Review: Robert Winthrop Chanler: Discovering the Fantastic #art #Vizcaya @VizcayaMuseum

Robert Winthrop Chanler: Discovering the Fantastic

In collaboration with Miami’s Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, a rediscovery of a lost figure of American modernism—the early-twentieth-century American painter born into the Astor family, whose imagination and patrician clientele provide a fascinating artistic and biographical saga.

American modernism is populated with a cast of extraordinary characters, but few were as exuberant as Robert Winthrop Chanler, who made his artistic reputation with exotic and brilliantly colored lacquered screens and architectural interiors whose compositions feature fantastical avian, jungle, and aquatic creatures, many overlaid with iridescent metallic finishes. Chanler painted what entertained and interested him, while attracting wealthy Gilded Age patrons and earning popular and critical acclaim at numerous exhibitions—including the 1905 Salon d’Automne, the show featuring paintings by “les fauves,” with Henri Matisse as their leader; and the legendary “International Exhibition of Modern Art” in New York City, popularly known as the 1913 Armory Show. But, despite such a prolific career and a fascinating body of work, Chanler quickly became an obscure figure after his death in 1930.

Robert Winthrop Chanler: Discovering the Fantastic is the first comprehensive examination in more than eighty years of an artist who straddled the divide between fine and decorative art, defined notions of originality and authorship during the birth of American modernism, and posthumously challenges twenty-first century preservationists through his idiosyncratic techniques and unorthodox material choices.

Co-published with Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, which preserves Chanler’s fantastic undersea mural on the swimming pool grotto ceiling of the historic estate, the book includes essays that explore major commissions and conservation issues, all illustrated with new color photography, as well as a chronology and exhibition history, making this the definitive study on an indelible American modernist.

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My Review

One of my favorite places to visit is Vizcaya Museum and Gardens.  Vizcaya is truly a hidden treasure in Coconut Grove.  Today, this gorgeous estate is a museum that houses an incredible collection of art as well as one of the most beautiful gardens I have ever walked through.  This iconic estate also has an incredible pool grotto.  The ceiling of this grotto was recently restored to bring back the original and spectacular mural artwork created by artist Robert Winthrop Chanler.

Years of wear and tear had taken its toll on this mural but careful and extensive restorations have recently made it another impressive stop to enjoy and admire when visiting this museum.

I recently visited Vizcaya and was greeted with a copy of the book Robert Winthrop Chanler: Discovering the Fantastic for a review.

I was hoping to review it sooner but my busy teacher end-of-the-year schedule made it nearly impossible.  Now, after a more quiet and relaxed couple of days of summer vacation, I have had the time to really read and enjoy the content of this gorgeous book.  The book examines the artwork of Robert Winthrop Chanler over many years.  His unique and original style is truly one to admire and enjoy as you browse and carefully admire the pictures.  His artwork features brilliant colors that sparkle and have an almost magical iridescence.  His work is quite spectacular.  The book brings his accomplishments as an artist to life and is a fantastic addition to my bookshelves.

If you are an art collector, art lover, or simply enthusiastic about beauty, then this book is for you. Consider purchasing it for your own collection.

I gave this book 5 stars!

Thank you to Alex Serna  from Vizcaya  for the book.

http://vizcaya.org/home.asp

 

Review – A Midsummer Night’s Fling (Much Ado About Love, #1) by @authoreliza Eliza Walker #review #releaseday

Susi Reviews A Midsummer Night’s Fling

(Much Ado About Love, #1)

by Eliza Walker

 

 

 

 

The show must go on, but the price of admission could be her heart.

Sick of her vagabond life in a Broadway touring company, Nicola is ready to settle down. She wants nothing more than to park her suitcase in California, put out feelers for local auditions, and leave her past firmly behind her.

Too bad her past comes knocking on her door her first day home. All six-foot-three, beautiful man of her past named Max. Stupid Max. The mistake Nicola just can’t seem to stop making.

Even before Nicola—fiery, quick-witted, beautiful Nicola—slams the door in his face, Max is in trouble. She will always be the one who got away. Three times. Which makes convincing her to play Titania to his Oberon a bit…awkward.

Though she has zero desire to re-re-rekindle an old flame, Nicola can’t turn down the chance Max is offering: a lead role with the West Coast’s premiere Shakespeare company. But when their first rehearsal kiss disintegrates into a passionate liplock, she’s questioning her sanity and tempted to jump ship—before Max can break her heart again.

Now it’s up to Max to convince her that the torch he’s been carrying is actually an eternal flame.

My Review

 

What do you get when you mix a Summer acting job, a second chance romance and Shakespeare?  Well, you get a Midsummer Night’s Fling by Eliza Walker.  I will be honest, I wasn’t too sure I was going to like this book at the very start.  It took me some time to really get to know and like the characters but, once it happened, the rest of the book was a real treat. I am a fan of Shakespeare and it had been quite some time since I read or was reminded of his work.  Eliza blended a clever and well written story that was a pleasant surprise from all of my other current reads.

Nicola and Max, the two main characters are actors that are reunited after several years.  They had a relationship years ago that didn’t end well.  A Summer acting job brings them together in roles that pull at their emotional and sensual strings.  This story has humor, angst, love, and a great cast both as actors and friends.  Chemistry among lovers is hard to shake and Max and Nicola definitely have it making that aspect of the book so much more enjoyable.

I will mention this, you need to be familiar with Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream to understand the roles they will play when acting.  I had to do a little refresher research to make all of the connections in my mind.  Once I did that, the story flowed, made sense to me and was brilliant.

I do love second chance romance stories and I am always the cheerleader routing for the two former lovers to come together.  I do recommend that you read the book to see what happens between these two.  I won’t spoil it for you.

I look forward to reading the rest of this series.  A Midsummer Night’s Fling is a perfect Summer Beach Read.

I gave this book 4 stars.

Eliza, congrats on your debut!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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Buy Links

 

About the Author

Eliza Walker, a native of Los Angeles, is the author of the Much Ado About Love Series that begins with A Midsummer Night’s Fling. Her experiences as an actress helped inspire the series about actors finding love amidst the bedlam backstage at a world-class repertory theater. Once upon a time, Eliza met her own wonderful husband when they did a play together.

By day Eliza helps corral engineers for NASA (without doing any of the tech stuff herself, of course). By night she loves to write her sarcastic heroes and heroines bantering their way to true love. Eliza is a total geek, a movie buff and a mediocre swing dancer. Eliza and her husband live in sunny Southern California with two of the neediest housecats on the planet.

 

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