What is Art?

There is an exhibit in the "Museum of Modern Art" in Klagenfurt.
Its title "White Cube Jesus" intrigued me, so I drove the 60 km in order to view this work.
This Museum is beautifully situated in a former Palace which includes a Christian Chapel.
This is what I found:
In the chapel, which contains no benches or other furnishings, there is a large "white cube", with the front wall missing, brilliantly lit from the inside.
The Artist is one Ms. Sonja Gangl. Her work is described in an accompanying brochure as "concentrated, focused, reductive and minimal."
I find it difficult to become enthusiastically moved, although it is suggested that this "puristic white cuboid may be interpreted at once as a sculpture, stage set, and theatrical framework..... "
indeed, within this "cuboid" a theatre piece was performed, called: "Nipple Jesus".
Unfortunately, not having seen it,  I have no idea what this drama was all about.

The question raises itself: Is this a "work of art?"
It certainly is a white cuboid, placed almost as a challenge into the baroque-style, ecclesiastical surrounding and thusly urges the viewer to contemplate specifically this work and generally the question of Art.
Maybe the concept of "Art" can only be found, as I said in an earlier piece, in the discussion about the fundamental question: "What is Art?"
Compare Albrecht Dürer's  "Young Hare" or L.d.V's. "Last Supper" with Sonja Gangls "White Cube Jesus."
Can it be said that these are just different kinds of Art?
Maybe?

"White Cube Jesus"

an Installation by Sonja Gangl"

in the "Burgkapelle"

at the Museum of Modern Art in Klagenfurt.

... taken from the Choir Loft of the Chapel.

( unfortunately a somewhat less than perfect exposure does not show

details, such as where the joints of the inside of this cube appear.

there is, of course, a floor, side walls and a back wall 

which appear here as a single white surface.)

The Melodies - 1949/50

This Septett was known as "The Melodies"

They played in various locations in "Upper Austria" and "Bavaria"

The Melodies cropped.

Long long ago

47 years ago, in 1969,  a Soccer Team of players under the age of 16 won the North York, East Division, League Championship.
Many games of hard work, dedication and the will to win brought these boys to this illustrious point.

Had I not found my old jacket with this emblem affixed to it, I would not have remembered this thrilling day.  I had the unbridled honour and pleasure of coaching these lads to this final victory.

We, Willowdale United, Bantam Team, were in first place, but only by one point. Had we not won this game and second place "Lansing S.C." had won theirs, we would have had the dubious pleasure of being the runner-up, or, as we said in those times, we would have been "the first loser".
So now, Let's hear it for "Willowdale United"...

                                                              the Winners of the 

        1969 North York, East Division, Bantam Championship!

Sounds mighty impressive... doesn't it ?

gratefully yours

Bert Reitter

Coach

Advent Singers

The mixed Choir of Bleiburg

sings Songs of Advent

in the "Peter and Paul Church"

Modest Christmas decoration

on the 10. Oktoberplatz,

Bleiburg's main street.

Santa in Disguise

Since he did not wish to be recognized, Santa shaved his beard and dressed much like a way-out-in-the-country farmer near Bleiburg would. He got rid of his silly red outfit. He also exchanged his Reindeer- pulled sleigh for a 1952 green "Volkswagen."
Thusly attired, Santa Claus came to Bleiburg, looking just like farmer Radocher, and everybody who saw him on that day, fell for this clever camouflage.
I found one thing a little strange: Santa "sold" his Christmas trees for 10 Euros per foot.

Art, Art and Art again

I decided that my "terrific work of Art" needs a little more colour. So I dipped into the pail which had "Red" written on it. I dabbed some of that on my "terrific work of Art" in the hope that my admiring public will appreciate even more "my terrific work of Art." One of my Gallery owners wrote some words, typically applied to "terrific works of Art" as follows:
" Once again we stand in Awe, with a capital A, in front of Bert's unbelievably expressive "terrific work of Art". We can only be astonished at the depth of the deep expressions given to this "terrific work of Art" by the sensitivity of the brush stroke, particularly of the brush stroke leading the viewers eye from the left to the right side of this "terrific work of Art". The subtle change from the yellow element to the brilliant red constituency soothes the eye and the soul of the viewer in a manner which can only be achieved by an accomplished artist, such as Bert, the creator of this and many other "terrific works of Art". 

signed: Gallery Owner ( who hopes to split the proceeds of the Sale of this "terrific work of Art" on a 50/50 basis. )

Art for Art's Sake

As you can see, I have joined the ranks of the "modern artist."

I have taken a piece of fabric

and have spilled some coloured material upon it.

Once it dries, I will put it in a frame and hang it onto a wall.

As soon as I can think of a fancy name for it,

I will also think of a fancy price.

If you can think of a fancy name for it

I will go 50/50 with you.

More Black Wire

Here are some more of Esther's creations

It's hard to believe how a long piece of black wire can change into three dogs.

or into two spiders...

or, would you believe it, into a Kangaroo.

In Esther's hands, anything is possible.

Religion: Truth or Fiction ?

There is a heated debate going on in the educational field about Religious Instructions in Austrian schools. The debate ranges particularly about lower grade schools. Public schools, dealing with children from 5 or 6 years and upward.

Older children, so it is claimed, are capable of making their own decisions whether they wish to have religious instructions or not.

This, however, seems to be a lame argument, since, if a child has had “Reli” from Grade 1 and up, he/she will be so thoroughly indoctrinated, not to say “brainwashed” that this decision no longer is their own. Conversely, if there has not been any Religious Instruction, from childhood on, it is unlikely that as a teenager or older he/she will choose it.

In my opinion, the question is not about the age at which Religion is to be taught, but whether it should be taught at all, and how it should be taught.

Schools, after all, are here to teach firstly about “real” issues, such as Math, Physics, Chemistry, History, Geography, Languages, Computer Sciences and so on.

Schools should also speak of less tangible issues, such as Psychology, Philosophy, Ethics and, yes, also about Religion. In no way should these subjects be taught as “Facts” or “Truth”, because they simply are neither. The Philosophies of Lock, Kant, Schopenhauer or Nietzsche are neither “Facts” nor are they “Truths.” They are “Opinions”, expressed by men, open to be rejected, accepted or interpreted by other men. Religion falls into this same category of “Opinion.”

None of it is “Fact” or “Truth”.

The followers of several Preachers were clever enough to give their Teachings the mantle of “Truths” and “Facts”, without offering so much as a smidgen of evidence.

What evidence has ever been offered for the existence of a “Concerned God”? None!

In fact there is more evidence regarding the non-existence of a “Concerned God” as there is to the opposite. Why do so many “believe” without the smallest proof, in a Life after Death ?

What evidence is there regarding the existence of Heaven and Hell? None.! Absolutely “None”.

And yet, the majority of adherents to all the major Religions follow these absurd opinions, because they have been presented to the followers again and again.

Since Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and all the others, are not based on Facts, but on Opinion, neither should be taught in Schools as “Fact.”

A course in “Comparative Religion” as in “Comparative Philosophies” should be taught in schools, but it should never be presented as Facts.

A teacher of such C.R. Might start his lesson in the following way:

Approximately 2000 years ago, a man seems to have preached a set of Ethics to his followers. Unfortunately, none of it was actually recorded until years later and we will discuss his Principles in this light.

Approach the Old Testament, the New Testament, the Koran and all other such books as a collection of Opinions and not as Truths or Facts. On close reading of the two “Testaments” ( which are the only ones I know a little about ) it is totally impossible to present those as “Truth.” and yet, they are introduced to a non-suspecting public as “truthful in every word.”

So, by all means, teach a course of Comparative Religion, but do not teach it with the same certainty as you teach other, demonstrable subjects....

Wire Art

For some, this is a length of wire, while for others it is the material to fashion a piece of Art.
Esther, a friend of ours, belongs to this second group.
Just look at it and think that all of them started out as a piece of black wire:

The Big Rock

I think this is a legitimate question:

How did this rock get there, in the middle of flat, mountainless, bushland?

Don't talk to me about the ice age!

This is Gottfried, the Sugarbaker!

This is Gottfried, our neighbour !

Sugarbaker and Candlemaker.

Last week he invited a group of us to see him produce

some of his delicacies.

.

I gather, one needs strong hands for this job

 as well as the patience of Job

for all the detail work.

With St. Nikolaus-day  having arrived 

and the Christmas Season being in full swing,

Gottfried is busier than a one-armed paperhanger.

His wonderful sweets are popular around the countryside.

Very popular around this time is

one of Gottfried's specialties: "Ginger bread"

which he fashiones not only into hearts, 

but also into the image of Santa Claus,

or at least the  Austrian equivalent ,

Sankt Nikolaus.

I wish you a Happy Holiday.

It was a hot day in the Masai Mara

It was a hot day in the Masai Mara

and the vultures and Maribu Storks,

which had come to the crossing of the Mara River 

by thousands of Wildebeests,

spread their wings to catch what little breeze there was.

In Kariba

On one of the Seven Hills of Kariba

Gladys can't decide which, so she bought one of each.

accompanied by Christopher Weare.

A cowardly attack.

Pearl Harbor

It was the morning of the 7^th day of December 1941, when the Japanese, emboldened by their conquest of large parts of South East Asia, and in preparation of their intended capture of overseas territories of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and the United States, launched the infamous attack against the U.S. Navy, stationed at Pearl Harbor.

At dawn of that day, six aircraft carriers positioned themselves and over 350 fighter planes, bombers and torpedo planes attacked and sank or severely damaged almost the entire Pacific fleet of the American naval forces.

The Japanese celebrated this successful sneak attack as a great victory over the Americans.

In hindsight even the most fanatical Japanese admirers of Emperor Hirohito and his Generals must admit that sinking American ships, killing 2400 Americans, wounding another 1200 was a gigantic mistake:

It caused the Americans to declare war on Japan, a war which started on the 8^th day of December 1941 and ended after two atomic bombs were used by the Americans, in September of 1945.

There are, even today, so I am told, Japanese visitors to Pearl Harbor, having their photographs taken, smiling broadly and showing with spread fingers, the V for victory sign.

It matters not where you go, you will find people who deny historical facts.

The Pacific Theater of War cost a total of 36 Million lives, about half of the total number of victims of World War 2.

May all of them rest in peace.

Bertstravels