Isabelle   (University   of   Colorado),   Caroline   (Rutgers   University),   Sam   (Lewis   and   Clark   College),   Layla  (Eckerd  College),  Artin  (Rutgers  University),  Matt  (Rutgers  University)  

 THE  CITY  AS  AN  ART  COLLECTION  

The  Secret  Modernista  Wonders  on  Rambla  Catalunya:  a  walking  tour    Often  tourists  traveling  to  Barcelona  only  view  the  famous  modernista  buildings  on  the  block  of  discord.  However,  other  buildings  hold  great  significance  to  the  Catalan  modernista  style.  The  goal  of  our  walking  tour  is  to  expose  these  architectural  wonders  to  anyone  who  travels  to  this  city.      

1. Casa  Dolors  Calm,  Rambla  de  Catalunya,  54  Casa  Dolors  Calm  was  redesigned  to  its  current  state  in  1878  by  the  architect  Josep  Vilaseca  Casanovas.  The  façade  of  the  central  gallery  is  made  up  of  ornate  flowers  climbing  the  entire  building.  Each  floor  has  intricate  stained  glass  windows  and  pointed  arches  that  pay  homage  to  the  architecture  prevalent  in  the  gothic   period.   This   building   is   a   great   example   of   modernisme   because   each   floor   has   a   separate  aesthetic   design,   but   when   put   together,   they   compliment   each   other   and   create   a   cohesive  architectural  scheme.    

2.  Casa  Fargas,  Rambla  de  Cataluna,  47  Casa   Fargas   was   commissioned   in   1904.   The   façade   has   subtle   ornamentation   but   there   is   intricate  detailing   inside.   The   detailing   includes   floral   motifs   along   the   staircase   and   curved   stained   glass  windows.  Mixed  materials  are  also  used  outside,  including  the  stone  centerpiece,  the  iron  rails,  and  the  glass  windows.  The  key  is  to  look  past  the  subtleties  in  order  to  notice  its  intricate  detail.  Casa  Juncosa  was  built  between  1907  and  1909.  This  building  exemplifies  modernista  architecture   through   intricate  detail  on  the  façade  such  as  flowers  and  faces  on  the  tops  of  the  grandstand  balconies.  The  use  of  mixed  material  is  also  prevalent  with  stone,  iron,  glass,  and  wood  window  shutters  throughout  the  building.      

3. Casa  Juncosa,  Rambla  de  Catalunya  Casa   Juncosa   was   built   between   1907   and   1909.   This   building   exemplifies   modernista   architecture  through   intricate  detail  on  the  façade  such  as  flowers  and  human  faces  on  the  tops  of  the  grandstand  balconies.  The  use  of  mixed  material  is  also  prevalent  with  stone,  iron,  glass,  and  wood  window  shutters  throughout  the  building.  The  inside  also  consists  of  details  which  recall  elements  of  gothic  architecture.  

 Rambla  Catalunya   is   an   art   exhibition   in   itself  with   various   types  of   architecture.   Through  our  waking  tour,  we  hope   to   expose   tourists   to   the   cultural   and  historical   significance  of   this   area.  Mordernisme  refers  to  a  specific  Catalan  Phenomenon,  and  the  style  identifies  with  a  movement  to  affirm  nationhood  and  cultural  autonomy.  Through  observing  the  buildings  on  our  walking  tour,  we  hope  the  participants  will  appreciate  the  scope  of  creative  freedom  this  style  embodies.  

   

ART  EXHIBITION  Experiencing  ART.  TWO  POINTS  at  MACBA    

     We  embarked  on  a  trip  to  the  Barcelona  Contemporary  Art  Museum  (MACBA)  to  see  the  many  different  and  amazing  ways  stories  could  be  told.    The   first   element   is   the  uniqueness  of   the  building.   It   is   located   in   the  Raval  neighborhood,  once  you  step  into  the  square,  this  all  white  and  strangely  architectural  building  is  revealed.  As  one  walks  inside  into  the  first  exhibit  the  story  begins  with  Triumph.  The  first  room  displays  post  cards  and  pictures  of  the  many  different  Arc   de   Triumph's   to   symbolize   that   Spain   has   triumphed   in   the  Arts   and   international  hub.  Next,  the  exhibition  tells  the  story  of  the  war  in  chronological  order.  As  you  go  along  this  journey  the  paintings  and  sculptures  are  abstract,  but  when  the  light  bulb  goes  off  and  you  understand  the  piece  it  changes  your  whole  outlook.    The   exhibition   continues   on   portraying   perspectives   of   the   Spanish   Civil   War   in   unique   and   creative  ways.    In  one  piece,  there  is  a  toy  box  with  an  army  of  tiny,  toy  soldiers  pouring  out  of  it  in  a  mob.    The  soldiers   look  like  they  are  about  to  ambush  the  opposing  side.    When  a  person  thinks  of  war,  toys  are  not  what  come  to  mind.    However,  this  painting  forces  the  person  to  make  a  connection  between  the  two.    The  connections  made  by  each  person  may  differ,  such  as  the  role  of  children  in  the  Spanish  Civil  War   or   the   innocence   of   the   soldiers   being   forced   to   fight.     The   point   of   the   piece   is   to   force   the  individual   to   think  deeper.     Later  on   in   the  exhibition,   there  was  a   littler  version  of   this  piece   that  we  could  touch,  experiencing  this  sculpture  with  an  additional  sense  and  thus  furthering  our  interpretation  of  it.  

                     

 ART  CRITICISM  

World  Press  Photo  2013  at  CCCB    

Photography   is  one  of   the  most  recently  created  forms  of  art.   It  has  the  same   intentions  as  paintings,  sculptures,   architecture:   it   aims   to   have   an   impact   on   society,   express   the   artists’   emotions   and/or  opinions,   and   frame   reality   as   well   as   change   reality.     This   year,   the   CCCB   (Barcelona   Center   for  Contemporary  Culture)  held  an  exhibition  called  Face  Reality.   It  consisted  of  143  winning  photographs  from   the   2013   prestigious   international   photojournalism   contest.   Each   photo   used   texture,   format,  form,  and  other  artistic  elements  to  present  the  global  and  local  reality  of  the  world.  Paul   Hansen’s   World   Press   Photo   was   one   of   many   incredibly   moving   photographs.   It   pictured   two  young  corpses  being  carried  by  their  uncles  to  a  mosque  for  a  funeral  in  Gaza.  The  expressions  captured  on  the  men’s  faces  convey  their  feeling  of  anger  and  despair.  Hansen  took  advantage  of  the  lighting  as  well.   The   way   the   light   is   coming   through   the   buildings   creates   a   feeling   of   hope,   similar   to   the  expression  ‘there’s  a  light  at  the  end  of  the  tunnel’.  This  particular  photo  articulates  the  abundance  of  problems  and  violence  people  face  in  Gaza  City,  located  in  the  Gaza  Strip.                                      The  photograph  named  “Barcelona  Demonstrations”  by  Emilio  Moronity  depicts  an  angled  view  through  a  shattered  glass  window  of  a  woman  crying  in  fear.  This  photo  was  taken  during  the  demonstrations  in  Barcelona  on  March  29th.  People  were  protesting  against  the  recent  labor  reforms  the  government  was  considering  putting  in  place.  This  outraged  the  people  of  Barcelona  which  caused  many  to  throw  rocks  at  shops  and  banks.  This  picture  shows  the  true   fear  of   the  woman  behind  the  glass.    She   is  perfectly  focused   in   the   center  of   the  photo  while   the   cracked  glass   is   completely  out  of   focus.   This  brings   the  viewer  to  look  at  the  woman’s  reaction  first  and  to  feel  her  fear.      

Soren  Bidstrup  photographed  “Early  Morning”,  a  photograph   that   shows  Bidstrup’s  wife,  nude,   sitting  on  the  toilet  yawning  with  another  son  beside  her.  Bidstrup’s  other  young  son  sleeping  in  a  bedis  shown  to   the   right.   The   title   of   the   photograph   says   it   all.   The   photograph   is   simple   yet   says   so  much.   The  description   says   “The  photographer’s   family,   early  one  morning  on   summer  holiday   in  northern   Italy”  (“World  Press  Photo”).  This  photograph  is  very  effective  because  it  brings  you  in  to  the  photographer’s  personal   life.   Showing  an  uncensored,   raw  photograph   that   shows  what  vacation   looks   like  when  you  have   two  young   sons.   It   shows  a   sort  of  dysfunctional,   real  depiction  of   life  after  having   children  and  getting  married.  You  can  tell  that  the  photograph  was  taken  in  the  spur  of  the  moment,  but  was  still  well  composed.  Having  subjects  both  on  the  left  and  the  right  keeps  it  balanced.