The Free Outdoor Art Display in an Oceanside Business Community

Oceanside Museum of Art offers the juried exhibition for public display from February 7^th to May 11^th, 2014. OMA is an organization that fosters the appreciation and understanding of art in society. They provide exhibitions, a marketplace for local artists, and seek to raise awareness of art locally. They have a satellite outdoor display for the public to enjoyment at 2010 Jimmy Durante Blvd. Del Mar, CA 92014. The types of work range from paintings to sculpture.

This outdoor display offers some opportunities for public exposure and greater art awareness. Businesses within the complex appreciate the artistic display that adds to the atmosphere and customers are exposed to pieces they may not have been motivated to see in the course of their daily lives. Likewise, the artists have a greater opportunity to sell their work to a wider group of foot traffic.

It can be beneficial to see how different businesses may be able to partner with artists to display work and draw more customers. For example, a service business with an unused window display may consider hosting some of the art free while attracting potential customers through eye catching displays. This may lead to increased sales for both types of entities through attraction and interest.

It is also possible to use art pieces to provide more context to their business. For example, a marketing media company may want flashy and bright art that highlights marketplaces, communication, and social interaction. A medical company may desire art that focuses on family, activity, and positive experiences to lower the negative context associated with doctor visits. A gym may want art that focuses on the body and sports to create greater enthusiasm.

As a mission OMA could expose their art to a wider group of people by partnering with these businesses. The average person focuses on family, work, and daily activities must expend a considerable amount of energy to make their way to a specific art show or program. Typically this is left to the art enthusiast. The average person may come to appreciate art in a new way through casual exposure.

Some interesting concepts such as the Retable for Numbers by Susan Osborn for $995 is made of spoons, numbers, and hockey sticks. She uses everyday items to build her masterpiece. This type of work would appeal to your everyday sports enthusiast.  Buga-Boo by Lola Juris for $950 is a watercolor painting that hosts a bug with shadowing. It is an interesting and simple work that may appeal to a naturalist.

Oceanside Museum of Art offers music, exhibitions, lectures, art classes and travel experiences.

http://oma-online.org/cms/index.php

The Painting An Arab Caravan outside a Fortified Town, Egypt by Jean-Leon Gerome

An Arab Caravan Outside a Fortified Town-1864

The painting An Arab Caravan outside a Fortified Town, Egypt in 1864 by Jean-Leon brings to the forefront a time just before the advent of the modern state in Africa. It is amazing to see life as it was only 150 years ago from the perspective of an Egyptian caravan and local inhabitants. Such caravans have a historical place in the cultural identifications of the Arab and African peoples. 

The French artist Jean-Leon Gerome (1824-1904) engaged in a number of great works that were seen as Academicism. His works touched on Orientalism, Greek Mythology, portraits, and sculptures. He was an academic who not only painted for a living but also taught other students to a refined degree. He was one of three professors appointed to Ecole des Beaux-Arts. The skill and ability by which he fostered also made its way into a number of studies where people of painting, writing, and other art backgrounds gathered for lively conversation and socialization.

Born in Vesoul, Haute-Saône he moved to Paris to study under Paul Delaroche. From that time he traveled to a great many locations and focused on natural orientated works. He spent time in Turkey, the Middle East, Egypt, Rome, Italy, and many other locations. He even earned a commission under Napoleon III to paint the canvas work Age of Augustus. Skill orientation he had wider levels of experience and abilities than many of his contemporaries. His marriage to Marie Goupil, a daughter of an international arts dealer, furthered his career, wealth and fame.

The Arab caravan has a unique place in the history of commerce and trade. People brought their products from city to city in an effort to barter and trade. Many of these caravans included armed tribesman as the road could be extremely dangerous. A typically caravan may have 100 men up to a 1000 members of which the majority perish under a dangerous journey full of calamity. Such caravans carried everything including spices, silk, ivory, crops and slaves. 

The great Arabic states and culture were built off of these trade routes. Those cities and rulers that could dominate the trade routes consolidated their power from such commerce. As centers of commerce, such cities built walls for protection from outside invading forces. Even during Ottoman oversight such cities became what is known as the city-state. These city-states often had their own ethnic and cultural identity that separated them from other states in the area. 

The peak of trade started in the 8^th century and began to slow in the 16th century. Yet the method continued into modern times. With the French invasion of Sahel around 1890 water routes and growing wealthy European destinations became more important as a shipping method. Finally, the construction of railroads and independent states with national boarders in the 1960’s ended such caravans except in small pockets where limited trading still exists.