El Anatsui | Old Man's Cloth

Henri Matisse was born in Northern France on December 31, 1869. His father was a successful grain merchant. In 1887, Henri was well on his way to a successful, respectable career when he went to Paris. He was going to study law, and was working in that arena for a while then at age 20, he had appendicitis. His mom gave him a paint set so he could have something to do while he recovered, and he decided to become an artist. Links: ⁠Katsushika Hokusai⁠ ⁠Vincent van Gogh⁠ ⁠Henri de Toulouse Lautrec⁠ ⁠JMW Turner⁠ This is an encore presentation. Every January/February, I release daily episodes to refresh everyone's memory on the 64 artists and artworks that will be included in my Arts Madness Tournament held in March. While most of these daily episodes will be reruns, I will continue publishing new episodes on Mondays. Check out my other podcasts  Fun Facts Daily | Art Smart | Rainbow Puppy Science Lab Who ARTed is an Airwave Media Podcast. If you are interested in advertising on this or any other Airwave Media show, email: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, Renoir is remembered as one of the greatest painters of the Impressionist movement. His paintings are soft and delicate, but his life and his work was a painful struggle. Most painters pride themselves on their ability to work with their hands. They spend years practicing, developing fine motor skills and muscle memory to easily render a beautiful image, but Renoir’s hands weren’t on board with the plan. As his son Jean recounted “Visitors who were unprepared for this could not take their eyes off his deformity. Though they did not dare to mention it, their reaction would be expressed by some such phrase as ‘it isn’t possible! With hands like that, how could he paint those pictures?” In 1899, Pierre-Auguste Renoir was sticken with Rhumetiod Arthritis which not only caused painful inflammation of the joints. It left his hands deformed. While even the most minor movements of his hand or wrist would bring pain, Renoir persisted. He continued making beautiful paintings until his death 20 years later because as he said, “pain passes, but beauty remains.” This is an encore presentation. Every January/February, I release daily episodes to refresh everyone's memory on the 64 artists and artworks that will be included in my Arts Madness Tournament held in March. While most of these daily episodes will be reruns, I will continue publishing new episodes on Mondays. Check out my other podcasts  Fun Facts Daily | Art Smart | Rainbow Puppy Science Lab Who ARTed is an Airwave Media Podcast. If you are interested in advertising on this or any other Airwave Media show, email: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ansel Adams (1902-1984) was an iconic American photographer renowned for his dramatic black and white landscapes, particularly of Yosemite National Park. His distinctive style, characterized by sharp focus, expansive tonal range, and masterful composition, was shaped by his early passion for music, his deep connection with nature, and his innovative approach to photography. Adams co-founded Group f/64, advocating for "straight photography," and developed the Zone System, a precise technique for controlling exposure and development. His most famous works, like "Monolith, the Face of Half Dome," showcase his technical skill and artistic vision, capturing the grandeur of the American West. A dedicated conservationist, Adams used his photography to advocate for environmental protection. His legacy extends beyond his breathtaking images, inspiring generations of photographers and leaving an indelible mark on the art world. Check out my other podcasts  Fun Facts Daily | Art Smart | Rainbow Puppy Science Lab Who ARTed is an Airwave Media Podcast. If you are interested in advertising on this or any other Airwave Media show, email: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

El Anatsui is a leading contemporary sculptor born in 1944 in Anyako, Ghana. Trained at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Anatsui’s early education was heavily influenced by Western art traditions, which often neglected the rich artistic heritage of West Africa. After relocating to Nigeria in 1975 to teach at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, he joined the Nsukka group, a collective dedicated to reviving traditional practices like Uli—an Igbo art form characterized by fluid linear drawings. This shift marked the beginning of his lifelong endeavor to blend traditional African motifs with contemporary sculptural techniques. Anatsui is best known for his monumental "metal cloths," which he began creating in the late 1990s using discarded liquor bottle caps and copper wire. A prime example is the 2003 piece Old Man's Cloth, a massive work measuring approximately 16 feet by 17 feet. These installations are intentionally malleable, allowing curators to fold and drape them differently for every display to create a "non-fixed form". Beyond their visual resemblance to traditional Ghanaian Kente cloth, these materials carry profound historical weight; they reference the transatlantic "Triangle Trade," where alcohol was used as a primary currency by Europeans to exchange for enslaved people in Africa. By employing a communal studio process involving dozens of assistants, Anatsui transforms industrial waste into high art that comments on colonialism, globalization, and the enduring strength of African heritage. Check out my other podcasts  Fun Facts Daily | Art Smart | Rainbow Puppy Science Lab Who ARTed is an Airwave Media Podcast. If you are interested in advertising on this or any other Airwave Media show, email: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Peter Paul Rubens wasn't your typical 17th-century artist. He produced magnificent Baroque masterpieces, his canvases overflowing with vibrant colors and dynamic figures. While Baroque art was known for its high drama, in this case, the real life of the artist may have been even more intriguing. Rubens was not only a highly skilled artist, he was also a shrewd diplomat and a cunning spy, a man who navigated the treacherous world of European politics with as much finesse as he wielded his paintbrush. This is an encore presentation. Every January/February, I release daily episodes to refresh everyone's memory on the 64 artists and artworks that will be included in my Arts Madness Tournament held in March. While most of these daily episodes will be reruns, I will continue publishing new episodes on Mondays. Check out my other podcasts  Fun Facts Daily | Art Smart | Rainbow Puppy Science Lab Who ARTed is an Airwave Media Podcast. If you are interested in advertising on this or any other Airwave Media show, email: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial was established to honor those who died in the Vietnam War. Jan Scruggs, a veteran of the conflict, spearheaded the creation of the memorial and after a nationwide design competition, Maya Lin's design was chosen. Her design was controversial for its minimalist and non-traditional approach, but ultimately it was built and has become an important place for reflection and healing. The work is simple yet profound. The polished black granite is reflective like a mirror. It forces visitors to confront their own image alongside the names of the fallen creating a sense of connection and shared humanity. This is an encore presentation. Every January/February, I release daily episodes to refresh everyone's memory on the 64 artists and artworks that will be included in my Arts Madness Tournament held in March. While most of these daily episodes will be reruns, I will continue publishing new episodes on Mondays. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is one of the 250 artworks required for AP Art History. Learn about more of those works by listening to my ⁠AP Art History Cram Session playlist on Spotify⁠. Check out my other podcasts  Fun Facts Daily | Art Smart | Rainbow Puppy Science Lab Who ARTed is an Airwave Media Podcast. If you are interested in advertising on this or any other Airwave Media show, email: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Elaine de Kooning (1918-1989) was a vital figure in 20th-century American art. She was a renowned Abstract Expressionist painter, portraitist, and writer. Elaine de Kooning's 1963 portrait of John F. Kennedy, now at the National Portrait Gallery, is a significant work reflecting her Abstract Expressionist style applied to portraiture. Commissioned by the Truman Library, the painting captures Kennedy's dynamic energy and charisma through vibrant colors, bold brushstrokes, and a fragmented, almost unfinished quality. Created during and after Kennedy's time in office, the work became a poignant memorial after his assassination, symbolizing the turbulence and vitality of his presidency, and cementing de Kooning's reputation as a master portraitist. Related episodes: ⁠Willem de Kooning⁠ ⁠Jackson Pollock⁠ ⁠Janet Sobel⁠ ⁠Lee Krasner⁠ ⁠Mark Rothko⁠ ⁠Erased de Kooning Check out my other podcasts  Fun Facts Daily | Art Smart | Rainbow Puppy Science Lab Who ARTed is an Airwave Media Podcast. If you are interested in advertising on this or any other Airwave Media show, email: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Willem de Kooning, a Dutch-American Abstract Expressionist painter, was born in Rotterdam in 1904. He stowed away on a freighter in 1926, eventually settling in New York City. De Kooning's early work transitioned from figurative studies to abstraction, though he never fully abandoned the figure, famously stating, "Flesh was the reason oil paint was invented." He gained recognition for his black-and-white abstract paintings and married fellow artist Elaine Fried. Known for his perfectionism, he often reworked his canvases extensively. He moved to East Hampton in 1963, and despite later suffering from Alzheimer's, continued painting until the late 1980s. De Kooning died in 1997, leaving a lasting legacy as a key figure in 20th-century art. Willem de Kooning's "Woman I," created between 1950 and 1952, is a seminal work of Abstract Expressionism. This large-scale painting, now housed at the Museum of Modern Art, is the first in his "Woman" series and is renowned for its intense process and controversial imagery. De Kooning worked on the canvas for nearly two years, repeatedly painting over and scraping away layers, embodying the "action painting" style. Inspired by diverse sources, from contemporary advertisements to ancient fertility figures, "Woman I" depicts a distorted, powerful female figure with aggressive brushstrokes, vibrant yet garish colors, and a chaotic composition. The painting sparked debate upon its 1953 exhibition, with some critics viewing it as misogynistic, while others recognized its challenge to traditional notions of beauty and the female nude. "Woman I" remains an influential piece, reflecting de Kooning's struggle with representation and solidifying his reputation as a major, albeit provocative, force in post-war art. Related episodes: ⁠Jackson Pollock⁠ ⁠Janet Sobel⁠ ⁠Lee Krasner⁠ ⁠Mark Rothko⁠ ⁠Erased de Kooning Check out my other podcasts  Fun Facts Daily | Art Smart | Rainbow Puppy Science Lab Who ARTed is an Airwave Media Podcast. If you are interested in advertising on this or any other Airwave Media show, email: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is kicking off Arts Madness season. Every spring, listeners vote for their favorites in a bracketed tournament of 64 different artists. All during January and February, I will be posting daily episodes as a refresher on the artists and artworks in this year's tournament. Most of these will be encore presentations of old fan favorites, but there will still be new episodes coming into the feed as well. I am creating new episodes based on fan requests which will be coming out on Mondays. Today, I am starting things off with one of my favorites, Robert Rauschenber's Erased de Kooning. A young, up-and-coming Robert Rauschenberg knocked on the door of Willem de Kooning, one of the biggest stars of the art world in his day. Rauschenberg had a big ask. He didn't want advice or help in the traditional sense. He wanted de Kooning to give him a drawing so he could erase it. After an uncomfortable conversation, de Kooning agreed. He looked through his portfolios and picked out a drawing. It was not easy. Rauschenberg spent weeks and wore through numerous erasers on the mixed media piece. In the end he obliterated nearly every trace of de Kooning's drawing in an act that some consider to be an iconoclastic destruction of the artist's legacy and others see as an incredible tribute that completely upended the way we encounter the work moving it from the paper to the imagination. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For today's episode, I wanted to focus on the business side of art by looking at art fairs. I interviewed Amy from the 57th Street Art Fair in Chicago. Celebrating its 79th anniversary, this historic fair has evolved from a neighborhood gathering into a premier juried event. Learn the fascinating history of the fair, insights into the jury process, and stories of famous artists who got their start displaying their work between the trees of Hyde Park. The 57th Street Art Fair takes place annually on the first full weekend of June, located along 57th Street between Woodlawn and Kenwood in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood. The event is free to the public and features not only a diverse array of fine art but also food trucks, live music, and activities for children. Artists interested in exhibiting can apply through the ZAPP application system with a $45 fee, noting that the deadline for submissions is January 15th. Links to explore: 57thStreetArtFair.com ZAPP (for artists who wish to participate) Taylor Mazer (artist whose work we mentioned) Malen Pierson (artist whose work we mentioned) Check out my other podcasts  Fun Facts Daily | Art Smart | Rainbow Puppy Science Lab Who ARTed is an Airwave Media Podcast. If you are interested in advertising on this or any other Airwave Media show, email: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices