Louis Rosenthal Museum - Monthly Updates/Latest News from Sharon Quigley-Rosenthal
February 14, 2012
Visit our Slide Show Page for a better demonstration.
I have an idea for a music video for a singer-songwriter/musician that could feature my grandfather’s miniature sculptures that he created in the 1920’s. The miniatures expand a vast terrain – biblical, mythological, musical, historical, love, satire, etc. Open territory for a prolific songwriter. Continued below.... |
Based on this idea of an as yet unknown song, perhaps an environment could be filmed/depicted featuring the miniatures larger than life, perhaps somewhat animated. “The Butterflies” is only one inch in height. For instance, one butterfly could ‘fly in’ to join the other. An audience watching the music video would have no clear indication of the true size of the sculptures or their reality. Perhaps this environment is one in which the musician would wander through or be seen within (i.e., Series of Dreams).
At the end of the music video, two things can be revealed: One - you can show an artist, a sculptor, perhaps the musician acting in a fictional scene sitting in his art studio, alone, basically portraying a sculptor, working on creating a miniature as The Butterflies and other miniatures sit on the table around him. Two - the audience would then see the true reality and the true size of the miniatures. It would be revealed that yes, the miniatures are real but they were not what the audience was expecting. They are fixed sculptures; static, unmoving.
Further, it could reveal metaphorically the artist who gave birth to this perceived reality. It could depict the sculptor at work creating the environment that the audience of the music video just traversed through; an artist creating this reality. The miniature sculptures are another world in and of themselves and although an audience may casually think in the beginning of the video (maybe based on lyrical content) that ‘their questions will be answered’; they soon discover after the video has ended that they are left with bigger questions. (In fact, they don't even know what their original questions are anyhow). Overall, the musician and this entire music video concept would remain an enigma.
(No, the musician is not the sculptor of these pieces. That is just a glitch in the matrix to figure out as there is yet no story, no content, no song. It’s all about delivery. In movies, a screenplay is a delivery device for a story and a good song is about delivery, not content. So, I guess I am delivering a package that has nothing inside it; at the moment.
On the Biography Page (halfway down the page) is a fictional piece I wrote depicting my grandfather at work,(newspaper covering the table, fingers covered in wax, penknife in hand, music playing in the background, building up these little figures from nothing; from wax…one at a time as other miniatures he has already given birth to sit on the table silently around him).
A scene could be inserted in the music video showing the sculptor acquiring material items; a shop owner assisting the sculptor on making a selection on a penknife; another shop owner assisting the sculptor on buying wax; an unaware newspaper man selling a newspaper to the sculptor; all unaware of an intricate web; a design; that each person played a role in the creation of this artistic world that has no physical locality.
At the end of the music video, two things can be revealed: One - you can show an artist, a sculptor, perhaps the musician acting in a fictional scene sitting in his art studio, alone, basically portraying a sculptor, working on creating a miniature as The Butterflies and other miniatures sit on the table around him. Two - the audience would then see the true reality and the true size of the miniatures. It would be revealed that yes, the miniatures are real but they were not what the audience was expecting. They are fixed sculptures; static, unmoving.
Further, it could reveal metaphorically the artist who gave birth to this perceived reality. It could depict the sculptor at work creating the environment that the audience of the music video just traversed through; an artist creating this reality. The miniature sculptures are another world in and of themselves and although an audience may casually think in the beginning of the video (maybe based on lyrical content) that ‘their questions will be answered’; they soon discover after the video has ended that they are left with bigger questions. (In fact, they don't even know what their original questions are anyhow). Overall, the musician and this entire music video concept would remain an enigma.
(No, the musician is not the sculptor of these pieces. That is just a glitch in the matrix to figure out as there is yet no story, no content, no song. It’s all about delivery. In movies, a screenplay is a delivery device for a story and a good song is about delivery, not content. So, I guess I am delivering a package that has nothing inside it; at the moment.
On the Biography Page (halfway down the page) is a fictional piece I wrote depicting my grandfather at work,(newspaper covering the table, fingers covered in wax, penknife in hand, music playing in the background, building up these little figures from nothing; from wax…one at a time as other miniatures he has already given birth to sit on the table silently around him).
A scene could be inserted in the music video showing the sculptor acquiring material items; a shop owner assisting the sculptor on making a selection on a penknife; another shop owner assisting the sculptor on buying wax; an unaware newspaper man selling a newspaper to the sculptor; all unaware of an intricate web; a design; that each person played a role in the creation of this artistic world that has no physical locality.
*NEW* - "The Master Builder" is a play written circa 1930-1940 by my grandfather about the opera composer Richard Wagner. It is available to read on the Archives Page for a limited time.
*NEW* - Ok, here is an idea - The Little Museum in the Lobby:
Internationally renowned miniature sculptures could complement a musician on tour by being displayed in the lobby/foyer at his concerts. It could be set up as a little traveling museum. Patrons may view the museum in the lobby before and after the concert. Donations are optional and all donations received to view the museum can go to a charity of the musician’s choice.
Bottom line: “The Little Museum in the Lobby” is a little appetizer before the main event whose sole purpose would be to open people up, allow them to peer into that place where creativity springs from.
This concept may not raise a ton of money per venue, but to me it is the thought that counts. It will raise awareness of the charity of the musician’s choice. I’ve always envisioned my grandfather’s miniatures being surrounded by music as well as to surround music with art. And as an audience saunters through the lobby it would enable them to travel to the core of the creative process as a preamble to the show. Just a thought….
- I am going to be uploading more material. Art reviews, correspondence, and letters from circa 1920 – 1940 will be added to the website. I created a new page ‘Archives’ (which is located under Sharon’s Page at the bottom of the Home Page). All of the new material will be displayed on the Archives Page and should be uploaded in the near future.
- The Louis Rosenthal miniatures which were displayed at the Hilliard Society’s Annual Exhibition in Wells, England from May 27 through June 5, 2011, generated a first-rate amount of interest, curiosity and attention. The miniatures were well respected in England back in the 1920’s and the appreciation and curiosity continues through to today. The folks at the Hilliard Society are lovely and made us feel right at home and the turn out for the exhibition was wonderful. The miniatures were displayed in a magnificent display case right in the center of the exhibition. Photographs from the exhibition are posted here: Hilliard Society at Wells, England Exhibition Photographs This is a sub-page under Exhibitions.
- While I was over in the U.K., I also spent time in Ireland and became completely absorbed in Ireland's rolling hills, lakes and valleys, seeing the world in green and blue, the harmonious nature of Wicklow and Killarney, sheep dotting the countryside, and endless walking trails. (Ireland may have 4 million people, yet it has 5 million sheep and they all look very content). Ireland's serene landscape evokes a leisurely pace and is a work of art in and of itself, so I feel it appropriate to post a few photographs of the beautiful landscape of Ireland. These photographs are posted as a subpage under Sharon’s Page. The photographs include Dalkey, Killiney Hill, County Wicklow, Glendalough, Powerscourt House and Gardens, the Rock of Cashel, the Ring of Kerry, the Dingle Peninsula, and the Gap of Dunloe, as well as a few U.K. sights to include the lovely town of Wells and the Wells Cathedral, Stonehenge, Windsor Castle, and the Roman Baths in the town of Bath. Here is a link to the photograph page: Ireland & U.K. Photographs. Many of the photographs are posted, but some are still being uploaded...
- Please visit our Miniature Slide Show Page which showcases the miniatures "set to music that not only senses the power of the sculptures, but also captures how delicate they are."
- The first exhibition of the miniatures in the U.S. in over 60 years was held on November 20 - 21, 2010 at the 77th Annual International Exhibition of Fine Art in Miniature in Bethesda, Maryland. Photographs, reviews and information is now posted on MPSGS of Washington, D.C. Exhibition which is a sub-page of Exhibitions.
- Towson University's collection of miniatures were acquired from the Baltimore Hebrew Institute which is now located at Towson University. A new page has been added to this website to display their collection: Baltimore Hebrew Institute Collection at Towson University.
- A catalogue from the 1920's has been posted in its entirety here: Catalogue of the Miniature Sculptures of Louis Rosenthal (Note: although 100's of miniatures were created, this catalogue displays only several. The catalogue includes the value of some of the miniatures from the 1920's and indicates bronze and gold were available to choose from).
- In the 1980's, my parents Bernie and Jen Rosenthal held an exhibition at the Hilton Hotel on Reisterstown Road in Pikesville, Maryland. Some of the miniatures were sold at that time. A brochure and photos of their exhibition will be added to the website in the near future and posted as a subpage under Exhibitions.
- The Louis Rosenthal Museum was created in January 2010. Please note - as some people have made clear to me as they search this website for an address - that the museum is an Online Museum at this time. Exhibition information will be posted here as they occur and I am always interested in hearing from curators at museums worldwide that would like to hold an exhibition of the miniatures.
- I am also interested in locating an appropriate location to set up a permanent or semi-permanent exhibition of his miniatures accompanied by historical documentation, photographs, letters, handwritten notes from my father and grandfather, art reviews (all of which is posted on this website) which would complement the miniatures and provide a well rounded, educational and historical insight into this life and art.
- A non-profit museum organization may be set up in the near future and I remain hopeful that the many museums, universities and private collectors that maintain Rosenthal miniatures would consider loaning or gifting their miniatures to the Louis Rosenthal Museum on permanent loan so these miniatures could be included in a permanent exhibition and also traveling exhibitions.
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New Art Reviews, Articles, Press Releases and Stories published on Louis Rosenthal since the creation of the online museum will be listed below and also posted on the bottom of the Art Reviews Page. Also please visit the Art Reviews Page for art reviews from the 1920 -1970's:
May 16, 2011: Press Release for Baltimore, Maryland
January, 2011: Wes Siegrist's new book - "Modern Masters of Miniature Art in America - refers to Louis Rosenthal multiple times and notes that: - "Louis Rosenthal is considered the father of miniature sculpture." Wes Siegrist website: http://www.artofwildlife.com/miniature_painting_books.html A link to the book can be found here:
http://www.artofwildlife.com/miniature_painting_books.html#A This link below provides specific pages from the book on Louis Rosenthal:
http://books.google.com/books?id=aRB6i3k3FpgC&pg=PA249&lpg=PA249&dq=wes+siegrist+book+louis+rosenthal&source=bl&ots=Ync6XivrsG&sig=mf4DQZk0i8OyDUECZ50cMDF1H2c&hl=en&ei=C7xATbGFFsfYgQfasunbAg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBYQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=wes%20siegrist%20book%20louis%20rosenthal&f=false
January, 2011: Press Release for Exhibition in Wells, England: May-June 2011
December 8, 2010: Gazette.net: All the Small Things: Miniature Art Exhibit at the Mansion
November 1, 2010: The National Museum of American Jewish History published the story "Louis Rosenthal, the Artist who Carries a Museum in his Pocket" written by Sharon Quigley-Rosenthal. It is being featured on their "Share your Story" page of their website. A link is posted here:
http://www.nmajh.org/content.aspx?id=867
July 1, 2010: Press Release can be read here: Press Release: Louis Rosenthal Museum/Sharon Quigley-Rosenthal
July 12, 2010: The Louis Rosenthal Museum is being featured on the Art Knowledge News website beginning on Monday, July 12. Click here for a link: www.artknowledgenews.com It will be featured in the Recent News Section. This link will take you directly there: http://www.artknowledgenews.com/2010-07-11-21-43-13-louis-rosenthal-online-museum-of-his-miniature-scuptures.html
May 21, 2010: The Jewish Times in Maryland published the story "Miniature Art".
A link is attached here: Miniature Art
Lyrics:
The Beach Tune (Samsara) Looked over my shoulder one final time Wind pushed at my back, hair in my eyes Hush of the ocean rushed through my ears Poured over my soul, erased future years In time you are there And I’m over here Waves pounded, retreated Backward in memory Forward in pace Spun me around and on my way To the center of which I cannot recall The sound of the gull Displaced the eternity of it all Nothing really mattered Except my backward glance that day If I look again Will you look back my way? This path is familiar Did I just hear you sigh? This windy existence bears no place for a lie Accompanied by A chilly sense of dread I pushed out of my path It flowed back so fast Forward I kept, with a thought for the past Would you run, would you shout Would you catch up to me at last Do I have to dream, do I have to wish If I cross my fingers will we engage in our kiss Hush of the ocean perished in my ears quick sand swallowed my tears You will not appear You are not even there Except when I wish it And I turn and I stare | Country Time (4:09) My buddy said to settle the score And left me at the bar at a quarter to four I counted my money, ordered one last beer Then I glanced down the bar as you simply sat there Not a care in the world, no trouble in sight On this long and this cold old December night Last call was announced as I gave you a look And wondered if you were as calm as you looked My past is still present, my life is a mess And here you are now at this time and this place Is the grand design of the universe being revealed? Or is it a quarter to four and I simply mis-deal’d This structure is open, the territory wide As I huddle in this quarter circle inside A blur of silver, neon and noise Spinning this coin between my restless fingers of joy The passage of time is an odd occurrence Silently expanding within its jagged little edges Funny thing, detours of the mind A few minutes ago everything was just fine I hope this moment is just on loan When your thoughts have thoughts of their own For a moment I wondered if you may have slipped out of my sight And guess who came walking back up to my right And as the bartender slammed my beer in place I chose comfort over fear of embrace And wrestled with your existence that holds me tightly in place My buddy returned, said it was time to go Saw my eyes, glanced your way, and promptly replied ‘so’ He said ‘hey man, this is not the time or the place’ Yet I was informed otherwise by that trace of a smile on your face My future divided before my eyes Stretched out and relaxed to my great surprise What are either of us doing in a place such as this? I guess we had to meet somewhere before that first kiss |
