ArtShowCentral.com

Stephanie Cash

“Imagining America: Icons of 20th-Century American Art,” an upcoming two-hour program on PBS, presents a concise introduction to a number of important artists, along with an overview of some of the major movements and ideas in art of the last century. Co-created by art historian and University of Illinois professor Jonathan Fineberg, who also makes onscreen appearances, and John Carlin, CEO of Funny Garbage, a New York City-based media production company, the show is divided into chapters addressing such topics as nature, society, identity, mass media, “spiritual wilderness” and “the space between art and life.”

Narrated by actor Peter Coyote, the show is enlivened by engaging archival film footage of its subjects. Marcel Duchamp is seen in front of his Large Glass explaining how it became cracked; Georgia O’Keeffe discusses her love of the desert and her relationship with Alfred Stieglitz; Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg are seen working in their studios. Vast differences in style and intent are apparent in scenes showing Andy Warhol in nonsensical interviews and a comical Braniff Airlines advertisement, while others artists such as Stuart Davis and Jacob Lawrence discuss their work and its social implications. Interviews with curators, critics and artists such as Lowery Stokes Sims, Carlo McCormick, Elizabeth Murray, Mike Kelley, Fred Tomaselli, Ed Ruscha and John Baldessari provide insight into the impact of these figures and others, including Thomas Cole, Edward Hopper, Dorothea Lange, Willem de Kooning, Jackson Pollock, Robert Smithson, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Kerry James Marshall, Cindy Sherman and David Wojnarowicz.

Perhaps given its titular focus, the undeniable influence of European art on the U.S. scene in the early 20th century is conspicuously missing, despite the fact that a number of important artists immigrated from overseas. The show would almost seem to imply that all great modern art originated in America, in a historical vacuum. Minor flaws aside, it is an engrossing and accessible overview of American art since the late 19th century. Production was funded by the Terra Foundation for American Art and the Henry Luce Foundation, with additional support from the University of Illinois, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, the Whitney Museum of American Art and the National Endowment for the Arts. The show is accompanied by a 208-page book by Fineberg and Carlin, published by Yale University Press. “Imagining America” is set to air on Dec. 28 at 9:00 P.M. (EST).

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The wedding is considered to be one of the happiest moments in the life of two lovers. Though this can happen again should one of the spouses die or decide to have a divorce, there is nothing compared to the first time.

Since the wedding may last less than an hour while the reception may go on longer, the best way to preserve this memory in time is through pictures taken by a talented photographer.

People who want to start a career here should first take classes on the basics of photography. Some think it is just a matter of looking at a lens and pushing on the button but there is more to it than that. There are factors such as lighting, color and timing has to be considered to be able to get the right picture especially for the candid ones.

When the person has learned this, it is time to get that camera. More people are using digital cameras these days that can hold more than 200 images or more depending on the size of the memory card.

This makes developing faster than the conventional one, which is taking out the film from the camera and working on the pictures inside the dark room.

Some people who want to become digital wedding photographers do it because of the money. The individual must realize that it is only through devotion that the quality of the shots taken is consistent.

It takes awhile to be a good wedding photographer. It may be months or even years so during this time, the photographer will be able to develop a certain style or technique that will surely be remembered by the client years after the wedding took place.

Some of the lessons in digital wedding photography can be self-taught. Since there are other ways to shoot pictures, it is best to talk with other artists or to attend seminars.

Another way to excel in this art will be to enter in competitions. The individual may not win but there are valuable lessons that can be learned which can be incorporated into the style used in taking those photographs.

Research has shown a good wedding photographer can make $24,000 annually or more. This means serving one client well will open the doors to others such as the friends and relatives of the couple who will also be getting married in a few months or years.