April 2024
April 2024:
The Latest stage of Human Genomics Research
University of California
The director of National Human Genome Research Institute gave a lecture on the latest findings on human genome. He discussed many chapters: molecular biology revolution, human genome project, expansion and maturation of genomics, en route to genomic medicine and finally making genomics mainstream in medicine.
He pointed out that any two peoples’ genome sequences are over 99% identical and less than %1 different. The director explained that the known genome functions are the tips of the iceberg. He discussed continuum of genetic diseases.
The human genome is the complete set of nucleic acids sequences that is encoded as DNA. The regulatory sequences of the human genome control gene expressions. The first human genome sequences was published by Human Genome Project in 2001. There is an important research project that works on the process of human genome variation to the HG functions. Now in 2024, the scientists are focusing on genomic medicine and the way of using genomics to advance knowledge about health and disease. The researchers are working on billions of billions data sets.
The most active institutions in the human genome project are the Whitehead Institute and the Welcome Trust Institute. Anyone on the internet can have access to some of the databases for DNA sequences. The human genome has over 3 billion base pairs. In the recent Annual Review of Genomics , there was an interesting article about the recent discovery about Genetics of Faces; over 300 related genes have been identified so far. Genetic variants have a main role in determining the facial shapes; other factors such as environment and diet can alter the actions of certain genes in the long period.
There are some ethical issues with the genome project such as how the insurance companies can use these data and refuse the insurance to some people with potential health problems. Some researchers are concerned that mapping the human genome could have a profound impact on the perception of the disease and the process of possible cure. ©CTR Press
March 2024:
March 2024:
Fashioning San Francisco,
A Century of Style
De Young Museum
San Francisco, California
This exhibition is about exploring the history of San Francisco through fashion. It is presenting over 100 collections: mainly French, American, Italian and Spanish fashion designers. The enthusiastic visitors have a chance to view some notable examples in the fashion industry and finding out more about “the tradition of self-expression through fashion.”
One of the highlights of the exhibition is displaying the Parisian couture gowns and some American and French haute couture. Lanvin’s evening dresses featuring some elements of the 18th century fashion attracted the attention of some visitors to take pictures and engage in a lively discussions about this style. Jean Patou dresses displaying the easy wearing black dresses in soft silk. It is followed by Jacques Fath design in the similar styles and colors.
The Italian Gianfranco Ferre design by silk satin weave make some visitors to take pictures and one interested visitor, a Fashion student was drawing it for her school project. The elegant Rodarte Collections displaying the evening dresses using natural elements. Cappucci dresses showcasing the suit ensemble in cotton and silk.
The ambiance of the exhibition room was very lively and positive. The majority of the visitors were females who were interested in finding out more about the major presentations. There were some audio tours available for the viewers who were seeking to learn more about the fashion history.
There were some interesting discussions about some modern fashion designers and two students eagerly checking out their websites and comparing them. One of them, Sally stated that her favorite designer has many advantages over the favorite designer of her friend, Rona. And her reason was not the superiority of elegance or style, but the number of followers on the social media! It caused some laughter among the more mature viewers; and one of them a Tech guy who accompanied his wife to the exhibition mentioned that maybe because your favorite designer spend much more on the marketing and continued explaining how some companies create positive reviews and followers for the websites that had already paid them by using “bots”. “They can create hundreds of thousands followers that are not real humans and just “bots”. And the sad part is that the social media community doesn’t care about this false and deceptive behavior. And how naively some people blindly following a social media just because they see the huge number of followers. Unfortunately, so many people choose quantity over quality and their standards have been cheapened and lowered by the social media and at the end of the day they are wondering why they aren’t feeling good!
There is no doubt that fashion is interconnected with the economic, social and cultural context of each society and it changes throughout the years. It is also a source of inspiration for the art and a means of displaying different styles and tastes. The classic fashion is very different from the modern one. The 21st century fashion is influenced by the advanced technology and lacks the elegance and simplicity of the classic ones. ©CTR Press
February 2024:
February 2024:
The Met Cloisters
New York
The Met Cloisters is the hidden gem of museums in New York. A large collection of European Medieval artifacts are on display. The artworks from the Mediterranean and European in the fourth century to the Renaissances and some artifacts from early Iron Age and Bronze Age have made this museum especially interesting.
The Cloisters building was designed by Charles Collens in a simplified medieval style. The Gothic Hall exhibiting the finest 16th century collection such as sculptures by Riemenschneider. In total, there are over 5,000 artifacts from Europe mainly from 12th to 16th centuries. The display of the artifacts are arranged thematically to represent the history of the specific periods.
The architecture, the windows, doorways and stained glasses are remarkable. A series of original tapestries have added to the charm and character of the museum. The three gardens in the Cloisters were laid out in 1938 and containing some rare medieval works. The entrance from the upper level of Gothic Hall is lit by stained glass windows on both sides. And on the ground level, the glass panels dates back to the early 14the century. In the Romanesque Hall, there are some columns from the Augustinian church.
There is an interesting library in the Cloisters that specifically focuses on medieval art and architecture with over 16,000 books and journals. This space is available to the art researchers and academics by appointment.
Displaying the art of the Middle Ages and European Renaissance and picturesquely overlooking the Hudson River, atop a tall hill in the northern tip of Manhattan, on a 4 acres Park, providing the visitors with an opportunity to escape the hustle of New York City and immerse themselves in the art and architecture of the Middle Ages in an extraordinary ambiance. ©CTR Press
January 2024:
January 2024:
Botticelli Exhibition
Legion of Honor Museum
San Francisco, California
Botticelli Drawings Exhibition featuring some rarely seen drawings and paintings by the magnificent Renaissance artist, Sandro Botticelli. The spiritual power and grace were the dominant elements in the exhibition: Botticelli Drawings and Paintings attracted the visitors from other cities in California , other States and some international visitors to visit the Art Museum of San Francisco, Legion of Honor. The Exhibition has the extraordinary ambiance of the Italian Museums. The exhibition is divided into seven sections: starting with the early 1460s when Botticelli was a pupil of Lippi to his graceful religious paintings of the 1500s.
Botticelli (1445-1510) was one of the main painters of Italian Renaissance. He was apprenticed to Fra Filipinos Lippi in 1463. Then in 1472, he took on his first apprentice, the son of Lippi and they created the rare and magnificent works of art together including many Madonna and Child paintings. His paintings of the Madonna and Child usually accompanied by the beautiful singing angels.
Botticelli had a lifelong interest in Dante, the great literary figure in Florence, Italy and the world. He designed many illustrations for Dante’s Divine Comedy. The Divine Comedy consists of 100 cantos and Botticelli provided illustrations and drawings for the Inferno.
Botticelli had a lifelong interest in Dante, the great literary figure in Florence, Italy and the world. He designed many illustrations for Dante’s Divine Comedy. The Divine Comedy consists of 100 cantos and Botticelli provided illustrations and drawings for the Inferno.
Botticelli was fascinated by Simonetta Vespucci’ beauty, charm and grace. She was an inspiration for him while creating the female figures in his paintings. After she passed away at the age of 23, Botticelli requested to be buried at the foot of her tomb. When he passed away in 1510, his remains were placed as he requested.
One of the rare paintings created by Botticelli and Lippi is the two Five Sibyls in Niches. These two marvelous paintings featuring the total 10 Sibyls: starting with the Persian, and then the Libyan, the Delphic, the Cimmerian, the Erythraean, the Samian, the Cumaean, the Hellespontine, the Phrygian and finally the Tiburtine. The Sibyls were Prophetesses from classical literature BC; they were widely regarded as frenzied women whose talkings were Divine; and according to the later Christian theologians they foretold the Christ’s birth, death and resurrection.
His later drawings depicted the political upheavals of 1490s. The arrival of deeply moralistic Dominican friar, Girolamo Savonarola in Florence made a deep impression on Botticelli and he became one of his followers. Some art critics believe that Botticelli produced no artworks afterwards. But one thing is certain that people should be very careful about what they read online. There are lots of misinformation about the historical figures and artists online. Botticelli is no exception. This misinformation often is carried out by the bots. Sometimes it creates fake quotes and fake references and the links that don’t work. It is insulting to the historical figures, the culture in general and the intellect of the readers too. The information provided by the exhibition’s curators was very helpful and helped the viewer better understand the works of the genius Renaissance artist, the Italian Botticelli. (C)CTR Press His later drawings depicted the political upheavals of 1490s. The arrival of deeply moralistic Dominican friar, Girolamo Savonarola in Florence made a deep impression on Botticelli and he became one of his followers. Some art critics believe that Botticelli produced no artworks afterwards. But one thing is certain that people should be very careful about what they read online. There are lots of misinformation about the historical figures and artists online. Botticelli is no exception. This misinformation often is carried out by the bots. Sometimes it creates fake quotes and fake references and the links that don’t work. It is insulting to the historical figures, the culture in general and the intellect of the readers too.
His later drawings depicted the political upheavals of 1490s. The arrival of deeply moralistic Dominican friar, Girolamo Savonarola in Florence made a deep impression on Botticelli and he became one of his followers. Some art critics believe that Botticelli produced no artworks afterwards. But one thing is certain that people should be very careful about what they read online including Wikipedia. There are lots of misinformation about the historical figures and artists online. Botticelli is no exception. This misinformation often is carried out by the bots. Sometimes it creates fake quotes and fake references and the links that don’t work. It is insulting to the historical figures, the culture in general and the intellect of the readers too. The information provided by the exhibition’s curators was very helpful and helped the viewer better understand the works of the genius Renaissance artist, the Italian Botticelli.
©CTR Press
