Inquirer Art Critic - Edward J. Sozanski http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/edward_j_sozanski RSS Feed for Inq Col Edward J. Sozanski en-us Sun, 12 Feb 2012 08:01:00 GMT Art: Tanner paintings humanize the holy http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/edward_j_sozanski/20120212_Art__Tanner_paintings_humanize_the_holy.html Henry Ossawa Tanner deserves a kinder fate than to have a major retrospective of his work sandwiched between Zoe-mania and Vincent van Gogh. Art: The glory of van Gogh in his element - nature http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/edward_j_sozanski/20120205_Art__The_glory_of_van_Gogh_in_his_element_-_nature.html The moment you enter "Van Gogh Up Close" at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the exhibition tells you that it's something special, one of those uncommon revelations of artistic soul that once seen, can never be forgotten. Spring Arts: Art http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/edward_j_sozanski/20120129_Spring_Arts_.html The most exciting art season in years is upon us, with the opening this weekend at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts of a major survey of Henry Ossawa Tanner's landmark career and an exhibition of Vincent van Gogh's nature paintings just around the corner at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Art: Under 95 to quite a bit higher for Strauss http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/edward_j_sozanski/20120122_Art__soza_on_zoe_strauss_here.html Zoe Strauss is a genius - not at photography, at which she's merely talented, but at marketing. She developed one brilliant concept, an annual outdoor exhibition of her work under the I-95 elevated expressway in South Philadelphia, then parlayed that into inclusion in the 2006 Whitney Biennial, and now into a mid-career retrospective at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Art: Fiber sculpture with the verve of dance http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/edward_j_sozanski/20120115_Art__Fiber_sculpture_with_the_verve_of_dance.html Nick Cave's art is vivacious, exciting, and transformative. Its unique sensibility emerges from the convergence of a number of aesthetic languages - African art, painting, fashion design, textile patterning and textures, dance, and, most identifiably, sculpture. Art: 'Ocean Without a Shore' addresses the mystery of existence through video http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/edward_j_sozanski/20120108_Art___Ocean_Without_a_Shore__addresses_the_mystery_of_existence_through_video.html Art began, thousands of years ago, as spiritual communication, and retained that function in the West at least as long as most people organized their lives around religious doctrine and observance. Art: Brandywine's leader saying farewell http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/edward_j_sozanski/20111218_Art__Brandywine_s_leader_saying_farewell.html James H. Duff has run the Brandywine River Museum almost forever, but at the end of this month his remarkable tenure as director, which began in early 1973, will end when he retires. Art: Repurposing beyond 'Paintbrush' http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/edward_j_sozanski/20111211_Art__Repurposing_beyond__Paintbrush_.html Lenfest Plaza, created by the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts from a half-block of Cherry Street west of Broad, can be a cheerless place at this time of year. Art: Delaware Art Museum show explores the versatility of Howard Pyle http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/edward_j_sozanski/20111120_Art__Delaware_Art_Museum_show_explores_the_versatility_of_Howard_Pyle.html Howard Pyle's considerable artistic legacy includes, besides a noteworthy group of classic illustrations, the Brandywine School of painting and the Delaware Art Museum. Art: Museum celebrates its new look http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/edward_j_sozanski/20111113_Art__Museum_celebrates_its_new_look.html After being closed for nearly a year, the Allentown Art Museum is back in business in a larger, more visitor-friendly building.