Examples of Tenebrism

Tenebrism: (Tenebroso - Italian - meaning dark and gloomy) referring to a style of painting that is characterized by high contrast between light and dark, as opposed to a gradual transition.  This style is usually used when depicting a night time scene.

David with Head of Goliath - Caravaggio (1609-1610)

Sacrifice of Isaac - Caravaggio (1571-1610)

Dual Nature

Inside Dual Nature
Photo: Faraon Bush

Dual Nature, by artist Kate Raudenbush, is the most recent installation art work that has been brought from Burning Man to be shared with the city of Reno.  Forming a complete circle, this sculpture is made of metal rods and planks.  Standing outside the sculpture, you can see the shape the planks make as they are slanted one a little more than the next.  Standing inside the sculpture however, is where the true magic of this work of art lies.  Inside of the sculpture the planks are a reflective red surface meant to represent blood as the entire sculpture as a whole represents human DNA.  The red planks reflect back on the viewer their world around them so as to show them their connection to the people in their surroundings.  Kate's sculpture is a beautiful influence on the environment of Downtown Reno and does a great job of reminding everyone that we are all made of the same fiber.  

Dual Nature can be located on the river in downtown just off of Virgina street right next to the Wild River Grille at 17 S. Virginia St.  The installation is made possible by The City of Reno Arts and Culture Commission and the BRAF.

Drift Project

While wandering around in down town Reno for my class "drift" project, I couldn't help noticing all the signs that tell you what NOT to do...






This sign can be seen in several of the shop windows located down town

 





Seen in the window of a deli market

 


Sign seen on the edge of Wingfield Park



Found outside a gated parking lot



Entrance into a Parking Garage



Found in a shop's window



Posted inside West Street Market



Danger sign in the back of the post office



Outside front entrance to post office



Many no parking zones can be seen in the down town area



Thinking About Visual Conventions

Both John Taylor and Howling Wolf attended the peace treaty signing at Medicine Creek Lodge in 1867 and created drawings depicting the event.  The drawings that they both created, however, contrast greatly.  For instance Taylor's depiction would definitely be considered a representational work of art, whereas Howling Wolf's is more of an abstract view.

Drawn in pencil, Taylor's drawing shows no color, but uses light and shading to create a foreground and a background in his drawing to let the viewer distinguish space.  In his drawing, the viewer can see the men who are representatives of the United States government gathered around with a group of Native Americans.  It is impossible however to distinguish one tribe from another.  It is in this observation that Taylor's drawing appears to be ethnocentric, maybe showing that he didn't feel that the tribes had their own separate identities. 

Howling Wolf's drawing, on the other hand, uses color to depict each individual tribe.  He shows them camped amongst trees along the river bank, and a grove of trees where they would meet with the men from the United States Government.

Also in Howling Wolf's drawing is shown women in their formal dress.  When looking at Taylor's drawing, no woman can be distinguished.  This difference shows the contrast in each artist's culture.  Howling Wolf drew the women at the treaty signing because they were important figures in their culture.  However, in Taylor's time, women had no place in politics. 

When looking at the two drawings at first, they appear to be telling the same story.  After analyzing and looking deeper into the meanings of their symbols it could be said that they are reporting the same event but telling different stories based upon how the artist's culture allowed them perceive it.