Matter of Art

In this episode, we sit down with three master’s students in Art History and Art Conservation to explore their unique summer internships and research experiences. Sophie Morris and Sonia Gaiess offer a glimpse into the fascinating worlds of private and museum conservation, while Sarah Tomkins takes us on her journey of hands-on, primary research at the renowned Venice Biennale. Connect with Liz at Matter of Art on the podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://matterofart.crd.co/⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Episode five explores the myth of the "artist genius" through the life and work of Rembrandt van Rijn. Inspired by a university class on the Art of Deception, we delve into Rembrandt's market-savvy practices, his studio's collaborative nature, and how his entrepreneurial spirit redefined authorship. Discover how Rembrandt's approach challenges the notion of solitary genius, shedding light on the contributions of his students and the complexities of art attribution. Connect with Liz at Matter of Art on the podcast ⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠https://matterofart.crd.co/⁠⁠⁠. Sources: Alpers, Svetlana. Rembrandt’s Enterprise: The Studio and the Market. The University of Chicago Press, 1988. Gover, K. E. Art and Authority: Moral Rights and Meaning in Contemporary Visual Art. Oxford University Press, 2018. Moses, Nancy. Fakes, Forgeries, and Frauds. Rowman & Littlefield, 2020. Stone-Ferrier, Linda. “The Rembrandt Research Project: Issues and Controversies Raised by a Canonical Oeuvre.” In Partisan Canons, edited by Anna Brzyski. Duke University Press, 2020. Tummers, Anna. The Eye of the Connoisseur: Authenticating Paintings by Rembrandt and His Contemporaries. Getty Publications, 2011. Wheelock Jr., Arthur K. “Issues of Attribution in the Rembrandt Workshop.” Dutch Paintings of the Seventeenth Century. NGA Online Editions, 2014.

Let’s explore the deep roots of crucifixion imagery, from ancient Roman execution methods to its transformative representation in art. We’ll journey through Renaissance polychrome sculptures, understanding how artists depicted Christ's suffering to convey powerful narratives. We culminate with Salvador Dalí’s "Crucifixion (Corpus Hypercubus)," blending Catholicism, science, and surrealism in a groundbreaking 20th-century piece. Join me for an enlightening exploration of how a symbol of death evolved into a profound artistic expression across time and dimensions. Connect with Liz at Matter of Art on the podcast ⁠⁠website⁠⁠: ⁠⁠https://matterofart.crd.co/⁠⁠. Sources: Banchoff, Thomas F. “Salvador Dalí and the Fourth Dimension.” Proceedings of Bridges 2014: Mathematics, Music, Art, Architecture, Culture (2014). http://t.archive.bridgesmathart.org/2014/bridges2014-1.pdf. “Crucifixion (Corpus Hypercubus).” The Metropolitan Museum of Art. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/488880. Harley-McGowan, Felicity. “Death Is Swallowed up in Victory: Scenes of Death in Early Christian Art and the Emergence of Crucifixion Iconography.” Cultural Studies Review 17, no. 1 (2011): 101–24. Harley-McGowan, Felicity. “The Crucifixion.” In Picturing the Bible: The Earliest Christian Art, edited by Jeffrey Spier, 227-232. Yale University Press, 2007. Stoleriu, Adrian. “The Theme Of The Crucifixion Of Christ In Visual Arts,” SEA – Practical Application of Science 3(2), no. 8 (2015): 161-167.

In this episode we learn about the life and work of American artist Carrie Mae Weems. In the first part of the episode, we explore the themes and methods most pertinent to Weems’s oeuvre while in the second part, we discuss The Kitchen Table Series—a seminal work by Weems—and its negotiation of space, power and intimacy. Connect with Liz at Matter of Art on the podcast ⁠website⁠: ⁠https://matterofart.crd.co/⁠. Sources: Palumbo, Jacqui. “Revisiting Carrie Mae Weems’s Landmark “Kitchen Table Series.”” Artsy, August 19, 2020. https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-late-phyllida-barlow-turned-everyday-waste-wondrous-sculptures. Weems, Carrie Mae. Carrie Mae Weems. Edited by Sarah Elizabeth Lewis. Cambridge, Massachusetts: The MIT Press, 2021.

In conversation with Queen’s University Professor Dawn Cunningham, we learn how to look at and interpret art critically, and we discuss the prevalence of art forgeries and their impact on our experience and understanding of art history. Together we answer questions including: What are some key elements we should consider when looking at a piece of art? What impact do forgeries have on the art market, the cultural value of art, and the public’s understanding of art? How can art serve as a reflection of society or convey particular themes and narratives? Connect with Liz at Matter of Art on the podcast ⁠website⁠: ⁠https://matterofart.crd.co/⁠.

In this episode, we explore the extraordinary life and art of Sargy Mann, a British painter of landscapes and portraits who continued to create after losing his sight. We will discover how Sargy’s unique vision transcended traditional perceptions, offering profound insights into how we experience art. We will also discuss how we can better appreciate art and the world around us, challenging ourselves to look beyond appearances. Connect with Liz at Matter of Art on the podcast website: https://matterofart.crd.co/. Sources: Mann, Peter and Sargy Mann. Sargy Mann: Probably the Best Blind Painter in Peckham. SP Books, 2008. Mann, Sargy. "Sargy Mann: How a blind painter sees." BBC, June 14, 2015. Sargy Mann Archive. https://sargymannarchive.com/.