Short Takes: Herzog's Cave; Picasso's Guernica; Brueghel's Wedding Dance

Filmmaker Werner Herzog gives us rare access to the cave of Chauvet-Pont-d’Arc in southern France, with his fascinating 3-D documentary Cave of Forgotten Dreams. The limestone cave contains some of the earliest known cave paintings in existence, perhaps from as long as 30,000 years ago. The cave is pristinely preserved due to a landslide that sealed the cave 20,000 years ago, and the quick action of the French government after the cave was discovered in 1994. Access to the cave is limited to a handful of select scientists, so if you're not one of them, this film is the best way to see what can only be described as a magical place.




Speaking of 3-D: After reading this article in the Huffington Post last week about the 74th anniversary of the battle that inspired Picasso's dramatic anti-war statement, Guernica, I stumbled on the following video, "A 3D Exploration of Picasso's Guernica." Unlike Herzog's film, you don't need special glasses to view this one.




Inspired by the royal wedding last week, I went to the Art Authority app (click here to read my review) on my iPad and typed in "wedding." The results led me to The Wedding Dance by Flemish painter Pieter Brueghel the Elder, painted in 1567. I doubt the Royals in Buckingham Palace were having any more fun than these lusty peasants in the great outdoors. And check out those codpieces! 


Pieter Brueghel the Elder, "The Wedding Dance", circa 1566, Detroit Institute of Arts





Upcoming Events at Offramp Gallery
Mark Steven Greenfield: Doo-Dahz
May 15 - June 26, 2011
Opening Reception: Sunday, May 15, 2-5pm

Mark Steven Greenfield, Portrait of George Walker, 2010, pen & ink on Duralar, 36" X 24"