TO THE LIGHTHOUSE

Georges Seurat, The Lighthouse at Honfleur, 1886

Stephen Scott Young, Dawn's Light, Coast of New England, 2008

Paul Resika, Blue Wave, 2008

Andrea Kowch, Light Keepers

I just returned from a much-needed, albeit brief vacation in the mid coast of Maine.  On my last day, I was able to explore the Historic Lighthouse at Pemaquid Point, located in a picturesque setting on the rocks since 1827.

While we were clambering around on cliffs, I began considering the various depictions of the lighthouse in painting.  In a quick search on Artsy.net, I compiled these few widely varied examples, ranging from a close-hued Pointillist painting from the 19th century by Georges Seurat, to contemporary painting, both Realist and abstract, to a fantasy-like, almost Surreal, contemporary work by Andrea Kowch (previously featured here).

Which style do you prefer?

Dress: Vintage (thrifted for $5!)

Shoes: Sperry

Hat: H&M

Images via Artsy.net; Photographs by Hope Huynh.

EL ANATSUI

I am still reeling after experiencing one of the most beautiful and culturally relevant museum exhibitions I've seen in a very long time.

Gravity and Grace: Monumental Works by El Anatsui is now on view at the Brooklyn Museum and is well worth a visit, even if you are not in New York.

El Anatsui (b. 1944) is a Ghanaian artist who is well known for his sculptural installations made using found materials such as aluminum cans, and the Brooklyn Museum exhibition boasts over 30 works.

The texture and painterly quality of the large-scale pieces is surprisingly reminiscent of Impressionism.  I was particularly reminded of Pointillism in the way that the large tapestry is made up of beautiful smaller elements that aren't necessarily salient but become noticeable upon closer inspection.  

The wall hangings are inspired by kente, a type of cloth created using an indigenous  weaving process that results in a silk/cotton blend and is native to the Ashanti and Akan people of the Ivory Coast and Ghana.

Referencing uli and nsibidi symbolism and drawing styles, Anatsui's stunning works also called to mind the tableaux of religious altarpieces, adorned with gold leaf.  However, the usage of found materials and nod to his Ghanaian heritage makes Anatsui's work more poignant than ever.

Dress: Aryn K. (very similar here, under $70)

Tights: H&M

Boots: Miista Val Tex

Handbag: Cynthia Rowley (some similar options here)

Photos of me by @kay_elle_pea and all other photos by me.

SUNDAY AFTERNOON

I've always admired the society of leisure that is portrayed in French painting from the turn of the century. An afternoon at the shore, luncheon on the grass--I'm of the opinion that our society does not place nearly enough importance on the necessity of down time.

One of my favorite paintings that reminds me of the importance of repose is A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.

This painting is the masterpiece of French Post-Impressionist Georges-Pierre Seurat (1859-1891).

Seurat was one of the first proponents of Neo-Impressionism, and pioneered the use of Pointillism, along with Paul Signac.

Pointillism is the use of a mass of small dots of various colors that combine to form a visual depiction of another color.

When viewed from far away, Pointillist paintings appear to have bold shapes of color, but upon closer inspection, these are made up of hundreds of smaller dots. Pointillism leaves the work of color mixing to the eye of the beholder.

I was inspired by Seurat's palette for my own leisurely afternoon on the bay, and combined the striking contrast of orange and periwinkle with a dotted scarf as a reference to Pointillism. Of course, the parasol is a nod to the women of leisure in the painting.

I'm wearing a vintage silk scarf, my mother's vintage brooch, Madewell tee, H&M pants, Cynthia Rowley x Roxy kaleidoscope wedges, and an Indian parasol bought in San Francisco.

[Seurat images from westcler.org, flickr.com, and farm4.static.flickr.com, respectively.]