Things That Could Not Be Improved #4: Deadly Robert Downey Jr., The Blow’s “Come On Petunia,” Emily Dickinson, Pavel Wolberg, Musadeq Sadeq, Samuel F. B. Morse, and Doug Sneyd

“Junior . . . Robert Downey Jr.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Downey_Jr.

This is the 4th edition of “Things That Could Not Be Improved,” a grouping of things that need not be, or could not be, improved.  I’m not a proponent of perfection, but I love seeing such well conceived and well crafted artworks: 

(Click on images to view them individually.)

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The Blow

Here is a lyrical excerpt from a Portland, Oregon band named “The Blow.”  I must confess I learned of this band after Martha Plimpton posted their great song “Hey Boy” on her MySpace (Martha continues to be a wonderfully dilatory influence on me – which I more than gladly share with you all).

“Come On Petunia” Lyrics by The Blow

“Jamie stood on the stoop and he challenged his homies
To go get some girlfriends and locate their yonis
The waters are parting and time’s getting heated
The boys needed friendship, the beat needed kneaded – unh unh

Her dress was a ship at sail – unh
Her knees were the water pail
This was survival and she was the kit
You could die of thirst if the girls won’t give you sips” 

The song can be heard on their MySpace:

http://www.myspace.com/theblowus

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Arguably, the only existing photograph of poet and writer Emily Dickinson:

Love sent this to me because it reminded her of me:

“I dwell in Possibility – -
A fairer house than Prose – -
More numerous of Windows – -
Superior – - for Doors – -”              Emily Dickinson

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emily_Dickinson

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Artwork by Pavel Wolberg:

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Artwork by Musadeq Sadeq:

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“The Old House of Representatives” Painting by Samuel F. B. Morse:

Okay, some of you may be scratching yourself (hopefully in an appropriate place) and asking, what makes this painting so special?

First, forgive the low quality scan of an amazing painting from 1822.  The artist’s priorities and aspirations are so beautifully revealed in the painting.  Notice how all the “important” legislators look like drone penguins.  Morse highlighted the true men of action and innovation.  The lighting technician lighting the hall’s chandelier is the central, high contrast compositional focus:

The technicians on the side are highlighted with brilliant light:

And a Native American Chief up in the gallery looks on silently:

 

Look how the painting gives as much or more attention & admiration to the architectural beauty compared to any historical legislative event.  The painter could be saying, “These men were doing so little in comparison to the opportunities, ‘the facilities,’ they were given.”

I took this from “The Art Book” published by Phaidon.  The text there adds:

“A moment of quiet harmony reigns in the US House of Representative as members and visitors gather for an evening session.  At the center of this monumental canvas is a chandelier whose light casts an abstract pattern of shadows throughout the grand Classical space of the hall, which had been recently rebuilt by architect Benjamin Latrobe following the 1814 devastation of the Capitol by the English . . . The painting failed to attract popular attention – largely because it lacked (easily understood historical and traditional) narrative drama . . .  Morse ultimately quit painting in 1837, disappointed by the country’s slow cultural advancement.  He devoted the rest of his life to politics and inventing, and is best remembered for developoing the telegraph and the Morse code.”

And on an “It’s a small world” note, I went to Jr. High and High School with one of Morse’ direct descendants, also named Morse.  We graduated in the same class.

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Artwork by Doug Sneyd (Playboy Cartoon):

© All rights reserved by the respective artists.

“Things That Could Not Be Improved” Series: 1 2 3 4

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