Carolyn Gross, from Mise–En-Scène to Mise–En–Place
“I have to pinch myself,” she says. Her sincerity and humbleness come across clearly, even over the phone. “I'm very happy and lucky and grateful to be where I am.”
Below are your search results. You can also try a Basic Search.
“I have to pinch myself,” she says. Her sincerity and humbleness come across clearly, even over the phone. “I'm very happy and lucky and grateful to be where I am.”
Roberto Lugo’s Philadelphia is a “home of Cornbread tagging in the streets,” and of “football with no pads,” where you can get “baseball bats to the face for steppin’ in the wrong neighborhood.” This Philadelphia is not so familiar to the Penn community—our home is more appropriately described by tree–lined brick pathways, long walks to DRL, and consulting club rejections. Lugo’s Philadelphia and Penn’s Philadelphia may exist in the same geographical vicinity, but they often feel worlds apart.
Classic Nudes is an interactive guide to an assortment of the world’s steamiest fine art. The project pairs a curated selection of erotic artworks from museums around the world with short, cheeky descriptions. From the Renaissance to Impressionism and everywhere in between, the works in the guide touch on cornerstones of art history. The guide can be found on Pornhub’s website, and for each museum it includes a map that lays out where the sexy artworks are, an audio tour voiced by Asa Akira, and a video guide for each museum included. The minute–long audio clips are playful and filled with innuendos and pop culture references. Predictably, the videos are NSFW and involve the recreation of sensuous scenes like Gossaert’s Adam and Eve.
Just days after move–in, bright–eyed sophomores took buses up to Fairmount Hill to enjoy art, refreshments, and each other’s company. In the historic Philadelphia Museum of Art, second–year Penn students schmoozed and chit chatted, ushering in what will hopefully be a more community–driven year at Penn. It was a celebration of togetherness for the Class of 2024, marking the first time all of us have been together in one place. The Philadelphia Museum of Art, which Penn rented out in its entirety, made for a special and memorable gala venue because of its scale and landmark status.
After the resurgence of the Taliban in mid–August, Afghans around the country began to flee toward airports and borders in hope for an escape from the increasing human rights violations. The threat to human life, security, and freedom is immeasurable, and no freedom is too fundamental to be safe from the Taliban’s reign. Alongside the dangers faced by the Afghan people is the danger threatening the Afghan legacy, which is ensconced in archeological wonders, sculptural masterpieces, and other studied artifacts. Under the Taliban regime, in all its violence, fundamentalism, and totalitarianism, there’s an urgent and momentous danger facing the treasure trove of art and history that lives within Afghanistan’s borders.
In perhaps the most paramount 81 minutes the art world has ever experienced, March 18, 1990 became much more than the aftermath of a boozy St. Patrick’s day in Boston. With two fake police officer costumes, some duct tape, and a whole lot of mobster–related mystery, 13 internationally treasured works of art were stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum—including a Vermeer and the only Rembrandt seascape. This Is a Robbery: The World’s Biggest Art Heist details the story of the theft and its enigmatic aftermath that continues to leave sleuths dumbfounded. The enthralling limited series makes for a roughly four–hour Sunday afternoon binge, leaving art–crime aficionados wanting more.
We begin at the end, as Tavi Kim (C ’23) excitedly announces, “I’m going to go paint.” His fading purple hair recedes into the distance, as he daydreams about returning to his passion and bops along to what I can only imagine is a carefully curated playlist blasting through his corded earbuds. As most of us retreat to our dorm rooms to begrudgingly catch up on recorded lectures, Tavi makes his way to his studio and living space to do what he loves: Make art.
With warm weather upon us, and the promise of bright, cheery days illuminating our forecasts, many of us rejoice at the opportunity to bask in the sun. East Coast residents look forward to sunshine the same way sunflowers do, as the flowers turn toward the sun to embrace its warm rays. Renowned Post–Impressionist painter Vincent Van Gogh was fascinated by this natural phenomenon, becoming enthralled with the sunflower and painting it many times throughout his career. With a heavy hand, fascinating color schemes, and emotive compositions, Van Gogh revolutionized art. Taking a deeper look at the sunflower may provide a glimpse into his enigmatic yet genius soul.
The days of trudging through mounds of snow when crossing the street and trying to avoid slipping down the Generational Bridge are past us. As the weather warms up, we’ll be SABSing in front of the High Rises, tossing a frisbee like we’re being photographed for an admissions brochure, and playing Spikeball like nobody’s business. While on–campus seasonal changes have very typical quintessential Penn markers, there’s one symbol of spring Penn students and non–Quakers alike associate with the season. Typically blooming sometime in March or April, cherry blossoms are a traditional Japanese symbol of renewal and delight that can be found on campus, in Philadelphia, and all over the world.
“What does it look like to attempt to decolonize design for an app?” Malkia Okech (C '19) asks. “What does it mean to create an immersive digital experience about slavery when that is just such a traumatizing history?”
The artist works rhythmically, transforming her blank canvas into a carefully curated composition through passionate yet intentional movements. She thoughtfully crafts a cohesive appeal to the senses—one that you would be hard–pressed to find hanging on a museum wall. She is not your archetypal beret–sporting, palette–holding artist. Her studio is loud and fragrant, and her work is edible. Her brushes are wooden spoons and whisks, her paints are bechamels and balsamic reductions, and her canvas is a plate. An artist of the kitchen, this chef harnesses the various sensory powers of food to make her diners salivate.
Dolls, with their babydoll dresses, bonnets, and quick–to–tangle hair, are a quintessential aspect of childhood. There's something about a friend who never objects to being dragged around a sandbox or playing pretend that appeals to a child's imaginative tendencies. For some dolls, however, it isn’t always playtime. Addy Walker, American Girl Doll’s first doll of color, is imbued with deep historical and educational meanings that extend far beyond picking out matching outfits and hosting mock tea parties.
“You took the space from a good man.”
It’s not about the destination, but rather the journey. It turns out that this mantra, as trite as it sounds, actually holds some truth when it comes to art. Many artists find that painting, sketching, and sculpting offer an emotional release, making the process of artistic creation just as important as the final product. It doesn’t matter if someone is a master of light and shadow, or if they can freehand a straight line—art may still have health benefits. For these reasons, art therapy has amassed massive amounts of popularity in recent years.
With laser–sharp focus and a meticulous flick of her wrist, Naomi Rosenblum (W '22) paints each and every whisker on her otter. This furry creature floats nonchalantly in a glistening body of water amid colorful ripples and highlights. Sipping a Mai Tai as if it's second nature, the otter seems to be taking in life's simple pleasures like a pro.
If the world’s most famous artists throughout history had Spotify, they’d most certainly be bumping Ke$ha’s “Your Love Is My Drug.” While the image of Botticelli and Dalí jamming to the track’s high–energy, glitter–infused pop beat is definitely an amusing one, it’s plausible that the lyrical message would actually have held meaning for them.
As syllabus days quickly pass and the semester begins to intensify, textbook pages, problem sets, and recorded lectures are piling up like snow on Locust Walk. The titles on this list of pieces at the Philadelphia Museum of Art feel just a little too apt for what we’re all going through right now.
Da Vinci, Dali, Degas, Durer, Duchamp … a cursory look at the names of artists, even just those whose names begin with the letter D, tells us a lot about being a woman in the art world. Unsurprisingly, the number of well–known female artists throughout history pales in comparison to that of their male counterparts. While each of these inspirational women has her own complex and intriguing backstory worthy of its own article, understanding their collective exclusion and erasure from the art world is a necessary step toward making it more equitable.
With his unbridled positivity, calmingly sincere demeanor, and characteristic afro, Bob Ross brought art into the homes of millions. While he can hardly be considered a virtuoso of impasto, chiaroscuro, or any other esoteric technique, he is responsible for a monumental shift in the world of art. Merging entertainment, education, and ingenuity, Bob Ross successfully brought painting out of the academy and into mainstream culture.
Our nation’s famed and magnificent Capitol has the power to turn justice, law, and democracy into emotions with its striking design and rich, historic atmosphere. Architecturally, the Capitol Building has a jurisdictional grandeur, evoking oohs and ahs from international visitors, American citizens, and everyone in between. Inside, a variety of artistic mediums—including busts of the Founding Fathers, relief sculptures, and oil paintings—amplify this impressive aura. They help to glorify the history of the nation, essentially making the Capitol Building an American Acropolis.
Get 34th Street's newsletter, The Toast, delivered to your inbox every Friday morning.
Newsletters