Hosted by art advisor Liz Lidgett, Ten Minute Masterpieces explores curious stories behind the world’s most renowned works of art. You may be able to close your eyes and picture the artwork in each episode, but how much do you really know about each masterpiece? Join us to learn more.
In this episode, we focus on the work of one French-American sculptor Louise Bourgeois. Her eighty year career explored lifelong themes of childhood, motherhood, and family identity. Louise Bourgeois's Spider sculptures are an ode to her mother — the spider series became the centerpiece of the last chapter of her life.Louise Bourgeois returned again and again to the image and symbol of the spider in her work. Her spider sculptures can be seen in museums and public spaces around the world.Spiders features Liz Lidgett Gallery artist Betsy Enzensberger. Ten Minute Masterpieces is hosted by art advisor Liz Lidgett and produced by Maribeth Romslo.CREDITSCredits:Premium Beat: Creative MorningEpidemic Music: Until the End, Frontiers are Where You Find Them, Finnish Friendship, Alone in ParisThe Spider, The Mistress, and the Tangerine DocumentaryRESEARCH AND LINKS OF INTERESTArt News "Louise Bourgeois Spider Sculptures History"Bourgeois' Spiders at Tate ModernCNN "Why Louise Bourgeois made her iconic spider sculptures"The Collector "Why Did Louise Bourgeois Make Spider Sculptures?"Spiderwoman DocumentaryTateShots // Louise Bourgeois – 'I Transform Hate Into Love' ArtSpace: ""I Don't Need an Interview to Clarify My Thoughts": An Interview with Louise Bourgeois"Issue Magazine: Interview with Louise BourgeoisThe Easton Foundation Biography of Louise BourgoisSpider at the National Gallery of Art
At Segregated Drinking FountainPhotographed in 1956 by Gordon Parks (1912-2006)The Gordon Parks FoundationIn the episode, we take a look at our first photograph on the podcast – Gordon Parks' image from 1956 entitled At Segregated Drinking Fountain. In the summer of 1956, Life Magazine sent Gordon Parks to Alabama to document Black Americans living under Jim Crow laws in the South. Twenty-six of his images from this assignment appeared in the September 24th, 1956 issue of Life Magazine in a photo essay called “The Restraints – Open and Hidden”.The photographs of Gordon Parks have an enduring power. Through quiet moments of dignity, he documented people who refused to be dehumanized. The gentleness of Parks' photographs became persuasive acts of protest against injusticeAt Segregated Drinking Fountain features Liz Lidgett Gallery artist Roma Osowo. Ten Minute Masterpieces is hosted by art advisor Liz Lidgett and produced by Maribeth Romslo.
Water Lilies (series - Nymphéas in French)250 oil on canvas paintings by Claude Monet (b. 1840, d. 1926) created between 1897-1926ABOUT THIS EPISODE:In the episode, we explore a prolific series of paintings – Claude Monet's Water Lilies. In the last thirty years of his life, Monet painted more than 250 works in his Water Lilies series at his beloved gardens in Giverny, France.Paintings from Monet's Water Lilies series are on prominent display at museums all over the world, including Musée de l'Orangerie, Musée d'Orsay, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Modern Art, and Art Institute of Chicago.Water Lilies features Liz Lidgett Gallery artist Kit Porter. Ten Minute Masterpieces is hosted by art advisor Liz Lidgett and produced by Maribeth Romslo.MUSIC CREDITS:Creative Morning (Premium Beat)Claire de Lune from Suite Bergamasque, by Claude Debussy (Epidemic Sound)Watercolor Motion II by Trevor Kowalski (Epidemic Sound)RESEARCH AND LINKS OF INTERESTMonet's Water Lilies , Their History and Evolution (Art & Object) Claude Monet's Water Lilies (My Modern Met)How World War I Inspired Monet to Paint His Final Masterpieces (Open Culture)A Phenomenology of Display by Anthony Portulese (Rutgers Art Review)15 Facts About Monet's Water Lilies (Mental Floss)Color, Chemistry, and Creativity in Monet's Water Lilies (Artic.edu)Monet and Water Lilies (Museum Therapy)Could Monet See Like A Bee? (Science History Institute)Claude Monet and the Subjectivity of Color (Galileo's Pendulum)Water Lilies by Monet – The Magic of Water and Light TrailerArmistice Day (History.com)Armistice Soundwave by Coda To CodaOur Spotify playlist inspired by Monet's Water Lilies
The Two FridasPainted in 1939 by Frida KahloOil on canvasMuseo de Arte Moderno, Mexico City, MexicoIn the episode, we focus on Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, and her 1939 work entitled Las Dos Fridas, or The Two Fridas.Frida Kahlo is credited with placing Mexican art on the international stage. She began painting as a teenager after a devastating automobile accident. Frida was a self taught artist best known for her prolific self portraits. Frida explored duality in her multiculturalism, sexuality, politics, ideals and expression of gender. Her autobiographical perspective and the abundant symbolism in her work give us intimate access into the heart of this revolutionary artist.This episode features Liz Lidgett Gallery artist Fares Micue. Ten Minute Masterpieces is hosted by art advisor Liz Lidgett and produced by Maribeth Romslo.
Mona LisaLeonardo da Vinci1503-1516The Louvre Museum, Salle des États, Room 711, Denon wing, Level 1If you haven't yet listened to our first episode about Mona Lisa, we recommend checking out Part One before continuing with this episode about how the First Lady of the Renaissance keeps making her mark — even in our modern world.In this episode (Mona Lisa, Part Two), we will learn about how Jackie Kennedy orchestrated the Mona Lisa's tour to the United States in 1963. We will hear from Liz Lidgett Gallery artist Hunt Slonem who saw the Mona Lisa on that tour at the National Gallery as a middle school student. We will also examine how the Mona Lisa has inspired acts of honor and controversy over the years.Mona Lisa (Part One and Part Two) features Liz Lidgett Gallery artist Hunt Slonem. Ten Minute Masterpieces is hosted by art advisor Liz Lidgett and produced by Maribeth Romslo.CREDITSMusic credits:Creative Morning (Premium Beat)Silent as Smoke, Zoot Suit, Voyager (Epidemic Sound)Schubert Trio No. 1 in B flat Op. 99, Eugen Istomin (piano), Isaac Stern, (violin), Leonard Rose (cello). Recorded in 1964.Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters (Elton John)Newsreel, historic audio, and film clip credits:Mona Lisa Makes U.S. DebutJacqueline and John F. Kennedy in ParisLes Kennedy à VersaillesPresident Kennedy's Speech in Paris (1961)The Cuban Crisis An Overview NewsreelPriceless Smile: President Leads Mona Lisa TributeMona Lisa scene from The Da Vinci Code movieRESEARCH AND LINKS OF INTERESTThe Two First Ladies by Margaret Leslie Davis (Vanity Fair, November 2008)Art News about Mona Lisa VandalismColored Mona Lisas ChristiesMy Modern MetLouvre Mona Lisa VR Experience“Jackie and the Mona Lisa” children's book by Debbie Rovin Murphy and Jen BrickingOur Spotify playlist inspired by the Mona Lisa Spotify playlist
Mona LisaPainted by Leonardo da Vinci in Italy and France from 1503-1516On view at The Louvre Museum, Salle des États, Room 711, Denon Wing, Level 1 ABOUT THIS EPISODE:Our eyes are on one of the most renowned and visited works of art in history – Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa.And since she's so famous and enchanting, there are just too many details to fit into ten minutes. We're giving Leonardo da Vinci's leading lady not one, but two, episodes.In this episode, you'll learn about the genesis and provenance of the Mona Lisa. We hear from artist Hunt Slonem, a world-renowned nature and portraiture artist, about his thoughts on the masterpiece. You'll also hear about how the theft of the Mona Lisa in 1911 propelled the painting to worldwide fame.Ten Minute Masterpieces is hosted by art advisor Liz Lidgett and produced by Maribeth Romslo. This episode features artist Hunt Slonem.Mona Lisa Spotify playlist from Ten Minute Masterpieces.RESEARCH AND LINKS OF INTEREST:Mona Lisa WikipediaThe Moving of the Mona Lisa (The Independent, 2005)Stealing Mona Lisa (Vanity Fair)NPR story about Mona Lisa theftMy Modern MetLouvre Mona Lisa VR ExperienceThe Mona Lisa Song by Da Vinci KidsCREDITS:Creative Morning (Premium Beat)Tour de Louvre (Epidemic Sound)King's Hall (Epidemic Sound)Silent as Smoke (Epidemic Sound)Maze Heist (Epidemic Sound)National Anthem France (Epidemic Sound)Moments of Clarity (Epidemic Sound)
ABOUT THIS EPISODE:"Looking at the stars always makes me dream, as simply as I dream over the black dots representing towns and villages on a map. Why, I ask myself, shouldn't the shining dots of the sky be as accessible as the black dots on the map of France?" – from a letter written in 1888 by Vincent van Gogh to his brother TheoThis episode dives into one of the most recognizable works of art in the world, The Starry Night, painted by Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh in 1889 (Museum of Modern Art , Floor 5, 502, The Alfred H. Barr, Jr. Galleries).This episode features artist Jessi Raulet. Ten Minute Masterpieces is hosted by art advisor Liz Lidgett and produced by Maribeth Romslo.CREDITS:The Sounds of Space (Melody Sheep)Creative Morning, Italian Waltz, Presage, Emotional Piano (Premium Beat)American Pie and Vincent (Don McLean)Top 2000: The Untold Stories // Starry Starry Night (Dutch Public Television)RESEARCH AND LINKS OF INTEREST:Art & Object articleKhan Academy about The Starry NightVan Gogh's lettersPhysics of The Starry NightVan Gogh and Turbulent FlowNeil deGrasse Tyson on The Starry NightAlbert Boime Paper (Venus as “morning star”)Mathematics and The Starry NightThe unexpected math behind Van Gogh's "Starry Night" by Natalya St. ClairDon McLean song “Starry Starry Night”. More here and here.Tupac poem about Starry NightThe Starry Night by LEGOOther Cultural ReferencesMENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES:United Way 211National Suicide Prevention LifelineNAMI Helplin