Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras, also known as Fat Tuesday, is a pagan holiday created as a huge party before Lent. People indulge in all their guilty pleasures before they have to give it up for Lent. They partake in dancing, drinking, partying, and general celebration. This holiday is widely celebrated in New Orleans. In Art History, we created our own “day” to commemorate the day before Ash Wednesday. Some people chose to indulge in food, like April’s Jerk Day and my Chocolate Chip Day, while others chose something healthier, like Rebecca’s Singing Day. Personally, I agree most with Kelly’s Relaxing Day. Lent should make you want to abstain from whatever you choose to give up, not indulge in it to the point where you don’t want it for forty more days.

Gothic Art

Dark, rich colors, heavy structures, metal embellishments, and gargoyles all come to mind when thinking of Gothic style. These descriptions pretty much held true when studying this unit. The Gothic period began in the mid-12th century and lasted until the end of the 15th or 16th century. I thought it was interesting that its name was given by critics who scorned the art of this period because it didn’t hold to the standards of ancient Greek and Roman art. It was named after Goths and Barbarians that brought the fall of Rome. So basically, its name derived from an insult. The cathedrals are evidence of this gothic style. I enjoyed making the rose windows and especially liked the contrast of the bright “stained glass” colors against the black.

Early Christianity

Illuminated manuscripts were the focus of our unit on Early Christian art. They were originally used to depict stories in the Bible. Calligraphers spent hours decorating these manuscripts, which are characterized by an enlarged first letter. I love the organic shapes used in the intricate ornamentation of the manuscripts. Flowers, vines with ivy leaves, acanthus leaves, curving lines, and various animals are often incorporated in the illuminated manuscripts. Our own interpretations of this ancient art included an inspirational quote, illuminated first letter, calligraphy writing, and decorated frame. I can hardly imagine how much time and detail the original artists had to dedicate to these manuscripts. Overall, I think illuminated manuscripts are a beautiful form of art.