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Hinduism

Curator's Corner

Gem of the Month: Sneha Shrestha (IMAGINE)

Monday, December 9, 2024 | Karl Cole

Ever since this artist painted a mural on the wall next to the entrance to the Davis offices, I have been enchanted with her street art! One of the biggest thrills for me with street art, which I have ...

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Curator's Corner

International Dance Day 2024

Monday, April 29, 2024 | Karl Cole

I cannot think of a more joyous April sendoff than art that features dancing in celebration of International Dance Day. The International Theater Institute began International Dance Day on April 29, 1 ...

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Curator's Corner

Do Not Deface! Historic Sites to Visit Respectfully

Monday, July 24, 2023 | Karl Cole

As an art historian and artist, I am appalled by recent incidents of tourists defacing the Colosseum (72–80 CE) in Rome and Toshodai-ji (founded 759 CE) in Nara, Japan, with their initials. It i ...

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Curator's Corner

World Watercolor Month: Kota School

Monday, July 12, 2021 | Karl Cole

I imagine July is World Watercolor Month because many artists take advantage of the beautiful summer weather to paint out of doors. I never fail to admire artists who achieve amazing works in this med ...

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Curator's Corner

Rethinking Classicism: Chola Dynasty

Tuesday, August 11, 2020 | Karl Cole

I’m continuing my investigation into different ways of interpreting classicism in art with a look at a classic style from India. Most major encyclopedic museums likely have in their collections ...

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Curator's Corner

July Gem of the Month: Chitrakathi

Monday, July 6, 2020 | Karl Cole

July is World Watercolor Month. Watercolor is a medium I’ve always admired (as you know from my drooling over Winslow Homer’s and John Singer Sargent’s gorgeous watercolor works), bu ...

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Curator's Corner

Temple on Active Volcano's Slopes! Pura Besakih

Monday, December 4, 2017 | Karl Cole

I’m naturally concerned for Pura Besakih (Mother Temple). It is situated on the slopes of Mount Agung, which is currently causing havoc with its eruption in Bali. It survived a major eruption of ...

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Curator's Corner

Rich History of Java, Indonesia

Monday, October 16, 2017 | Karl Cole

I just returned from vacay, spending my last day in Dublin after leaving Switzerland. We went to the National Museum of Ireland, where we saw tons of beautifully executed golden objects that have ...

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Curator's Corner

What's in a Snake 2: Deccan Painting

Tuesday, February 7, 2017 | Karl Cole

Yesterday I introduced the snake as a subject in art. Here’s an example of a sinister serpent/person in Hindu tradition. Aghasura was a demon follower of the evil (pseudo-demon) king Kamsa (of M ...

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Curator's Corner

"Kalighat" Art

Thursday, September 22, 2016 | Karl Cole

Indian art certainly has a rich and long history. I especially appreciate the aesthetic aspects of Indian art that have endured for centuries despite the fascinating multiplicity of kingdoms, vastly d ...

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Curator's Corner

Architecture or Sculpture? You Decide: Javanese Temples

Monday, March 2, 2015 | Karl Cole

I have been stunned recently by the overwhelming beauty of Hindu-Buddhist temples in Java. I think they rival the beauty of any architecture anywhere else in the world. It is interesting to compare th ...

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Curator's Corner

Survey No. 9: What is Romanticism?

Monday, January 12, 2015 | Karl Cole

Last week I discussed the stylistic designation “classicism” in both Western and non-Western art produced in the 1800s. For today’s New Slant on Art History, I continue to look at th ...

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Curator's Corner

Survey No. 7: The 1700s

Monday, December 22, 2014 | Karl Cole

As we approach the 1800s in our Art History Survey, just so we do not forget (as if) that art was being produced in other parts of the world besides the West, let’s look elsewhere at art produce ...

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Curator's Corner

Survey No. 3: Middle Ages

Monday, November 24, 2014 | Karl Cole

I’m not quite sure when the historical/art historical/cultural/religious term “Medieval” (the confluence of the Latin “medius,” middle, and “aevum,” age) came ...

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Curator's Corner

"General" Redefined: Architecture Views

Monday, November 26, 2012 | Karl Cole

I’m sick, after a week or two, of hearing general-bashing in the news. And for what? Really??? I’d rather hear the government debating about more funding for education. But, I digress. So, ...

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