The Last Supper with Parrots?

Imagine a Last Supper with parrots, buffoons, dogs, a nose bleed, drunkards and German soldiers. This would have certainly made the event more lively. Paolo Veronese (1528-1588) painted a huge canvas (17 x 42 feet) displaying just this.

Paolo Veronese - Last Supper / Feast in the House of Levi

Unfortunately the church were not too happy with this, and called Veronese in front of the Inquisition. The transcript for this still exists, and I can't help but chuckle at the thought of the Holy Office grilling Veronese on his painting. Although I am sure it can't have been much fun for him. Monty Python created a skit based on this very event.
The outcome for Veronese? He was ordered to improve and alter the painting within three months. Veronese did not do this, instead he changed the name of the painting to the Feast in the House of Levi. Veronese was a religious man, so was unlikely to have painted this to offend (interestingly Leonardo da Vinci who also painted an image of the Last Supper was apparently agnostic). Veronese's experience certainly raises questions about artistic license, and shows the power of the church at this time.

Putting things into Perspective...

Yesterday afternoon we wandered down to David Dale Gallery. It was the last day of the Point/ Line/ Surface/ Solid from Alec MacKenzie and Dan Miller. I could help but think about my current reading for UWA. In the early 15th century, linear perspective was new. Brunelleschi and others pioneered new ways of thinking, using mathematical means and vanishing points. This was revolutionary then. It is strange to think of this as being unknown information at some point. As school children we learn about birds-eye & worms-eye views, and rows of parallel trees merging to one single disappearing point in the distance. I wonder what Brunelleschi would have made of Alec MacKenzie's large trompe l'oeil structures, with moving parts emphasising the perspective.

Alec MacKenzie - Oubliette 2011

Or Dan Miller's work concentrating on mathematical shapes, subtle colour changes and background grids.

Dan Miller - Arithmetic Composition 2010

Continuing on the putting things into perspective theme... Our day to day worries seem quite trivial compared to recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan. My thoughts are with everyone affected by the current crisis. On Ravelry there has been a call for knitted squares to make blankets to try to help. See here for more information.

A Noisy alphabet & a Noisy Guinea Pig

I found lovely illustration by Tom Gauld.
We lost McLaren yesterday.
It was a bit sudden. He was the nosiest guinea pig I have ever met. Always chirping & purring.

International Women's Day

Yesterday the Tramway was transformed into a rainbow of stitches.
Knitted squares adorned everything.
I managed to find the squares that myself, my mum & my nan made.
And even the square made from the remains of my sock wool.
100 events to inspire & delight.
And even my embroidery with book, finally framed & on the wall.

I wish all TVs looked like this...

Taken here.

The nude in the modern age...

The Tramway currently has an exhibition by Keith Farquhar. More nudes in colour is a selection of flat-pack life sized cardboard sculptures.

Keith Farquhar - Bare Bum, Blue Sky

These are photographs of naked torsos covered in paint. The initial reaction is a bit of a childlike snigger. These are of course, bottoms and bits covered in paint. It looks like lots of fun, although few of us would ever strip down and paint some cycling shorts on ourselves.

Keith Farquhar - Marble Arse

The nude in art is intrinsically linked to the classical idealised body, and regarded highly. Yet these sculptures are made of cardboard, a disposable material and are given comical titles. A playful contemporary take on nude sculpture.

Adventures of the knitted squares...

So these knitted (and crochet) squares are off on an adventure.
Even Mr Crafty's knitted trapezium is joining in.
Off they go to have their stitches counted.
Then sorted.
Then using an assortment of equipment are sewn up.
The might become blankets.
Or they might be a rainbow.
Why? This is for the 100th International Women's Day. To represent the 100 million women that are missing from the world today due to gender discrimination.

There is plenty more sewing up to be done, so if you are free at all this week, head down to the Tramway with your darning needles!