Art Historian Coaches Olympian Swimmer

Lee Sandstead, of a fascinating show called Art Attack, recently wrote an open letter to Michael Phelps. In it, Lee--also an avid swimmer--talks about the role of both swimming and art in his own life:

Mr. Phelps, I grew up for most of my early life in a house trailer. I never had fine things, elegant foods or high culture. We weren't sitting around the trailer discussing world travel or the daily life of Michelangelo, we were debating if an open oven was a satisfactory work around for a broken furnace, or wondering if our pipes would freeze (again) during the winter.

It was in my early twenties when I decided the ideals that I would pursue for the rest of my life--and it is art that continually serves as the guidepost towards those ideals.

Using one of Albert Bierstadt's greatest landscapes--specifically Storm in the Rocky Mountains, Mt. Rosalie--he also talks about how (this type of) art makes him feel:

Mt. Rosalie demands that I live my life like the painting--filled with drama, adventure, beauty, excitement, and love.

I never feel little in front of Mt. Rosalie. Only grand; only bigger than life. Full of my ideals. It's a feeling much like Elvis' famous quote on art: "When I was a child, I was a dreamer. I read comic books, and I was the hero of the comic book." Comic books filled Elvis with grand aspirations. So, too, does Mt. Rosalie for me.

The point in writing the letter was not just to show that "art historians can swim too" but to say thanks to Phelps for the inspiration received via the sight of his achievements--and to show the crucial importance of art, to Phelps or anyone, in one's life.

While mini-biographical and thus of some interest to fans of the show, the above is the open letter's main value. If you're interested in what a passionate art historian thinks about art, and how he thinks art will help Phelps win more gold medals, head to the site now.

Art Attack Emmy Bound

You guys remember all those awesome quotes we posted from Art Attack? Well it turns out we aren't the only one's who like the show. Because it's Emmy Bound baby!

6 More Quotes from Lee Sandstead's Art Attack

I recently shared five quotes from the amazing first season of Art Attack.

Here are six, count 'em six, more quotes from Lee Sandstead on the oh-so wonderful world of art:

On Houdon's Diana the Huntress:

"So what is it about Diana that caused such a stir? Well, she's naked. Completely naked. Earlier works of Diana portrayed her in a respectable tunic or robe instead of letting it all hang out. 

"Because she was totally naked, some thought she was more Playboy bunny than classical goddess. 

"...That's because, in 18th century France, some considered full-frontal nudity not very lady-like."

On Sargent's Madame X:

"When I see this painting, I'm reminded why I love museums so much. Beautiful women. I want to meet this woman. 

"What was it that caused such a scandal? The better question might be, 'What didn't?' ...It caused such a scandal that he had to move to London to continue his career. It was like Johnny Cash, when he broke all the lights out at the Grand Ole Opry. Sometimes great artists can get carried away."

On Aphrodite of Knidos:

"Allow me to introduce you to Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, lust and beauty. 

"Ancient Greeks on the island of Cos worshipped the goddess Aphrodite--so why would they reject one of the greatest sculptures of her ever made? Well, when it was unveiled, this sculpture (now known as the Aphrodite of Knidos) was considered totally shocking. 

"This was the first, free-standing, female nude sculpture in Ancient Greece. When Praxiteles created this sculpture he was literally creating a revolution. Before this sculpture, most Greeks had seen exactly zero nude women in art. 

"We see male nudity in Greek art for hundreds of years before we see the female nude. But thankfully there were some liberal people in Greece. The folks on the other Greek island, Knidos, were ready for some equal-opportunity nakedness!"

On Rembrandt's Self-Portrait:

"Do I like this painting? Hell yes I like this painting. But does that mean I'm going to buy a poster of it, put it on my wall, invite a women over, and drink wine and eat cheese to the wee hours of the morning looking at it? Hell no! This man is depressed. 

"Now don't get me wrong, I love looking at myself, but this guy redefines the term self-obsessed. Rembrandt painted over 60 self portraits..."

On Beirstadt's Mt. Rosalie:

"When I look at this painting my heart pounds! So why did this painting get people so pumped up?! Because, like TV and film today, it captured the popular consciousness of the time."

On Vermeer's Woman Holding a Balance:

"What makes this next piece so special? It's not what's in the painting...but what isn't. 

"So you might be thinking, 'Who cares if she's weighing pearls or not, why does it even matter?' Well, inside those empty pans is the meaning of the painting. So what is she weighing? It's not something out here, it's something in here--something spiritual not material. 

"And how can we tell? ...On the wall is a painting called the Last Judgement. It's the biblical day of judgement, where souls are judged good or evil. Maybe she's thinking of her own life and how her soul will be weighed.

Now I'm guessing, if you made it to this point, that you definitely are a fan.

And, if so, you may be delighted to hear that since this post was first published, the star of it has written a book on one interesting aspect of art history.

To read more from Lee Sandstead on the exciting world of the art, then, click on the link in this sentence, sit back in your chair, and enjoy.

5 Quotes from Art Attack's First Season on the Travel Channel

Did you miss the first season of Art Attack with Lee Sandstead?

If so, it sucks for you--because if you're into art it was one of the best on that subject in many years.

Below are five quotes from the show however. See for yourself:

On Judy Chicago’s The Dinner Party:

Now, I know what you’re thinking, “That’s not art, it’s just a triangular dinner table!” 

When you look at it, what is it—what’s that thing that comes out at you the most? It’s vaginas. Many vaginas. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love vaginas. Just not these vaginas. This is shock art, this was meant to shock people, to deliberately shock people.

On Rodin’s The Burghers of Calais:

…But, believe it or not, Rodin created the four statues as part of a French feel-good project in 1876. They don’t exactly make me feel good and I’m a man in touch with my feelings!

On Reni’s Bacchus and Ariadne:

The god of wine looks like he was partying a little too hard the night before. Bacchus is hungover! So, basically, Venus hooked Ariadne up with her drunk friend. Some consolation. 

…[W]e can see that [Ariadne] is nagging by her gestures—and we wonder why she was kicked off the ship in the first place! 

This painting takes that event and makes it humourous. It makes it able for us to deal with. Got dumped? Get drunk.

On Rodin’s The Thinker:

What is this guy thinking about? Is he thinking about a new application for the iPhone? No! He’s seriously contemplating something. In fact, Rodin said his thinker was thinking with every muscle—and man you can see it. 

See how knotted his muscles are, there’s just tension in there. And then, when we get to his toes, look, they’re all bent under—they’re twisted under. Look at his face. That’s Rocky Balboa going 15 rounds with Apollo Creed and losing. That’s one beat up face! 

What could be so gripping as to put this guy in this state?!? To answer that, you need to know how Rodin thought up The Thinker.

On Mazzanti’s The Death of Lucretia:

Painting Lucretia is kind of like a “jazz standard”—a tune that everyone plays and puts their own spin on. 

…It’s meant to inspire us for positive action.

Did you like these quotes? Do you now see what I mean about the show being so great?

I hope so.

And, surprise of all surprises, thanks to yours truly you can click the following link for even more quotes by Lee Sandstead.