A Gabriel Lueders performance piece at the Old Capital. Just another reason to love Iowa City. More information about Gabriel Lueders or his Mandala Cocoon can be found here.

In honor of the completion of my Western Art and Culture Before 1400 class, I am going to post images of works of art that influenced my thoughts the most.

Anybody that has taken any art history classes in general should be able to recognize the majority of these images rather quickly.

Chauvet Cave, France, c. 32,000-30,000 BCE (Prehistoric)
This cave is probably best explained and explored through Werner Herzog’s documentary titled Cave of Forgotten Dreams. This cave sparks a few interesting topics for debate. One being that Neanderthals 40,000 years ago were on the verge of greater sophistication. There’s evidence of musical instruments, personal ornaments, and signs of religious concept. Also what would influence a being from this time to go far back in to a deep dark cave and paint (from memory) the life forms witnessed in the world around them?

Venus of Willendorf, Austria, c. 22,000-21,000 BCE (Prehistoric)
A small (4″-5″) limestone statuette thought to be a fertility idle for those who carried it. Completely prehistoric so nobody understands who exactly created it or for what reason. This one is easily the most recognizable Venus but there were many Venus’ found throughout ancient Europe. A paleolithic Barbie doll perhaps. Either way, these Venus’ are the earliest representations of the human form.

Moving from Prehistoric into a time of written documentation, at the same time skipping the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia, the Ancient Egyptians are by far the most interesting group of people to study. With the idealized imagery of their Pharaohs (Gods on Earth) and upper class citizens. To their use of hieratic scale and symbolism to show the importance of one person over others. To their carefully planned and twisted perspectives to show off all the best features of a certain individual, all at the same time.

Akhenaten and His Family, 1348-1336 BCE (Armana Period)
Akhenaten is a particularly interesting Pharaoh, because up until his time, all the pharaohs before him were depicted with perfectly chiseled bodies and highly structured poses. Akhenaten is the first pharaoh to be portrayed as pudgy, often feminine leader with a slouching/irregular posture. He is also credited for turning a polytheistic Egypt into a monotheistic society worshiping Aten (the sun) and forgetting all other gods. At least during his time of ruling. After Akhenaten, Egypt quickly resorts back to monotheism.

It was also a new concept to see a Pharaoh depicted during such a personal and humanistic moment with his family. But take a look at his alien babies. Possibly a result of an incestuous marriage all to maintain the sanctity of the royal bloodline. Not just anyone could marry a Pharaoh, so often times, they would marry their sisters or even sometimes their daughters to keep the royal bloodline pure. Aten would be the sun disk in the middle shining favor down on to the Akhenaten family.

Judgment of Hunefer Before Osiris, Book of the Dead, 1275 BCE (New Kingdom)
Also sometimes called The Weighing of the Heart. I favored this image because of the correlation with the weighing of ones soul/sins in Christian Theology (which won’t exist for another 1,300+ years). The idea that the actions you commit here in this world will act as a determination on what happens to you in the next is a universal idea or concept. Probably to keep people from doing harm to others. This image even depicts a Death figure (Anubis) that acts as a guide for the dead. After being judged and approved, access to heaven is granted to stand before Osiris, for all eternity I suppose. There’s even a god that forever records everything that takes place. All fascinating concepts.

Coming Soon Maybe
Part 2: Classic Civilizations
Part 3: Early Renaissance

I’ve never seen so much stuff gathered in one place in all of my (short) life. It was hard for us to leave without seeing everything considering both my friend and I are ‘completionists’.

Completionist: (noun) A person who must complete every task and see every thing at least once in order to maintain sanity. Closely related to those with Obsessive–compulsive personality disorder.

I did manage to find one item worth purchasing in an endless supply of car parts. A Revere Eight 8mm video camera from 1947 in almost pristine condition. It’s going to decorate one of my shelves somewhere.

Click Images for Full-size (of course).

Location: E Market, N Gilbert, E Jefferson, N Linn.

150 Fly(?) territory? I saw this image everywhere. I have no idea what 150 fly means but ‘Fly 150’ is a scooter (thanks to Google search).

Other Places of Interest:

• T.Spoons!
  My second favorite coffee shop here in Iowa City and that’s mostly because of the ambience and the comfortable couches. Plus the Market Street T.Spoons is the closest coffee shop to where I live. A great place to work on homework for up to a maximum of 2 hours because that’s all internet WiFi one Caramel Macchiato (overly sweet = delicious) drink will allow you. (bummer) After that I just wander over to my number one favorite coffee shop and that is the Prairie Light Books Cafe to where I stay for the rest of the day drinking cappuccinos and surfing the net. The T.Spoons in the Old Capital Mall seems both cramped and uncomfortable.
• Motley Cow Cafe
  I have yet to experience the food here. (pending)
• R.S.V.P.
  Purveyor of pretty paper products and sundries nestled in Iowa City’s Northside Neighborhood
• El Bandito
  Five dollars will get you 1 taco. lol’s. It was a damn good taco but I left hungry cause I’m poor.
• Artifacts
  Your source for vintage furniture, clothing, jewelry, and chotchkies. Great store.
• Decorum (& Modela)
  Another wonderful little antique store.

Update: My continued explorations have revealed a lot more of these HD Ghost and 150 Fly tags all over Iowa City!  What do they mean?!  (11/30/2011)

http://iowacitygraffiti.tumblr.com = A great tumblr blog on Iowa City Graffiti. Looks like my work here is done. 😛

Look familiar?!

I love the idea that there is an individual walking around town quickly inscribing their trademark on any place of importance. Sacred locations perhaps. I envision these are a self-portrait of a man who goes by the name of “Bear”. I’ll be on the lookout for an odd-looking man with a cool stash. In fact now that I think back, I totally saw him at the Chait Gallery tonight. I should have interrogated him.

This new discovery made me wonder how many more of these hidden treasures are out there! I made a quick google search of ‘Iowa City Graffiti’. At least one recognizable image (for me) turned up.

Considering the Old Capital Mall houses the School of Music, I’m pretty sure it belongs. Why didn’t I listen? I bet if I were to stop and listen like the picture is trying to tell me, I would hear the students playing above.

I’m going to scour this town for more! I’m going to explore every building, bathroom, and basement. Every alleyway and rooftop. I will take pictures of anything and everything. And I will do this all very soon.

Sources
1. Adrianne Behning’s photo via Flickr.

A random adventure with Peyton Sun (Peyton Sun Photography) to Sugar Bottom Beach on October 9th, 2011. Captured the fisherman with my “stalker lens” as Peyton calls it.

The kite flyers are probably my favorite candid subjects so far. I had a lot of fun shooting them. Plus it was during a beautiful sunset. I really shouldn’t waste any more sunsets sitting inside.

I’m about two full months behind on editing and uploading any photos taken during my random adventures and photo shoots.  The Waterloo Air Show (that took place in August 2011) was pleasantly humble.  The sky was full of interesting cloud formations that I couldn’t help but photograph. These gray skies are a nice change for me, considering I tend to capture rich, deep, dark blue skies in every other picture.

There are two types of people who I enjoy watching when I go to these types of events (considering I have no interest in flying or aviation in general).  First and foremost the overly excited children ooh’ing and ahh’ing at every passing jet and the second group being the fully grown, dorky men with their safari outfits, knee-high white socks and binoculars who are also equipped with an uncanny ability to name and recite lengthy amounts of information about any and all flying contraptions.  God bless America.

Fall = Best time of the year.

I could be wrong but I believe it is a mandated requirement that every University of Iowa student have a photo of the Old Capitol in their possession at all times. Or so it seems to be that way. And why not? It is a beautiful building with it’s golden (leaf) dome, temple front, and stone block masonry.

The Old Capitol Building is both the symbol and the heart of the University of Iowa.