The Lonely Palette

Tamar met Dan when she was a worshipful high school freshman and he was (to her) an übercool junior who was not only the arts editor of Thoughtprints, the school's art/lit mag, but also spent his free time in the fine art studio, bending the charcoal like Beckmann. Now he's the Director of the Carpenter Center of Visual Arts at Harvard University, she's an art history podcaster, and they reconnected in the Busch-Reisinger galleries in front of Max Beckmann's "Self-Portrait in a Tuxedo" from 1927 to talk about self-portraiture, self-evolution, and the limitations of peaking in high school. [00:17] - Describing the painting. [02:35] - What drew Dan to the painting as a teenager. [06:16] - The ephemera of the cigarette. [08:17] - Self-portraits in high school. [09:25] - Drawing in thick, expressive lines. [11:35] - The self-portrait that doesn't need our validation. [15:19] - Beckmann isn’t Egon Schiele [18:58] - Dan's evolving relationship with this painting. [21:58] - Thoughtprints! Full transcript: http:/

The later work of Russian ex-pat turned German Expressionist turned indispensable Bauhaus faculty member Wassily Kandinsky is a lot like the Bauhaus itself: a disparate collection of pieces parts that ends up assembling itself into a transparent, efficient, powerfully cohesive, form-follows-function whole. This episode was a collaboration with WBUR's Radio Open Source: check them out at radioopensource.org, and listen to their show on the Bauhaus Centennial on April 11, 2019 at 9:00pm EDT on 90.9 WBUR Boston. See the images: http://www.thelonelypalette.com/episodes/2019/3/24/episode-38-wasily-kandinskys-untitled-1922 Music used: Django Reinhardt, “Django’s Tiger” Thelonious Monk, “Misterioso” The Andrews Sisters, "Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen" The Blue Dot Sessions, “Highway 94”, “Boston Landing”, “Junca”, “Unfolding Plot”, “Micro”, “Betty Dear” Joe Dassin, “Les Champs-Elysees" Support the show: www.patreon.com/lonelypalette Episode sponsor: www.shedunnitshow.com

Let's explore America the Beautiful, the Complicated, and the Contradictory, where a purple mountain has no sense of its own majesty, through the lens of the quintessential dorm room poster photographer Ansel Adams. See the images: http://www.thelonelypalette.com/episodes/2019/3/8/episode-37-ansel-adams-the-tetons-and-snake-river-grand-teton-national-park-wyoming-1942 Music used: Django Reinhardt, “Django’s Tiger” The Andrews Sisters, "Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen" The Blue Dot Sessions, “Vibrant Canopy”, “Bridgewalker”, “The Yards”, “Silver Lanyard”, “Velvet Ladder” Tamar Avishai, “Michigan” Joe Dassin, “Les Champs-Elysees" Support the show! www.patreon.com/lonelypalette Sponsors: www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/lonely www.visualartspassage.com

The fruits of the Second Annual Year-End Patreon Listener Challenge has us staring directly into the cold dead eyes of the beast! How could this restoration of a forgotten 19th century Spanish fresco have gotten so grotesquely botched, and what does it tell us about the challenges of art restoration, religious iconography, and iconoclasm? And more importantly, Jesus, why you look like a shark? See the images: http://www.thelonelypalette.com/episodes/2019/1/25/episode-36-behold-the-monkey-the-ecce-homo-restoration Music used: Django Reinhardt, “Django’s Tiger” The Andrews Sisters, "Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen" The Blue Dot Sessions, “Sylvestor”, “Mute Steps”, “Mr. Graves”, “Lobo Lobo”, “Lumber Down”, “Cloudy Cider” Tracie Potochnik, “Cecilia and the Saints” Episode sponsor: https://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/lonely Support the show! Some more! www.patreon.com/lonelypalette

On October 10, 2018, both the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and Cecilia Vicuña herself were generous enough to give me the opportunity to take a few moments away from the installation of "Disappeared Quipu" and interview Vicuña. We talked about bridging the masculinity of Land Art and the femininity of Fiber Art, the origins of Vicuña's life as an artist, and how her own awareness has evolved throughout her career.

Thick woolen knots, suspended from the ceiling, alive with projections and immersed in sound. You might not realize that Chilean artist Cecilia Vicuña has woven together your awareness of your own awareness, but maybe you just needed some help translating it. See the images: http://www.thelonelypalette.com/episodes/2018/12/1/episode-35-cecilia-vicuas-disappeared-quipu-2018 Music used: Django Reinhardt, “Django’s Tiger” The Andrews Sisters, "Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen" The Blue Dot Sessions, “The Face of the Thrush”, “We Build With Rubber Bands”, “Vdet”, “Between Stones”, “Cover Letter”, “Gentle Son” Support the show! http://www.thelonelypalette.com/2018listenerchallenge Episode sponsor: https://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/lonely

We're trying a little something different today: what happens when Disney scares the pants off you as a kid, and then, in mining the roots of your existential dread, you realize that Henri Matisse and Igor Stravinsky both had their respective pants scared off too, and that this communal pants-scaring explains a whole heck of a lot about early 20th century modernism? See the images: http://www.thelonelypalette.com/episodes/2018/10/27/episode-34-dance-dance-revolution Music used: Django Reinhardt, “Django’s Tiger” The Andrews Sisters, "Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen" Igor Stravinsky, “The Rite of Spring” The Blue Dot Sessions, “Monder”, “House of Grendel”, “Thread Caramb”, Emmit Sprak”, “Lubber”, Ervira” Joe Dassin, “Les Champs-Elysees" Be a part of history! The 2nd Annual Year-End Patreon Listener Challenge is officially ON: www.thelonelypalette.com/2018listenerchallenge Sponsors: https://www.inboundbos.com/ https://www.bumblejax.com/

Powder those wigs and ungird those loins: today we're diving deep into the curves, pastels, and licentious yearnings of a ridiculously saucy little style known as Rococo. See the Images: http://www.thelonelypalette.com/episodes/2018/9/8/episode-33-jean-honor-fragonard-the-desired-moment-c-1770 Music Used: Django Reinhardt, “Django’s Tiger” The Andrews Sisters, "Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen" The Blue Dot Sessions, “Mknt”, “The Big Ten”, “Vernouillet”, “Swapping Tubes”, “Line Etching”, “Fern and Andy” Joe Dassin, “Les Champs-Elysees" Sponsor: www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/lonely Support the show! www.patreon.com/lonelypalette

Ever have a day when you just feel a little... blocked? Well, sure as God made little green apples, Surrealist René Magritte feels you. See the images: http://www.thelonelypalette.com/episodes/2018/8/24/episode-32-ren-magrittes-son-of-man-1964 Music used: Django Reinhardt, "Django's Tiger" The Andrews Sisters, "Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen" The Blue Dot Sessions, "Roundpine", "Borough", "Building The Sled", "Rate Sheet", "Lick Stick", "Pull Beyond Pull" Joe Dassin, “Les Champs-Elysees" Sponsors: http://www.danasaylor.com/retreat http://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/lonely Support the show! www.patreon.com/lonelypalette

Trying to capture time in art is like trying to pin a wave upon the sand or hold a moonbeam in your hand. So leave it to Japanese photographer Hiroshi Sugimoto to do it so effectively by taking us to the Golden Age of Cinema. "Seeking Stillness" is on view at the MFA, Boston until September 3, 2018. See the images: http://www.thelonelypalette.com/episodes/2018/7/5/episode-31-hiroshi-sugimotos-byrd-theater-richmond-1993-1993 Music used: The Andrews Sisters, "Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen" The Blue Dot Sessions, "Cash Cow", "Aourourou", "A Little Powder", "Delicious", "Astrisx", "Bliste" Joe Dassin, “Les Champs-Elysees" Today's sponsors: www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/lonely http://www.theconversationpod.com/ Support the show! www.patreon.com/lonelypalette

Join the OG Ninja Turtle as he guides you into the Renaissance by way of an exquisite tour of heaven. See the image: http://www.thelonelypalette.com/episodes/2018/5/28/episode-30-donatellos-madonna-of-the-clouds-c-1425-1435 Music Used: The Andrews Sisters, "Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen" Lobo Loco, "Piano Cora Theme" The Blue Dot Sessions, "UpUpUp and Over", "Slow Line Stomp", "Lakeside Path", "Perspiration", "Threads and Veils", "Moon Bicycle Theme" Joe Dassin, “Les Champs-Elysees" Support the show: www.patreon.com/lonelypalette

Welcome to the cult of the punk: where the skin is flayed, the contortions are twisty, and the struggle is real.  So why can't we get enough? See the image: http://www.thelonelypalette.com/episodes/2018/4/23/episode-29-egon-schieles-nude-self-portrait-1910 Music used: The Andrews Sisters, "Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen" The Blue Dot Sessions, "Taoudella", "Fifteen Street", "Smooth Stone", "Scraper", "Then A Gambling Problem", "Warm Fingers", "Chrome and Wax" Support the show: www.patreon.com/lonelypalette

Yoko Ono. You may have heard of her. She hooked up with that musician that time. Just under the wire, we end Women's History Month with a peek beneath Ono's art and reputation - and why we need to reconsider both. See the image: http://www.thelonelypalette.com/episodes/2018/3/29/episode-28-yoko-onos-cut-piece-1964 Music used: The Andrews Sisters, "Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen" The Blue Dot Sessions, "Plaster Combo", "Valantis", "Strange Dog Walk", "Hundred Mile", "Down at the Bank"" Joe Dassin, “Les Champs-Elysees" Support the show: www.patreon.com/lonelypalette

Can a comic strip be elevated to fine art? Or is Pop artist Roy Lichtenstein just plain dotty? See the image: http://www.thelonelypalette.com/episodes/2018/3/5/episode-27-roy-lichtensteins-ohhhalright-1964 Music used: The Andrews Sisters, "Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen" The Blue Dot Sessions, "Le Marais", "The Molerat", "Lemon and Melon", "Via Verre", "Lord Weasel", "Entrap" Joe Dassin, “Les Champs-Elysees" Support the show! www.patreon.com/lonelypalette Thanks to our sponsors: https://audioboom.com/channel/empty-frames https://valt.io/lonely/

Your Listener Patreon Challenge has been accepted! And now, let's dive together into kitsch: the frequency low enough for us all to hear. See the images: http://www.thelonelypalette.com/episodes/2018/2/13/episode-26-cm-coolidges-dogs-playing-poker-1903 Music used: The Andrews Sisters, "Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen" The Blue Dot Sessions, "Rose Ornamental," "Flattered," "Arizona Moon," "Laser Focus," "Alchemical," "Two in the Back," "Maisie Dreamer," "Gullwing Sailor," "Maldoc" Joe Dassin, “Les Champs-Elysees" Support the show! www.patreon.com/lonelypalette Today's sponsors: https://www.artiststrong.com/drawing-drills-art-challenge/ https://valt.io/lonely/

In this special episode, we listen to the audio from the live event at the PRX Podcast Garage, "Keepers of the Culture: A Celebration of Meduna and Holmes," which I had the privilege of participating in at the end of January. In it I chat with collage artist Ekua Holmes, play her some audio I produced on her work, and then we listen to art historian Barry Gathier give the curator talk to end all curator talks on art, artists, viewers, and why we do what we do. Special thanks to PRX, the PRX Podcast Garage, and WGBH. Support the show! www.patreon.com/lonelypalette Thank a sponsor! https://www.artiststrong.com/drawing-drills-art-challenge/

Our lady of the hour, muse of Dan Brown, satisfier of bucket lists, those eyes, that smile, La Gioconda, El Hefe. Just in time for the holidays, we bring you a super-sized episode on a super-sized love affair with a dinky little portrait. See the images: http://www.thelonelypalette.com/episodes/2017/12/17/episode-25-mission-mona-lisa Music used: The Andrews Sisters, "Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen" The Blue Dot Sessions, "Tar and Spackle", "Welcome Home Sonny", "Caprese", "Tiny Putty", "Festering", "Inamorata", "Sunset at Sandy Isle", "Spins and Never Falls" Nat King Cole, "Mona Lisa" Support the show! www.patreon.com/lonelypalette

Whether you think Mark Rothko is the portal to spiritual transcendence or emotional-ambulance-chasing bunk, let's take the necessary time to explore his work without feeling like our souls are at stake. See the images: http://www.thelonelypalette.com/episodes/2017/11/20/episode-24-meditations-on-mark-rothko Music used: The Andrews Sisters, "Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen" The Blue Dot Sessions, "A Simple Blur", "Thematic", "Cases to Rest", "Plate Grayscale", "Drone Thistle," "Sage the Hunter" Dar Williams, "Mark Rothko Song" Joe Dassin, “Les Champs-Elysees" Support the show! www.patreon.com/lonelypalette. Our Year-End Listener Challenge is ON. Become a patr(e)on by December 15th and yours truly will produce an episode on "Dogs Playing Poker" because of course.

At the intersection of past and future sits a pack of hormonal dudes punching each other and making beautiful art. See the image: http://www.thelonelypalette.com/episodes/2017/10/30/episode-23-umberto-boccionis-unique-forms-of-continuity-in-space-1913 Music used: The Andrews Sisters, "Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen" Podington Bear, "Kaleidoscope" The Blue Dot Sessions, "Chase and We Follow", "The Telling", "Trelaga", "Thirteens" Joe Dassin, “Les Champs-Elysees" Support the show! www.patreon.com/lonelypalette

The Lonely Palette is thrilled to announce that we're a founding member of Hub & Spoke, a brand spanking new collective of Boston-centric, idea-driven podcasts. To kick things off, we're proud to present an episode of Soonish, the podcast about the future, hosted by veteran technology journalist Wade Roush. This episode, "Can Technology Save Museums?" not only asks some important questions about the future of art museums, but features me telling The Lonely Palette's origin story (spoiler: I say puke a lot). Learn more about Soonish and Hub & Spoke: http://www.thelonelypalette.com/episodes/2017/10/24/special-episode-10-introducing-hub-spoke-by-way-of-soonish Music used: The Blue Dot Sessions, "When In The West", "Cases to Rest"