03_The art___ of FORGERY_Genuine Fakes with John Myatt

Now, meet the men whose forgeries are now valuable in their own right.

1. The critic
Noah Charney is an art historian and crime specialist and the author of a new book, The Art of Forgery. In this film Noah shares what motivates forgers and what fascinates him about this little known crime.

2 - John Myatt was jailed for forgeries that fooled the auction houses. 

Now he has a 'genuine fakes' exhibition.

"I have one customer in America who has an original Van Gogh hung behind bulletproof glass and he asked me to produce another for him, to hang next to it. None of his visitors has been able to tell the difference."   

After training as an art teacher, he moved towards forgery after placing an advertisement in Private Eye for his brushwork services.   

"I got quite a lot of customers so was able to make a living from home. Someone would give me a family portrait and want me to paint them in the style of Gainsborough or Reynolds," he explained.  

One such customer kept coming back for more paintings, until one day he told Myatt he had sold a painting in the style of the German Cubist painter Albert Gleizes for £25,000, after a valuation at Christie's.   

"He reframed it in an old frame and sold it. He gave me half the money. I just couldn't believe it. It was not even painted in oil but in household emulsion softened by KY Jelly."   

About 80 of Myatt's fakes are believed to be in circulation, with many owners unaware that they have been the victim of a fraud estimated to be worth several million pounds.

3_ The bestest: Beltracchi - Homework

• This mesmerizing, thought-provoking, and amusing artist delves into a craftman who for nearly four decades, fooled the international art world and were responsible for the biggest art forgery scandal of the postwar era. 
• An expert in art history, theory and painting techniques, Beltracchi created original works in the style of such masters as Max Ernst, Heinrich Campendonk, and Max Pechstein, to not only fill in the gaps in the oeuvres of these great artists, but the gaps within the art market itself. 
• Curators and art dealers alike were fooled by these “lost masterpieces”... From his life, some profound questions arise: What makes a piece of art an original? And what makes a person an expert?

Review -here:

    ______  Listen to WRITE: 

          Do one of these three TV programs: 

A) 60 min Overtine 

B) Channel-4 news or C) ABC news

                        A)  ‘Beltracchi: The Art of Forgery’ Tells How a Swindler Fooled the World

B)   Beltracchi: portrait of the artist as a conman

C)  Art and Craft': How a Master Art Forger Was Found Out

BONUS track: in German,with English subtitles

Beltracchi: The Art of Forgery from Canadian Art on Vimeo.

Mr. Beltracchi’s punctiliousness and ability to paint in a chameleonlike array of styles are themselves a form of flair worth appreciating. Part of what allowed Mr. Beltracchi to fool collectors — he grew rich off what he estimates were 300 paintings and drawings created between 1970 and 2010 — is that he was canny about filling in gaps in catalogs. 

02- The art __02_From a Buonarroti's St Anthony forgery to Michelangelo's Sistine masterpiece

The Sistine Chapel is one of the most iconic buildings on earth — but there's a lot you probably don't know about it.

          From his promising beginings (bit 1)  to the greatest artist ever.

Here there are two bits (2 and 3) to help you out...

ITEM #1   The noble art of forgery in the Renaissance

1. At a young age, Michelangelo amassed great wealth that can’t be explained by sales of his original works. With antiquities up to 10 times more valuable than contemporary art during the Renaissance era, forgery was a lucrative profession. “We don’t have enough works like the David that we can connect to [his] money,” said art historian Lynn Catterson. “It means there might be a few more [forgeries by Michelangelo that] we don’t even know about that are hiding in Greek and Roman galleries pretending to be antiquities.”
2. Back then, forgery wasn’t considered a crime but instead a sign of artistic ability. It was also a way for young artists to train. Michelangelo built his career on forgeries, although he went beyond mere imitation. When Michelangelo made a painting of Martin Schongauer’s print of Saint Anthony, no one could distinguish between the two works. Michelangelo was skilled at using smoke to age his paintings, so they would look as old as the original.
3. In 1496, when he was only 21, Michelangelo copied the marble sculpture Sleeping Eros. Then he buried it to age it with scratches, dents, and stains. Through an art dealer, Michelangelo sold the fake for a large sum of money to Cardinal Raffaele Riario, a Roman antiquities collector.
4. Later, when Riario learned he had purchased a fake, he brought the sculpture back to the art dealer. The art dealer eagerly took the return and resold the forged work of the now-famous Michelangelo to someone else.
5. In the Renaissance era, experts were often impressed by artists who fooled them. “Whether undertaken as a practical joke, to show that his work was as good as that of the ancients or for reasons of more nefarious intent. As proof, art crime expert Noah Charney in The Art of Forgery wrote: “Cardinal Riario became Michelangelo’s first patron in Rome.”

1. That forgiving attitude changed around the late 1800s, when forgery became an immoral deception. In modern times, many art forgers are unsuccessful artists whose own work was disregarded early in their careers. While money is certainly a factor, the main reason for most forgeries is passive-aggressive revenge. Art conservators who are forgers can also counterfeit documents to verify their fakes. That makes it difficult to detect some forgeries. We used to rely on experts to authenticate works of art. However, the fear of costly lawsuits has stopped many art scholars from voicing their opinions, keeping some forgeries in the market and some recently discovered works off the market due to lack of verification. 

• 
  

 ITEM #2 


December 2015 at TEDGlobal>Geneva (17:33)


Elizabeth Lev: 

The unheard story of the Sistine Chapel



 ITEM #3 

The Sistine Secrets: Michelangelo's Forbidden Messages 

in the Heart of the Vatican

by Benjamin Blech, Roy Doliner

The Shocking Secrets of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel Artwork: The recent cleaning of the Sistine Chapel frescoes removed layer after layer of centuries of accumulated tarnish and darkness. The Sistine Secrets endeavors to remove the centuries of prejudice, censorship, and ignorance that blind us to the truth about this piece of art.

Enrico Bruschini“Just as the work of Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel changed forever the world of art, so will this book change forever the way to view and, above all, to understand the work of Michelangelo!”
Los Angeles Times“…(a) fascinating study of the Sistine Chapel. […] Like the best art historians, the authors give us a fresh context for the times, never hesitating to make contemporary parallels. […]This is a stimulating exploration that makes familiar masterpieces seem strange and new.”

• Michelangelo painted his understanding of the function of the brain on the ceiling of the Sistine chapel in Rome. Dr Frank Meshberger wrote an article (1) giving an interpretation of what Michelangleo has actually depicted in the central painting, which shows the creation of man. He shows that by following the main lines, formed by God and the angels in the picture, an accurate outline of the brain is displayed! Perhaps Michelangelo wanted to say that, because of our brain, we ourselves have the potential of becoming Gods. 

The authors brilliantly spend about four pages explaining the official story the Vatican offers about the Sistine ceiling and then spends the rest of the book detailing a new interpretation. The research that no doubt was involved is phenomenal!

pronunciation webpage DAILY_ESL

Some folks say pronunciation is like hell.

What the HECK!  step by step.

The bestest page on pronunciation according to learners!

I learnt about his pages a score of years ago. 

Click at  RANDALL listening laboratory  

 1001 pages at esl-lab

Check and comapare. Now revamped website. Fab!

“We do not learn from experience.                

We learn from reflecting on experience.”               

•                                                                                            John Dewey

       I selected  4  parts:       

Legal Use:                 

Individual Users: the contents of this site may be used online for personal use either at home, at an educational institution

Educators: the materials may be used online at educational institutions, either for individual or teacher-guided instruction

 PART I.   My own favourite:   https://www.ezslang.com/

You can not find conversation opportunities, i hear you say....There is fat chance of improving your spoken performance if you do not SPEAK at home, alone. Give it a go.

 PART II.     Dare to  TRY  these TWO  webpages where you work 7 minutes

Study and repeat these 1-minute passages of the last webpage  DAILY_ESL

text 1       Appliance Store: Washers, Dryers, and Refrigerator

Text 2.  HOME IMPROVEMENTS  :   https://www.dailyesl.com/at-home/home-improvements/

Now during the next 4 weeks, choose 2 others every week.

 PART III.   My  learners'  favourite: 

Quote: A Reflective learner is an effective learner.   

R. Carter          

Readings For Pronunciation Practice   at   TRAIN YOUR ACCENT

HERE,  make the spoken text as good as 82% of the original pronunciation

Listen to your own recordings. Reflect on your mistakes....

 PART IV.    FROM Randall's  dozen  favourite ones:

• With my oldest daughter: First Date - This is one of the classics on my site. I loved creating it. It reflects my concern and (overly)-protective nature for my daughter's safety when dating.
• 
  
• With my brother: Car Repairs - It highlights my fears of cars breaking down on long tips.
• 
  
• With me and myself: Just a Haircut, Please! - It is one of the few recordings in which I play both parts of the conversation.
• 
  
• With me and my wife: Running Shoes - It reminds me to always be completely honest with my wife. Honesty strengthens relationships.
• 
  
• With the family: Space Radio Theater - It is the only recording in which four of our family play parts, and it was written by our son, Josh.
• 
  
• With me and my wife: Alcoholics Anonymous and Drug Addiction- These highlight serious health and social issues. Suicide Prevention is another topic close to my heart, since our own son, Joshua, died by suicide in 2012.
• 
  
• With the my youngest son: Enjoying the Zoo - It contains a completely unscripted conversation with my youngest son --- a conversation with the youngest person ever on my site.
• 
  
• With me sleeping: Homestay in the USA - A puppet show with me sleeping through the entire conversation.

Forum or againstum -the lost ART of conversation about art

the  .....  art 

of conversation about    art   

forgotten  - neglected -vanished - 
restless - lost  -  ....  
restive -  ...... - .......

• For the rest of the activity.... keep faith 
• or stroll along our new Soul sorting center 
• 
  
• 
  

    

 

 1. HEAVEN  one.       

009 = mission accomplished.

TASK.     Read these statement below.       Then       Discuss

• tick the ones (1-9) you consider          Done    

• Someone might have been playing dice as faithful followers of all traditions got some wishes fulfilled. 

• The One has cleared all the backlog of .... devotee's. 

•  while for some where talking nonsense, on another level they might have be talking a lot of sense.

1. Kids: I wish we had no school and play all day.

2. Women: I want the undivided attention of my husband.

3. Husbands: I'm sick of this traffic, I wish I could work from home.        *Done*

4.Students: I wish I had no  exams? 

5. Old Parents: I wish our kids could spend more time with us rather than being busy everyday.

 6.  Working Moms: I wish I could spend some quality time with my kids and read .

7. Employee: I'm slogging too much, need a break.

8. Employers:  I have no life of my own, I wish could relax...

9. Earth: I cant breathe,  I wish I could get a break from all this pollution and chaos.

For the killing joy you are deeply down:

• Why are the MOMs concerned about kids and  

• the DADs worried about traffick?

Soundtrack_  Sinatra's velvet croony voice

"the end is near...."  -MY WAY

• And so I face the final curtain
• 
  
• I've lived a life that's full
• 
  
• I traveled each and every highway
• 
  
• I've loved, laughed and cried
• 
  
• I've had my fill my share of losing
• 
  
•  not the words of someone who kneels
• 
  
• The record shows I took all the blows

• 
  

2. HELL- too.   

END the sentence: 

•  The grass is greener on the other side or so I thought.
•  This was my reality for 26 years when ...

• oh, killjoys, i hear u say. Do flip the mag on the link  (he left)
• 
  

• Read the Killjoy editorial  and select.... 

•  1 sentence you might be tempted to agree

• Many times in life, we get to be on cloud nine, where it’s all bliss, elation and happiness. Some other times, it’s the other way round, that place where no one wants to be - sad and down.
• Ever taken out time to figure out the things that trip us over when we should be joyful? Let’s talk about KILLJOYS in this edition.
• From God (the author of joy Himself), to fellow humans (with special emphasis on our marriage partners) and materials (the things we get addicted to); what sort of relationship with these will give joy or kill it?
• As you read through, our prayer is that God will not only show you the definition of true joy, He will make you begin to experience it. No longer will your joy be cut short in Jesus’ name.
• Welcome to grenepages.

Beware of what you wish - 

You might just get it without warning!

3. HELL-riser too.   

REad the  headlines, then

   pick up the one, well,  weed like to be in....

4. HEAVEN too.

BREAK after you read the message

               in the bootleg... (2 meanings)

 Decypher the text of the image, please...

Again, hum at the lost  ART of reading about killjoys 

genepages issue 21 page 6-7

Adeyinka Oresanya   (our agony aunt of sorts) in her section  THE DAUGHTER’S INSPIRATIONS

adeyinkaoresanya.com 

she answers two readers offereing her insights. 


Homegirl   and     Loneliness!


 message...  keep reading and decide where one text ends!

Syntax exercise

Homegirl,

In my last message to you, I talked               They are Killjoys—they kill joy.

about the need to bring out the gems           The number one culprit— echoes of the past. This in-
that has been deposited into you by             clude your past experiences, particularly negative

our Father in Heaven, and I promised          ones, and growing-up challenges that have moulded

to discuss how we could go about                your perspective, your mentality, attitude and behaviour.-
this. I will get to it shortly. First, I feel            No matter how high up you are in life, there re-
a need to talk to you about the need            mains a vestige that grows out from time to time; dis-

to conquer some things that I call Killjoys.    turbing joy and making you forfeit opportunities.
                                                                      I know of a firebrand, tongues-speaking woman who

 message...  keep reading and decide wher one text ends!

Killjoys are stuffs that hold us back sees every close female, including her daughters, as a

from enjoying the fullness of God’s potential rival. She is nice to you until something

grace given to us freely through the brings you to her territory to stay for a while. She

finished work of Christ Jesus, our couldn’t open her arms to let you into her heart, her

Lord, the blessing of people He has space. She reads meaning into everything you do. I

po- sitioned in our got to know she grew up from a polygamous home.

lives, and from Then I understood.

living life and Another lady I know wouldn’t let any guy into her

enjoying it to heart, and several good ones have come; her daddy

the fullest. treated her mother badly when she was growing up.

 It is hard, so hard, but we need to let go of these nar-

ratives, purge our minds and souls of the            Loneliness!
pains and embrace the real experience
we were meant to have—the original in-          Ah, loneliness. That is the second culprit I want us to
tention of the Father for us. Have you not        beware of. I have always heard aloneness is different
read? He said and I quote, “the thoughts I       from loneliness, but I say aloneness, though has its
have towards you are good and not evil own importance, can easily lead to loneliness.
to give you an expected end, a future and
a hope.” However, we have to first empty Loneliness is a terrible feeling, no wonder us girls are
our minds, our thoughts, our hearts, our always desperate to avoid it by avoiding being alone
lives, of what was or is (these echoes) which leads us to wrong relationships especially with
and allow Him refill us with what is sup- the opposite sex.
posed to be, which is joy unspeakable
with the freedom to live, to love and to Wrong relationships re-direct our steps in an about-
be fulfilled. turn manner from love, fulfillment and joy in its full-
ness.
Again, no other tool will do this better
than the good old Bible. Hey Girl, you I understand loneliness needs to be avoided but it
need to get into the Word! This can never should be done in a healthy way and there are plenty
be overemphasized because it is true. of them.
There is actually no other way.
I just heard the tumbling of my pots and pans. The
boys are it again. I have to run along now!

If KJV is Greek to you, start with the con- We will tie this up in my next mail to you.
temporary versions (RSV, GNB and AMP Till then, stay beautiful!
and MSG versions are cool). Do not read it Your Homegirl,

with the intention to get out-of-this-world 

revelations. You might never do because

you have already put a pressure on your- 

self. Read, study and meditate on it like 

what it is—God’s love message to you.

Be open-minded, be interested; and reve-

lation will come! Trust me, it works.

 in my

01- The art__Haritha Savithri paintings gallery at S Vicenç de Castellet

 Haritha Savithri 
 (ഹരിത സാവിത്രി in Malayalam language)

READ and recommend the exhibition to your acquaintances

1. Enjoy some of the artist's Gallery on canvas

She shows us and teaches us a different approach from our Western standards. As a mother, she outlines a positive vision of the world through her paintings. Mother nature, the environment, affects us all. And we can coexist in harmony. 

As a sensitive woman, Haritha yearns to express the spirit of empowerment of women, their inner strength, and convey it by painting them with the naturalness and vigor of her primary colors with powerful images: central figures, women who are known to be necessary for others and for themselves. 

Women who withstand, who become both very visible, and increasingly strong and courageous.

 To read a bit more... 

•  her art and interests

 (writer, translations, social activist, exhibitions,  ...)

 go to  Dec 2019 post ... here

   

•         her  views on arts  

                         ( interview  Jan 2019 post)     ... here

     New  Exhibition:      

     March  7-14   2020    

1. Radha and Krishna 

2. Women's life 

3. Manas sarovar Lotus pond 

4. Rasa lila (dancing with Krishna) 

5.  Mermaid at monsoon

6.  Mother 

7. Time for a bath in the river. 

8. Untamed bull 

9.  Duende

As a teacher from Kerala (State of Southeast India), she shows us and teaches us a different look to Western standards.

As a mother and gives us a positive vision of the world through his paintings. Mother nature, the environment, everything that surrounds us affects us. And we can coexist in harmony.

• Feel happy to explore some of the links in the description of the paintings to get closer to other realities.

     NOW,  the  paintings: 

   1. Radha and Krishna.     

120 x 180                

      This couple represents love and Indian tradition at the same time.

Radha-Krishna are collectively known within Hinduism as the combined forms of feminine as well as the masculine realities of God. 

       Their love is beyond social restrictions.

  

       2. Women's life

   88 x  68    

         The painting of a woman surrounded by ants is a depiction of Indian women's life. They are moulded in a way that makes them unable to react to injustice. Indian women are victims in every sense. They don't enjoy freedom to make personal choices and self expression.

3. Manas sarovar Lotus pond   

120 x 120  

        Painting of two women enjoying themselves in a lotus pond. Influenced by a myth related to the imaginary glacier-fed pond Manas Sarovar in Himalaya. It is believed that goddesses come to this pond in moonlit nights. It is revered as a sacred place in four religions.

 4    രാസലീല   Rāsa-līlā (dancing with Krishna)

160 x 180  

 

Ras  lila is a sort of dance that is part of the traditional sacred love story of God Krishna as described in Hindu scriptures, where  he dances with Radha and her cow shepherds. It  roughly translates  as "Dance of Divine Love".  Also a famous  film in Kerala (1975 )

 5.  Mermaid at Monsoon

100 x 160  

 Painting of the mermaid is her favourite one. It has connections to childhood memories in a village surrounded by water. During monsoon season, the Arabian sea violently roars to the ears and the back water enters the land. Nobody can be surprised if there are mermaids in the imaginary world of a child from such a place.

 other  paintings  giving an array of depiction motives: 

            

6. Mother
 80 x 100  

   

7. Time for a bath in the river.  

                           100 x 100  

8. Untamed bull

157 x 107  

 Historically, In India bulls have had many connotations. Farmers raise bulls  for many purposes and it is a symbol of prestige to own one.

Cultural note:       Traditions   Maramadi festival

• https://theculturetrip.com/asia/india/articles/did-you-know-bull-surfing-in-kerala-is-really-a-thing/

 Andalucian influences: 

9. Duende

 80 x 100