Monthly Archives: April 2018

This year at Baruch’s Art-A-Thon, I had the pleasure of listening in on a lecture about Edward and Josephine (Jo) Hopper, two American painters. Professor Gail Levin, distinguished art historian and author of many books on Edward Hopper, delivered the lecture with a slideshow of some art pieces by both painters and photographs of the couple.

Professor Levin offered great insight into the life of Jo and Edward Hopper as two lovers and two artists. Jo recorded her personal thoughts in diaries, while Edward would draw silly caricatures of their relationship. One example of this is his rendition of his growing jealousy towards Jo’s cat. This drawing is below depicting Jo and her cat happy at the table, while a sickly Edward is kneeling on the floor.

Edward and Jo were opposites, physically and emotionally. He stood at six foot five, while she was barely five feet. Edward was quiet and reserved, as reflected in his early self-portraits, while Jo was outspoken enough for the two of them. They often traveled in Edward’s Buick, his mobile studio, and painted many of the same scenes that offered an interesting look into both of their viewpoints.

Edward Hopper is recognized as one of the greatest realists from America. Jo never received the same success, being a woman in the early 1900s and then having most of her own work thrown out after her death. Nonetheless, her husband ensured that his last painting, seen below, would depict them both together bowing from the spotlight.  

Yesterday, I joined the Wax-Seal Stamp Making Workshop during 12:30-2:00 p.m. because I prefer handcraft and painting to dance and music. After sign in, we selected a lump of clay. The first step was that we needed to work up it into a shape of seal. I pinched a heart-shaped handle of the seal. You can make any shape you like. Then, we pressed the front and back on the table. The surface of the seal would be flat. Second, I carved my favorite brief pictures on the stamp that were a pig and a emoji. I picked out the tools that I thought it was best to use and got the praise from others. (I’m so happy.) Here was a tips that don’t carve the pictures too deep because wax would remain in the seal, and it was not convenient to take out. Third, when I finished carving, I waited 30 minutes to let the seal was baked. After that, we lit the candle and waited for the wax oil to fall. We could stamp it until save enough. Finally, when the wax oil was cooled, we took the seal and got it done. I was failed at the first time because I carved my pictures too deep and it needed to be dipped in water before stamping. It was my first time to learn how to make a wax-seal stamp. The handwork can relieve stress and let people be more creative. Therefore, I’m happy and enjoy to join in this active and really suggest you can try to do that at next time.

This Thursday Baruch will be holding an all day “Art-A-Thon,” offering a wide range of experiences in music, visual art, literature, theater, and more.  I have attached the schedule of events.  In order to receive credit, you must attend one or more of the events on the schedule and post a report about your experience to our course blog (min. 250 words).  Please include a photograph in your post which can serve as documentation of your presence at the session.  This is the second year that this event is being held.  Students and faculty who participated last year had a terrific time! Enjoy!

ArtAThon.schedule.2018 (1)

–What motivates Hedda to encourage Lovborg to resume drinking?
–Discuss the role of Thea in the play? What function does she serve?
–What role does class play in Hedda Gabler?
–What does Lovborg’s death mean to Hedda?
–Do you feel sympathetic to Hedda? Why or why not?