Can Art Stop War?
"Ukraine Ablaze" by Danylo Movchan
Welcome to the December 2023 issue of Art Blotter Plus
Fascination / Inspiration…
This month I am featuring Danylo Movchan, a contemporary icon painter living and working in Lviv, Ukraine. Danylo painted in egg tempera, but when the war started he needed a more immediate medium to express the horrors so began painting in watercolor. Danylo graciously gave me permission to share his work with you.
I’m mesmerized by the immediacy, intensity and beauty of his work and his mastery of watercolor technique.
The term Holodomor (the “Great Ukrainian Famine” in Ukrainian) refers to the starvation of millions of Ukrainians in 1932–33 as a result of Soviet policies.
Here is a 6 1/2 minute video of the paintings of Danylo Movchan with music by Michal Jacaszek:
And more of Movchan’s heart-rending art:
***To learn more or acquire prints or originals search Danylo Movchan on Google or follow him on Instagram (@danylo_movchan)
Aside from depictions of death & destruction art can portray peace. This painting of a woman with a dove is the work of Heba Zagout a Palestinian artist. She was killed with two of her children in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza.
And here is a painting by Zoya Cherkassky-Nnadi an Israeli-Ukrainian artist. To me this painting represents the oppression of the occupation:
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I don’t like most political art, but when the art is strong the message takes flight. Case in point Picasso’s Guernica:
Guernica depicts the horror of the Spanish Civil War—Picasso started the painting in 1937, a few days after the bombing of the Basque city of Guernica. But this powerful art did not prevent WW II which officially began two years later with the German invasion of Poland in September of 1939.
So can art prevent war? Sadly history says “no”. But I still feel it’s worth expressing to remind ourselves of the human and environmental costs.
What are your thoughts?
From My Easel…
I’ve always loved the diffusion of sky dramatically rendered in many Japanese landscapes. It starts with an almost black band and quickly gradates to a deep blue:
Here I’m trying to mimic a Japanese-style sky in my current painting: (43 second video)
Book Update…
After polling followers and friends I’ve decided on the title:
This is just my sloppy mockup. My designer Domini Dragoone (@ddragoone on Instagram) will be creating an engaging design.
The manuscript is now in the hands of a copyeditor and I’m working on optimizing and vetting the 290 images. Tedious and expensive.
POLL: I need your opinion please!
Should I change the name of this substack from “Art Blotter Plus” to “Art & Love Letter” or “Love & Art Newsletter” or…
Amos Art…
My son’s got talent!
Between mural commissions Amos’ imagination spewed forth this…
I just stocked up on onsies for newborn baby presents and a beanie for myself!
Website and shop of Amos Goldbaum
New Occasional Feature!
Medical Moment…
Some of you know that in addition to being an artist, I’m a registered nurse with a mind full of medical mysteries and a penchant for giving unsolicited advice! What follows is oversharing but with a mission to help others.
Do you know B. E.D.? We throw around the term “binge” casually as in “binging Netflix,” but actually Binge Eating Disorder is an official mental illness that can be fatal.1 Many people think all obese people are binge eaters but only about half of fat people have B.E.D. And many average size people suffer from it. I am one.
B.E.D involves eating a large amount of food, at least 1,000 calories, consumed quickly, in private or secretly, with a feeling of not being able to stop and a huge amount of remorse after.
I’m in favor of “fat acceptance” and definitely reject any form of body shaming, but for me being overweight was an orthopedic disaster coupled with the extreme mental distress of B.E.D. Is there a cure or treatment?2 (see footnote if interested)
I leave you with…
A Favorite Song from the Great American Songbook...
In this time of war I need…
“Someone to Watch Over Me”
The 1926 song composed by George Gershwin with lyrics by his brother Ira Gershwin.3 I’ve chosen this unusual version sung by country singer Willie Nelson. It’s commonly performed by a female artist — I like the vulnerability of a man singing it. What do you think?
Until next time…
Let’s try to carry on bravely in these impossible times,
Lora
B.E.D. has only been included in the “DSM” The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders since 2013. The DSM is the handbook used by health care professionals in the United States and much of the world as the authoritative guide to the diagnosis of mental disorders. “Food addiction,” a related disorder, is not yet recognized by the medical establishment.
There is some research supporting Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Intuitive Eating or a low carb diet but these never worked for me. Meds include diabetes meds like semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovia) but they have only been studied in fat people with B.E.D. not bingers who are normal weight. And the ADHD drug lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse) has shown some promise. Of course these meds have side effects. I have not tried them. What has helped me are 12-step programs modeled after Alcoholics Anonymous. The one that’s been the most successful is the Kay Sheppard program (www.kaysheppard.com.) I’ve been on this plan for 24 years and although not perfect has greatly helped.
The “Great American Songbook” is not an actual songbook — it’s the canon of American popular songs and jazz standards from the early 1920s. I love this poignant and clever vocal genre.
Lora - I'm always reminded of something Coco Chanel said, and I paraphrase, "Before you go out, take off the last accessory you put on." Less is more!
Amazing post. I did not watch the video because the paintings were so intense. I liked the balance of painting/s relative to peace also...There is potentially more exposure for your book if the newsletter shares the book title. : )