''What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?''

- Vincent Van Gogh

Amazing quote by a famous artist, something to ponder about

CONTROVERSIAL ART

Good Evening! my fellow readers if there are to be any of them around. Well i wouldn't be surprised if there weren't any, my blog can be considered dead clearly it has been neglected for a very long time, more like abandoned. Its been a rather interesting two months the start of the year 2011. Frankly speaking this whole month was filled with agenda's and events never had much time to get inspired to write about anything.But today seems like a quiet Saturday for me, and i have the privilege to update my 'dead' blog. 

Today i would be blogging about CONTROVERSIAL ART! Amazing right, I was thinking of making a little change rather than talking to you about the many artists or the paintings, which i  had actually done, let me expose you to some unique art that has gained controversial. I would be blogging more about art works that have caused controversy's in the USA.

So lets have a look at some really interesting and gastronomical art, that has turned heads and made it to the mouths and ears of everyone.

The latest story which I had actually spotted in the news paper was about the statue called "Triumph of Civic Virtue," or famously known as "Eyesore Next Door"by the people of Queens Borough, New York. It was considered ''sexist'' by the people, because the statue was depicting a naked man representing ''civic virtue'' trampling on two sirens of ''vice '' and ''corruption''.  The statue crafted 100 years ago, is supposed to depict civic virtue , triumphant over twin sirens of vice and corruption. Well if you look at the picture i cant really see faces of the sirens, but the citizens would know better than me, the picture might not be clear ( I will post it below this post viewing). The world has evolved so rapidly, and women were not people of those days, where it was mandatory for girls to sot at home and do all the chores like cooking, cleaning, and nurturing the kids. And the other hand the men would have to be the breadwinner of the family, so he is permitted to study and go wherever he wants to. The 21st century is flooded with working mom who can balance their working life and family life. Therefore this statue is kind of reminding the woman race about their weakness. They have to always follow their husbands commands, no compromising, no opinions. Its always 'YES'. I can actually relate to why ''vice'' and ''corruption'' are linked to the sirens, representing women and the ''civic virtue'' representing men? Is it because at that point of time I don't know, but I am making an assumption, that maybe women were involved in prostitution. The men are always correct? No! Nobody is perfect, that why is that one gender is more superior to the other? Well during that time, there were no freedom of speech or equality especially equality to gender. But today, women are the leading people nationwide. Look at Oprah! She is wealthy, famous and loved! And she came from a background where she was abused and raped by her own cousin brother. So how is it that the man are better than women? As for the art, we cant blame anyone, times have evolved and so are the minds and perspective of people. It was also reported that some leaders don't want to tear down the statue, after they heard reports that the statue was going to be sold to the craigslist to raise some fund and the fact that the citizens thought the statue was a disdain by depicting elements of gender superiority.  "It's been one of the board's top priorities for years to have that statue restored," said Mary Ann Carey, district manager of Community Board 9 in Queens. "We're not looking to destroy art." The statue was initially placed outside City Hall and eventually banished to Queens by Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia, reportedly because he was tired of being "mooned" every time he walked in and out of the building.Well i had voiced out my opinion and I am sure its very biased but  not sure of that some of you think about it. This is the picture, have a look at it and ponder whether the art value of this statue or the message presents should be considered.  To read more about this controversy these are a few sites you can go to find out more info.

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2011/02/25/2011-02-25_pols_say_selling_sexist_statue_on_craigslist_would_be_a_civic_virtue.html

The next few art works that I am about to show you has gained ''fame'' for its uniqueness and it can be quite weird but interesting, the way art is presented in many styles, depending on the creativity and emotions of the artist. Have a look and Enjoy!

Artist Cosimo Cavallaro looks over his Chocolate Jesus in Long Island City, Queens, in March 2007. The 6-foot-tall, anatomically correct sculpture opens October 27 in a new exhibit in Chelsea after being booted from its previous location.

The new exhibit, entitled 'Chocolate Saints ... Sweet Jesus,' includes eight chocolate saints surrounding the Chocolate Jesus sculpture. The original Chocolate Jesus exhibit drew protests from Catholic groups when it was unveiled just before Easter 2007. 

The Chocolate Jesus wasn't the only work of art to make headlines this year. In May 2007, artist Daniel Edwards released his 'Paris Hilton Autopsy' sculpture, depicting the nude heiress and her dog in an unglamorous pose. Edwards said the sculpture - which included an interactive abdominal cavity - is designed to warn of the dangers of drunk driving. It was shown at the Capla Kesting Fine Art gallery in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Among Edwards' other works is this 'presidential bust' of Senator Hillary Clinton, which went on display at the Museum of Sex in Manhattan in August 2006. 'Presented in a low cut gown, her cleavage is on display prominently, portraying sexual power which some people still consider too threatening,' Edwards said in a statement.

The Brooklyn Museum of Art hosted the controversial 'Sensation' exhibit in 1999. The show prompted then-Mayor Rudy Giuliani to attempt to cut funding for the museum unless a painting depicting the Virgin Mary embellished with elephant dung was removed.

The painting, by British artist Chris Ofili, also included two dozen cutouts of buttocks from pornographic magazines.

Another British artist, Damien Hirst, caused a stir in 1996 when his work went on display as part of an exhibit at The Gagosian Gallery in SoHo. A giant ashtray full of real smoked butts and crushed empty packs fills the middle of the exhibit space.This is actually one of my favourites, i don't know what are the artists main intentions are, but it shows how the world is getting polluted by this dirty habit and its spreading like a disease, everyone has a cigarette in between their fingers. Feel like death is nearing if there isnt a change. 

The same Hirst exhibit also featured animals preserved in formaldehyde - like this pig, sliced in half to reveal its inner anatomy. This picture might have really offended many people as it portray animal cruelty. To me its just plain weird and disgusting. But hey its still ART!

TO: A LOVED ONE, SNOWEEY BOY!

Happy New Year!! to everyone and anyone who has been tuning into this dull blog and my hope for this year would be to make my blog as interesting as possible, obviously not distracting myself from the main theme, which is about ART! Its not going to be easy, I am confident I will get there. And lets hope this year would not be such a tough year!! Yes i am being optimistic, knowing that dreaded semester 2 exams,tests,assignments and presentations would be starting on the 10th of January, followed by a crucial semester 3, I guess there is no harm in being optimistic! And that is my new years resolution, Be more OPTIMISTIC! I hope it would do me some good!

My topic today would be a little personal, as it is something very close to me, and will always be. You must be baffled reading the title above, Snoweey was non other than my beloved, rambunctious,loving and smart dog.It was a mongrel, and boy he looked handsome! Its white from above his pitch-black nose, straight down to his tail but was the tip was finished by a brilliant golden brown and also the tip of his ears! The apple of our eyes! The most spoiled and attention seeking creature. I can never forget how he use to whine and cry whenever we remained ignorant to his barking and how his tail which curved so perfectly, loses its shapes as soon as it is wagged uncontrollably seeing us. His deep growl and bark, made people fear him, and when his paws stamps on your feet, there would be a mark for sure. Just writing about him, swells my heart. He looked more like a Labrador retriever rather than a mongrel, my uncle gave him to us, I was about 10 years old when Snoweey came into our life.I still vividly remember the day, when death claimed him. It was 3 years ago, 24th Oct 2008. I remember it so well, as I could never forget the day, I had an end-term test to sit for, and heavy heartedly left for school. Snoweey was suffering from kidney stones. The doctor said that nothing could be done about it, if they had operated him, he also would never make it and might die during the operation, So we took him home, and the only thing i was able to do was to cry. Death is horrifying,whether its someone you know, or you don't, to an animal, or any living being of that sort, its just so scary to see it claim its slave. I mustered all the courage in me, to answer my modern maths paper and not end up crying. It was hard to see our Snoweey suffer in pain, and we had decided to end it, by euthanizing him. We kept him as long as we could, but he didn't eat neither did he even have the strength to get up. He looked like a pile of bones and it was very painful and stung us deep down inside. I envied my younger brother, as he had the chance to lay his bonny head on his lap and caress his skeleton body. My brother said he felt a certain wind pass by him, and tingled the wind chimes as soon as Snoweey let out his last breath. I came home to an empty house, visions of Snoweey barking and welcoming me at home, made me cry uncontrollably. He was 5 years dog age, when he left us, 35 years old human age. i miss him so VERY much! Looking at his pictures, just makes me happy that he has gone to a better place, where there is no pain and suffering, after all that he has done for us.

i found a picture that looked just like Snoweey from the net, I cant upload any of his pictures as they are all in an album and i require a scanner, which i don't have currently. This picture very much looks like him.

P.S: I MISS YOU BOY!!

With Lots of Love : Kareshma