Who Arted: Weekly Art History for All Ages

German artist Max Ernst was a pivotal figure in modern art history, bridging the anarchic rebellion of the Dada movement with the psychological depths of Surrealism. Born in Bruehl and deeply scarred by his service in World War I, Ernst rejected the rigid rationality of his upbringing to explore the unconscious mind. His artistic evolution took him from the avant-garde circles of Cologne and Paris to a dramatic escape from Nazi-occupied Europe with the help of Peggy Guggenheim. Settling in Sedona, Arizona, his presence in the United States proved crucial in bridging the gap between European Surrealism and the emerging American Abstract Expressionist movement. Central to Ernst's legacy are his innovative "automatic" techniques, specifically frottage (rubbing) and grattage (scraping), which allowed chance and texture to dictate composition. A close analysis of his 1927 masterpiece, Forest and Dove, illustrates these methods in action. By scraping paint over textured surfaces to create impenetrable, fossil-like forests, Ernst juxtaposed the menacing power of nature with the fragility of the spirit, often represented by his bird alter ego, "Loplop." His work challenges the role of the artist, suggesting that creators should act as spectators to their own materials to unlock the hidden imagery of the subconscious. Check out my other podcasts  Fun Facts Daily | Art Smart | Rainbow Puppy Science Lab Who ARTed is an Airwave Media Podcast. If you are interested in advertising on this or any other Airwave Media show, email: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mount Rushmore has a complicated and fascinating history. Long before the faces of American presidents were carved into the granite face of the mountain, the land was sacred to the Lakota. Matthew Davis wrote A Biography of a Mountain: The Making and Meaning of Mount Rushmore. He shares his insights into the history from broken treaties to plans for an attraction to boost tourism. Buy the book A Biography of a Mountain: The Making and Meaning of Mount Rushmore on Amazon or your favorite book store. Check out my other podcasts  Fun Facts Daily | Art Smart | Rainbow Puppy Science Lab Who ARTed is an Airwave Media Podcast. If you are interested in advertising on this or any other Airwave Media show, email: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An artist’s skillful application of paint will make an artwork good, but a good story makes that artwork great. In 2010, a painting went on auction at Sotheby’s and sold for $1.5 million and I would argue that price is not because of the image, or the artist, but rather the story. Harry Hahn was an American pilot fighting in World War 1. He was fortunate to not only survive the brutal war, but also while serving overseas, he met the love of his life. He married a French woman named Andree Lardoux. Her aunt, the Comtesse Louise de Montaut decided to give the young couple one of the old paintings in her collection as a wedding present. This gift seemed particularly special as a French connoisseur by the name of George Sortais had examined the painting in 1916 and he had declared it to be the work of none other than Leonardo da Vinci. Want to learn more? Head over to my website www.funfactsdailypod.com and be sure to listen to my other podcasts Who ARTed: Weekly Art History for All Ages or Art Smart. For family fun, check out my son's podcast Rainbow Puppy Science Lab Fun Facts Daily is an Airwave Media Podcast. If you are interested in advertising on this or any other Airwave Media show, email: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is recognized globally as a holiday spectacle, but it also stands as one of the world's largest exhibitions of public art and engineering. Originating in 1924 as a celebration for the store’s immigrant employees, the event evolved under the artistic direction of puppeteer Tony Sarg. Sarg transformed the parade by replacing live zoo animals with "upside-down marionettes"—sculptures made of rubberized silk that utilized the physics of helium to revolutionize aerial performance. This tradition continues today through the Macy's Parade Studio, where artists blend Old World modeling techniques with 3D computer-aided design to create massive kinetic sculptures capable of navigating the logistical bottleneck of the Lincoln Tunnel. Beyond the floating pop culture icons, the parade features high art installations through the Blue Sky Gallery, an initiative commissioning works from contemporary masters like Jeff Koons, Takashi Murakami, and Yayoi Kusama. The history of these floating giants includes risky experiments, such as the brief era of releasing balloons for a monetary reward, and the development of hybrid vehicles known as "Falloons" and "Balloonicles." From the prototype Felix the Cat to modern masterpieces, the combination of buoyancy and puppetry turns the streets of New York into a moving gallery. Related episodes: Jeff Koons Takashi Murakami Yayoi Kusama KAWS Check out my other podcasts  Fun Facts Daily | Art Smart | Rainbow Puppy Science Lab Who ARTed is an Airwave Media Podcast. If you are interested in advertising on this or any other Airwave Media show, email: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the racially segregated 1950s, a group of twenty-six African American artists from Fort Pierce, Florida, defied the economic limitations of the Jim Crow South by forging a unique path in the art world. Known today as the Florida Highwaymen, these entrepreneurs—including founding figures Alfred Hair and Harold Newton, and the sole female member Mary Ann Carroll—bypassed exclusionary white-only galleries to sell their work directly to the public. Painting vibrant, idealized Florida landscapes on inexpensive Upson board with crown molding frames, they traveled the state's roadways selling their art from the trunks of their cars to banks, motels, and individuals. Their unique "fast painting" technique, often utilizing palette knives and bold colors, allowed them to produce thousands of works featuring iconic Royal Poinciana trees, dramatic "fire skies," and serene backcountries. While originally sold for roughly $25 to $35, these paintings have since gained significant historical acclaim, leading to the group's induction into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame in 2004. Check out my other podcasts  Fun Facts Daily | Art Smart | Rainbow Puppy Science Lab Who ARTed is an Airwave Media Podcast. If you are interested in advertising on this or any other Airwave Media show, email: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices