Great article in the New York Times on the microscopic inspiration for many of Kandinsky's paintings, especially Several Circles (1926).(You can imagine looking through a microscope and and finding something similar to the Several Circles.)
Many of Kandinsky's early twentieth century paintings capture the energy of creation and life and nature's repeating patterns. According to the Times' reporter, he saw these forms as part of a cosmic language and a link to a higher spiritual plane.
Kandinsky's fascination with the repeatable patterns in nature reminds me of the writings of novelist Madeleine L'Engle.
In her works, L'Engle explores how the patterns found in nature told us something both about how God is an Artist and how we were created to be interdependent. Stars, animals, and humans were created from the same stuff of life by the same Artist.
Love Kandinsky, and the article is cool! Thanks, Glenn!
ReplyDeleteHey Becky, I love that you love Kandinsky! Did you cover him in your art class?
ReplyDeleteHi Glenn,
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the blog on Kandinsky whom I have made reference to one of the segments on the blues from an African American literature class that I taught a few years ago. I used Kandinsky’s comments regarding shades of blue as represented by various instruments as applicable to various gradations in going from the pitch-black blue all the way up to pastel blue—“Like Betty Lou hopscotching up to Sky Blue and back”-- in the range of emotions conveyed in the blues. So I appreciated your article. In reading your bio I see that we have a number of things in common: we are both ministers who have a loving concern for Washington, DC, where I lived from 1969-71. I met my wife Brenda in 1971 when we both worked in the Madison Office Building on 15th and M, NW. At the time I worked for the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association and she for the American Association of Junior Colleges. I went into a ministry leadership development program while Brenda worked at the ministry headquarters. We were married in 1973 and returned to coordinate a number of home-based fellowships in DC, Maryland, Northern Virginia and Delaware, my first ministry assignment. We lived in Arlington the first two years of ministry and of our marriage. So I have fond memories of DC which has a special place in my heart.
Recently I have started a blog which may be of interest to you in light of some of our common interests: http://drlej.wordpress.com/ I am also Christian Spirituality Examiner for Examiner.com, an Internet publication, where you might find some of my articles to be informative and inspirational:
http://www.examiner.com/x-20264-Columbus-Christian-Spirituality-Examiner
Again, thanks for posting the Kandinsky piece, and I look forward to reading some of your other postings.
Best regards,
Lonnell Johnson
Thanks Lonnell. I am fascinated by how you brought together Kandinsky and the blues. I will email you soon. And yes, I looked over your blog and will definitely follow you in the future! Thanks for commenting! Best, Glenn
ReplyDelete