. John Baldessari famously burnt two decades worth of work at a local crematorium. The next five decades after that, until his death in January 2020, Baldessari tested the structure of art, images, and language.

2. My personal favorite of Baldessari’ artistic output is Tips For Artists Who Want To Sell, (1966-68); I really connect with the droll  humor of the text, while respecting the piece as a major piece of California conceptual art.

3. Aside from being an incredibly important artist, he was also a well respected educator and taught at CalArts from  1970 to 1988 and then at UCLA  from 1996-2007. A list of 14 assignments he gave his Post Studio Art class at CalArts in 1970 are available at:

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/sfmomamedia/media/uploads/documents/sfmoma_openstudio_johnbaldessari.pdf

4. “A Brief History of John Baldessari '' is the best short art doc you can watch on youtube, bonus it is narrated by Tom Waits:

https://youtu.be/eU7V4GyEuXA

5. Blue was his favorite color.

6. “That word 'funny' always makes me feel uncomfortable. Because if I were trying to be funny, I would be something like Bill Wegman - he really tries to be funny. I don't try to be funny. It's just that I feel the world is a little bit absurd and off-kilter, and I'm sort of reporting..”-John Baldessari

TAM Video - Run Straight Through

TAM takes a look back to 2019’s exhibitions with a series of videos documenting the various programming.

Run Straight Through - Gallery Two

June 15 — August 24, 2019

Curated by Kate Mothes, this exhibition presents 4 rising stars in the contemporary painting scene: Tahnee Lonsdale, Kristy Luck, Michael Nauert, and Thom Trojanowski.

How can contemporary painting register the experience of those who travel, migrate, and pass through borders of the world? Run Straight Through is a curatorial project conceived around the notion of physical presence and movement through an exploration of figuration, landscape, and the abstract. The exhibition features four artists based between Los Angeles and London whose works draw connections between place and body; the landscapes that we inhabit, and that inhabit us.

 The title, Run Straight Through, is a phrase with multiple meanings: someone may run from one place to another, or something can be run through like a blade in flesh—straight through—cleanly. Some of the paintings are purely abstract, and others represent specific actions, objects, or figures, yet all of these artists question what it means to be “here” and how to get there. Some works, such as those by Tahnee Lonsdale and Thom Trojanowski, present the figure as symbolically cartoonish, separating emotional experience or existence from the body. In the work of Michael Nauert and Kristy Luck, the abstract gestures and forms allude to movement and landscape as metaphor for the presence of the body.

Video documentation by L.A. Art Documents (TAM Outreach Specialist Jason Jenn)

For more information, please visit :http://www.torranceartmuseum.com/run-straight-through

More Art Related Activities and Tours from around the World

The Frick Collection - Virtual Tour

While this impressive NYC mansion and its equally important art collection is shuttered in response to the Coronavirus, one is able to enjoy its interior design and incredible paintings through this efficient virtual platform. 

https://www.frick.org/visit/virtual_tour/entrance_hall

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Pitt Rivers Museum - Oxford University Museum of Natural History

Make sure that your post Corona UK travel plans include a stop at this incredible museum. It’s part art, part anthropology, and completely  engrossing. In the meantime enjoy the virtual tour.

https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=ns3yCKpUzSq&help=1

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How to Use Getty Open Content for Your Custom Zoom Background

For those working from home, looking to bring some culture - like Van Gogh’s “Irises to their zoom meetings, look no further than the Getty Museum’s open source content.

http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/how-to-use-getty-open-content-for-your-custom-zoom-background/

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Andy Warhol -Tate Modern

Running until September, watch an exhibition walkthrough accompanied by Tate curators Gregor Muir and Fiontán Moran discussing the in-depth retrospective of the pop art icon.

https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern/exhibition/andy-warhol/exhibition-guide

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Met Publications -The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Looking for something new to read, the Met has 100s of titles available online. 

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/metpublications/titles-with-full-text-online?searchtype=F

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The Winged Victory of Samothrace -Musee du Louvre

The world famous Parisian museum has created 13 interactive multimedia modules to explore the most iconic pieces of work in their collection. “The Winged Victory” is a personal favorite.

https://focus.louvre.fr/en/winged-victory-samothrace

Also visit: https://www.discoverwalks.com/blog/paris/top-5-interesting-facts-about-the-winged-victory-of-samothrace/

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Compiled by TAM Registrar Hope Ezcurra

TAM Video - Protest,noun (2019)

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO PRESENTATION

TAM takes a look back to 2019’s exhibitions with a series of videos documenting the various programming.

Protest, noun took place in TAM’s Main Gallery from January 19 - March 9, 2019

Artists: Forrest Kirk, Nery Gabriel Lemus, Narsiso Martinez, Patrick Martinez, Jaime Scholnick

Protest, noun centers on a select group of Los Angeles–based artists who share an urgent and political drive to engage the character of our moment through their art practices. Through their work these artists produce bodies of work that critically engage social and political currents running through our society. This social and political critique is conducted via a pronounced materiality whereby objecthood announces its structural relationship to meaning and content.

The current political climate has seen civil unrest and debased interactions, particularly on social media, which have increasingly polarized our society. This exhibition attends to some of the more pressing issues for California artists: Immigration, homelessness, income inequity and justice inequality, climate change and resource allocation. The links between these aspects of contemporary life have been recognized, the need to address them immediate.

What can art do to change things? If it can get people to think and then to act it has succeeded. If it highlights and uncovers, it has succeeded. If it has given voice, regardless of outcome, it has succeeded. We, each of us, must attend to the injustice in front of our very eyes. These artists do not let us avert our gaze…

 —Max Presneill, 2019

Video documentation by LA Art Documents (TAM Outreach Specialist Jason Jenn)

Visit the exhibition page: http://www.torranceartmuseum.com/protest-noun

Artist facts:Yayoi Kusama

Artist facts:Yayoi Kusama

Compiled by TAM Registrar Hope Ezcurra

1.  During the coronavirus related closure of the Broad museum, fans of Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirrored Room—The Souls of Millions of Light Years Away (2013) may enjoy a weekly video of the piece paired with work by local sound artists and musicians. https://www.instagram.com/thebroadmuseum

Kusama,Yayoi. “Infinity Mirrored Room—The Souls of Millions of Light Years Away”2013, wood, metal, glass mirrors, plastic, acrylic panel, rubber, LED lighting system, acrylic balls, and water. 113 1/4 x 163 1/2 x 163 1/2 in.

2. Longing for Eternity(2017), a free standing mirror-lined chamber piece of Kusama’s, is also part of the Broad’s collection; it was on view right up to the closure.

Kusama,Yayoi. “Longing For Eternity”2017, mirrored box and LED lights, 86 5/8 x 84 1/4 x 72 7/8 in.

3. She says of her iconic aesthetic trope: “One day I was looking at the the red flower patterns of the tablecloth on a table, and when I looked up I saw the same pattern covering the ceiling, the windows and walls, and finally all over the room, my body, and the universe, I felt as if I had begun to self-obliterate, to revolve in the infinity of endless time and the absoluteness of space.”

Kusama, Yayoi Japan, “The obliteration room”, 2002 to present, furniture, white paint, dot stickers, dimensions variable

4. Her much awaited New York Botanical Garden Exhibition, Cosmic Nature, has been rescheduled for spring–fall 2021. Updates may be found at: https://www.nybg.org/event/kusama/

5. Kusama recently released an impassioned poem concerning the coronavirus pandemic:

1. Though it glistens just out of reach, I continue to pray for hope to shine through/Its glimmer lighting our way/This long-awaited great cosmic glow/Now that we find ourselves on the dark side of the world/The gods will be there to strengthen the hope we have spread throughout the universe/For those left behind, each person’s story and that of their loved ones/It is time to seek a hymn of love for our souls/In the midst of this historic menace, a brief burst of light points to the future/Let us joyfully sing this song of a splendid future/Let’s go/Embraced in deep love and the efforts of people all over the world/Now is the time to overcome, to bring peace/We gathered for love and I hope to fulfill that desire/The time has come to fight and overcome our unhappiness/To Covid-19 that stands in our way/I say Disappear from this earth/We shall fight/We shall fight this terrible monster/Now is the time for people all over the world to stand up/My deep gratitude goes to all those who are already fighting.

6. Streaming on Hulu or available to rent on Prime, the 2018 documentary, Kusama: Infinity, is a beautiful film for those interested in learning more about her.  

Speaking of movies - have you seen our Art Film Recommendations? Now is a great time to catch up on your art films: http://www.torranceartmuseum.com/art-film

The L.A. Artscene Under Quarantine

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Louise Bourgeois:Drawings 1947-2007 -- Hauser & Wirth

Running until April 30th, the L.A. outpost, of the global gallery chain, launched it’s first online exhibition with an elegantly curated collection of the famous artist’s drawings. 

https://www.vip-hauserwirth.com/louise-bourgeois-works-on-paper/#top

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 Bauhaus: Building the New Artist -- The Getty

This multidisciplinary digital exhibition, produced in partnership with the Getty’s Research Institute, examines the methodology of the ground breaking German art and design school.   https://www.getty.edu/research/exhibitions_events/exhibitions/bauhaus/new_artist/index.html#content

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Collective Constellation: Selections from The Eileen Harris Norton Collection -- Art + Practice Exhibition Space

This virtual walkthrough, running until August 1st, explores the identity of women of color through the lense of Eileen Harris Norton’s evocative personal collection.

https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=MqHXaC4CpiH

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 James hd Brown: Life and Work in Mexico -- USC Fisher Museum

Available to view over Google’s Arts & Culture interactive panoramas, this exhibition is a beautiful retrospective of the late artist.

https://artsandculture.google.com/streetview/usc-fisher-museum-of-art/hAFYg7Mlfr78Ow?sv_lng=-118.2872319490632&sv_lat=34.01857942586387&sv_h=121.78&sv_p=-13.299999999999997&sv_pid=4ZGkLIdapTAW_NaqmD8y7A&sv_z=1

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 Projections Part IV: A Festival of Rare and Hard To See Films -- Roberts Projects

Curated by Aaron Rose, this annual film festival of fantastic pieces of off the beaten path cinema is available for viewing online.

https://www.robertsprojectsla.com/exhibitions/projections-part-iv-a-festival-of-rare-and-hard-to-see-films

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 The Beauty War -- Cakeland.LA

While this saccharine fever dream by artist Scott Hove is currently closed, one can purchase tickets as something to look forward to when quarantine is lifted.

http://www.cakeland.la/

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ART TO VIEW FROM HOME (APRIL 2020

1.       Keith Haring | Jean-Michel Basquiat: Crossing Lines

-National Gallery of Victoria, Australia-

Opening April 4th, this  free virtual tour of their exhibit, features iconic works of art and footage of the two artists.

https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/channel/

2.                   Virtual Tours

-Vatican Museums-

Michelangelo's famous chapel is breathtaking even over a computer or phone screen. 

http://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en/collezioni/musei/cappella-sistina/tour-virtuale.html

3.                  10 Incredible Locations for Street Art Around the Globe

-Google Arts and Culture-

 Vibrant murals, stencils, and paste-ups from around the world are experienced utilizing interactive panoramas of google street view.

https://artsandculture.google.com/story/iAWxzhmS3pNmLQ

4.                   The Met 360 Project

-The Metropolitan Museum of Art-

Six short videos, that are VR headset compatible, present the Met from angles that most people do not get to experience.

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/online-features/met-360-project

5.                   Pablo Picasso: Selected Graphic and Works on Paper

-Die Galerie, Frankfurt, Germany-

Running until May 23rd, this exhibition presents etchings, linocuts and lithographs made by Picasso.

https://www.artland.com/exhibitions/selected-graphic-and-works-on-paper

AND LAST ON OUR LIST, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST…

6.                   Hobson’s Choice

-Torrance Art Museum-

Opening April 4th, TAM’s crowdsourced a digital exhibition of contemporary art from all over the world 

https://www.torranceartmuseum.com/hobsons-choice

Artist Facts: Francis Bacon (compiled by Hope Ezcurra)

Francis Bacon: visceral alienation captured on canvas

Bacon, Francis. 1981 “Triptych Inspired by the Oresteia of Aeschylus” Oil on canvas, Triptych: Each panel: 78 x 58 in. (198 x 147.5 cm)

My personal favorite of Francis’ artistic output is Triptych Inspired by the Oresteia of Aeschylus (1981). Alex Branczik, Head of Contemporary Art for Sotheby’s Europe, commented: “Francis Bacon is the great tragedian of his age. In this ambitious triptych, the painter confronts Aeschylus, the progenitor of tragedy, so that the timeless power of the Ancient Greek genre is brought to bear on the human condition in the 20th century. The result is an arresting and original vision, a true masterpiece that confirms Bacon’s standing in the pantheon of modern masters.”

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Bacon, Francis. 1944 “Three Studies for Figures at the Base of a Crucifixion” oil on board, Triptych: each: 1162 × 960 × 80 mm

The Ancient Greek tragedy also inspired his 1944 “Three Studies for Figures at the Base of a Crucifixion”, which launched his career.

“The twisted bodies are all the more frightening for their vaguely familiar human-like forms, which appear to stretch out toward the viewer in pain and supplication. The perspective lines in the background create a shallow space, alluding to captivity and torture. The figures are based upon the Furies, goddesses of revenge from Greek mythology that play an important role in the Oresteia, a three-part tragedy by Aeschylus. Bacon may have been drawn to the play's themes of guilt and obsession.”

The Art Story Contributors, "Francis Bacon Artist Overview and Analysis". 2020. TheArtStory.org, 01 Dec 2010, https://www.theartstory.org/artist/bacon-francis/

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Cappock, Margarita. “Francis Bacon's Studio” Merrell Publishers, 2005

Bacon said of his cluttered 7 Reece Mews, South Kensington studio “I feel at home here in this chaos because chaos suggests images to me.”  The piles of torn photographs, fragments of illustrations, books, and magazines provided nearly all of his visual sources.

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Bacon, Francis. 1969 “3 Studies for Portrait Lucian Freud 1969” (on the reverse of the center panel) oil on canvas, in 3 parts, each: 78 x 58 in. (198 x 147.5 cm.)

Both Bacon's 1963 Portrait of Henrietta Moraes and the 1969 painting Three Studies of Lucian Freud are based on John Deakin's photos. Three Studies of Lucian Freud sold in 2013 for $142 million, making it one of the most expensive paintings ever sold. 

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Bacon, Francis 1954 “Figure with Meat” Oil on canvas, 129.9 × 121.9 cm (51 1/8 × 48 in.), without frame

Deakin, John. 1952 “Francis Bacon photographed by John Deakin in 1952”. Photograph. The Conde Nast Publications Ltd/John Deakin/Vogue.

John Deakin’s 1952 portrait of a bare-chested Bacon between two carcasses of meat, was used by Bacon as a visual cue for his painting Figure with Meat, in 1954

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Deakin, John. 1967 “Francis Bacon Wearing a Coat” photograph

Gruen, John. The Artist Observed: 28 interviews with contemporary artists. A Cappella Books. 1991. Hardcover, 320 pages, Language English, ISBN: 1556521030.

Quinn, Anthony. “The Art of Rivalry review – when Bacon met Freud and other creative friendships” 3 February 2017, The Guardian.

Lucien Freud painted Bacon in 1952 on a copper plate. Bacon’s expression in the painting was described by Robert Hughes as having “the silent intensity of a grenade in the millisecond before it goes off”. The portrait was stolen from the wall of a German museum in 1988 and has never been recovered.

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The BBC 2017 documentary “Francis Bacon: A Brush with Violence” is an excellent look at the life and inspirations of this titan of 20th century art.  

“I feel ever so strongly that an artist must be nourished by his passions and his despairs. These things alter an artist whether for the good or the better or the worse. It must alter him. The feelings of desperation and unhappiness are more useful to an artist than the feeling of contentment, because desperation and unhappiness stretch your whole sensibility.”-Francis Bacon