Art + Life Rules from a Nun
Sister Corita Kent was a master printmaker and teacher, and her rules for artists and teachers are legendary - let’s break them down.
These Farmers Weren't Farmers
This photograph of young farmers on their way to a dance was taken in Germany in 1914 by August Sander. Except they weren't farmers. And the dance they were on their way to was World War I.
Artists in Love
Art History of full of amazing artist couples. Let's look at a handful of talented individuals who joined forces either for a lifelong collaboration or a finite but fruitful romance: Claude Cahun and Marcel Moore, Merce Cunningham and John Cage, Lee Miller and Man Ray, Josef and Anni Albers, Gwendolyn Knight and Jacob Lawrence, and Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen.
The Truth of the Tortured Artist
We addressed the myth, and now it's time for the truth of the tortured artist. Some art is born of pain and suffering, and reflects the darkest side of human experience. We like that about it. If you need help with mental and/or substance use disorders, contact SAMHSA’s National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or go to https://www.samhsa.gov/.
The Case for Video Art
What is video art? How is it any different from all the other moving pictures that are apparently not-art? Let's explore its history and present.
Art You Can't Get To
In 1958, scientists from Russia left a plastic bust of Vladimir Lenin at the Southern Pole of Inaccessibility, and as of 2007 it was still there. What does it mean? Guest host John Green ponders his fascination with this object and the changing nature of art.
Art I Can't Show You
Agnes Martin's minimal paintings reproduce terribly. Their magic does not come though in photos or videos. Guest host John Green discusses Martin's art anyway, how it brilliantly captures emotion itself, and why you should seek it out.
Which is the Real Girl with a Pearl Earring?
Explore Vermeer's masterpiece "Girl with a Pearl Earring" up close, and see how it's different (and not) from a high-res 3D print of the painting. We visit the Mauritshuis in The Hague and learn what happens when conservation scientists study the painting with today's most advanced technology.
Art Cooking: Dutch and Flemish Still Life Painting
Let's recreate a lavish spread of fine cheeses, pretzels, and the trappings of the good life on display in 17th Century Dutch and Flemish still life paintings.
Behind the Banksy Stunt
When Banksy shredded his artwork the moment after it sold at auction, he left many questions unanswered. What are we to make of the stunt?
ART TRIP: DETROIT
Forget the hype and experience the art and history that Detroit offers up in spades. We visit the Diego Rivera mural, Heidelberg Project, MOCA, abandoned buildings, and much more.
The Myth of the Tortured Artist
Are artists really more tortured than the rest of us? Let's consider this myth and the studies that assess whether there might be a link between creativity and mental illness.
The Case for Realism
What's the point of making realistic paintings when photography can do the trick? We look at the history of artists recreating the world as we see it and ponder why it's still happening.
Love the Art, Hate the Artist
Can you separate the art from the artist? This one's in honor of all the art you used to love, and it's creators who ruined it by behaving badly. We talk Picasso, Nanette, cats out of bags, and much more
Art Cooking: PICASSO
Picasso is one of the greatest artists of all time, but was also an inveterate womanizer and misogynist. Let's cook our way through moments in Picasso's life and process our conflicted feelings. If you want to see REAL chefs at work, check out Nourish!
Better Know Manet's A Bar at the Folies-Bergère
You've likely seen this glassy-eyed late 19th Century barmaid before, but what can we make of this painting today? Let's explore Edouard Manet's A Bar at the Folies-Bergère.
The Case for Conceptual Art
Sometimes art is paintings, and sometimes it's a chair. Why? Let's learn about "Conceptual Art," where the idea is more important than the form.
Trending Artists of the 17th Century
Have you heard of Italian Baroque artist Artemisia Gentilschi? Find out why her popularity, and that of other artists, has risen dramatically since the 1970s.
BUTTER + EGGS = ART, sometimes
Fluxus was a network of artists who thought anything could be art, and anyone could be an artist. This video explores the food-related work of George Maciunas, Yoko Ono, and Alison Knowles, et al.
Remake The Met
The Met Museum in New York is a treasure trove of art, filled with masterpieces of human creativity, but what if it *wasn't* organized geographically or by time period? Is there a better way?
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