06.27.07

“Primitive Art” - What Is It?

Posted in Art Discoveries, Embroidery at 1:13 pm by Administrator

What exactly does the word “primitive” mean? Today, we have a relatively new embroidery style that folks are calling “primitive.” This embroidery genre is based on simple line drawings of angels, pumpkins, houses, fences, and other “folksy” designs, all drawn to give a purposely unschooled look. There is nothing fancy about the work. It is often worked on tea-dyed fabric and executed with straight lines or outline stitch. The idea of “primitive” motifs has led me to think about the term, as it applies to ancient people and their art.

First, the work of prehistoric, Paleolithic man comes to mind, as seen in the images that were painted, incised, or sculpted onto the walls of a cave in Altamira, Spain. The most famous of the figures, perhaps, is a wounded bison that has fallen to the ground.

Cave paintings are a reflection of the culture that created them. Nor is that cave in Spain the only one to feature “art.” One lesser known cave in Spain depicts the processes of procreation and reflects an early understanding of biological actions and results. A cave in Lascaux, France also feature painted animals. Some art historians have considered the hunting scenes of early cave paintings to have been used as a good luck omen to cast a magical spell on the good fortunes of the hunt.

Another group, North American Indian “artists,” has now, mysteriously, disappeared. Once a thriving population, the Anasazi Indians of the Four Corners region of the U.S., were an advanced, sophisticated, and savvy group. Their ruins are a place that still calls many visitors to the southwest, each year. On rocks, the Anasazi etched “petroglyphs,” still studied by artists and archaeologists.

A third group of “primitive” people were the Mayans. They also had a very advanced culture. Please read the entry under “Art Discoveries,” on this blog, that describes how a professor from the University of New Hampshire discovered some new “finds,” not too long ago.

People have always found art to be pleasing, hopeful, satisfying, expressive, a good luck omen, spiritual, magical, reflective, and many other words we could use to describe what we generally just call “art.” The lesson to be learned, in this discussion, is that there really is “nothing new under the sun,” as is stated in the Bible. As long as there are people, I predict that many of those individuals will continue to want to create “art,” for its own sake. Primitive Art, in general, gives us a window into the creative processes of the human mind and its expression in art from times passed.
Patricia Cummings

04.30.07

Chalk Talks

Posted in Books, Art in NH, Web Additions, Art Discoveries at 1:55 am by Administrator

I have just written a new file about the topic of “Chalk Talks.” These appear to have been most popular in the early twentieth century. I have been intrigued with the name. If anyone hears of some other person who is known for this kind of illustrated instruction, I’d love to hear more!

Pat Cummings

01.14.07

Amazing Discovery of Mayan Art by UNH Professor

Posted in Art Discoveries at 9:19 pm by Administrator

When William Saturno, a professor at the University of New Hampshire, traveled to Guatemala in 2001, he made an amazing discovery. In looking for Mayan ruins at San Bartolo, he ventured into the jungle with just enough food and water for one day. The trip turned out to be three days to the destination point, and three days back.

In searing 90 degree heat and severely hydrated, he entered what appeared to be a cooler spot, at a cave-like entry point. When he took out a flashlight and looked up, he realized that he was sitting in an ancient Mayan temple with paintings on the walls. His discoveries of Mayan hieroglypic writings have been dated to 400 B.C. to 200 A.D., centuries earlier than previously thought for mesoamerican hieroglypics.

A PBS special that aired in my area today was the first I had heard of these new findings of ancient Mayan sites in Guatemala. Saturno’s knowledge of archaeology, along with the work of an associate who used a Nasa satellite and space technology resulted in the mapping of coordinates by which other Mayan ruins were located. The limestone used to build the temples has resulted in plant life that glows in photos taken from outer space and this altered chlorophyll led to the further discoveries of Mayan buildings.

To read a story about William Saturno and his incredible journey and findings, please visit this page:

http://unhmagazine.unh.edu/sp02/temple_doom.html

I am so proud of my alma mater, UNH, and its ability to attract and keep outstanding professors, many of whom are research oriented. I just had to share this great news with you. There are many other files online about his work, but the one above will bring you to a three page article in the UNH magazine.

Patricia

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