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Avant-Guardian Musings

  • Spring 2025
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“Art is an outlet toward regions which are not ruled by time and space”
— Marcel Duchamp

Avant-Guardian Musings is a curated space of ideas and information, resources, reviews and readings for undergraduate and graduate students studying modern and contemporary art history and visual art theory, film and photography studies, and the expanding field of visual culture and screen studies. For students currently enrolled in my courses or the field school, the blog and associated social media links also serve as a place of reflection and an extension of the ideas and visual material raised in lecture and seminar discussion.

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Blog
From the Archives | How (And Why) To Take Excellent Lecture Notes
From the Archives | How (And Why) To Take Excellent Lecture Notes
about 10 months ago
Weekly Musings + Round Up... And A Few More Things
Weekly Musings + Round Up... And A Few More Things
about 2 years ago
Weekly Musings + Round Up... And A Few More Things
about 2 years ago
Weekly Musings + Round Up... And A Few More Things
Weekly Musings + Round Up... And A Few More Things
about 2 years ago
Top 10 Modern and Contemporary Art Exhibitions Worth Visiting In 2023
Top 10 Modern and Contemporary Art Exhibitions Worth Visiting In 2023
about 2 years ago

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Delighted to find these iconic Tom Ford Whitney’s deep in my closet over the weekend ✨☀️🕶️Anyone else remember these sunglasses from back in the day? I want to say these are well over 15 years old and they were a very big splurge, but I loved
Delighted to find these iconic Tom Ford Whitney’s deep in my closet over the weekend ✨☀️🕶️Anyone else remember these sunglasses from back in the day? I want to say these are well over 15 years old and they were a very big splurge, but I loved rediscovering and wearing them today. Great design is timeless. Invest in things you love— your future self will thank you✨ . . . #tomford #sunglasses #tomfordwhitney #whatiwore #shamelessselfie
If Seoul was a colour, it would be neon and bright, and if it was a shape, it would be curved and post-structural.
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#artanddesign #odetoacity #urban #seoul #korea #design #contemporaryart #architecture
If Seoul was a colour, it would be neon and bright, and if it was a shape, it would be curved and post-structural. . . . #artanddesign #odetoacity #urban #seoul #korea #design #contemporaryart #architecture
Visited the stunning Leeum Museum of Art today and took in the spatial delights of Korean architecture married to modern art. What I love most is how the familiar European and American “masters” (i.e. Rodin, Giacometti, Rauschenberg, Hess
Visited the stunning Leeum Museum of Art today and took in the spatial delights of Korean architecture married to modern art. What I love most is how the familiar European and American “masters” (i.e. Rodin, Giacometti, Rauschenberg, Hesse, Flavin, Rothko, Andre, Lewitt, Stella, etc…) are curated both in dialogue with Korean modern artists such as Lee Ufan and Kim Chong-yung, but also in juxtaposition to the beautiful natural setting that is showcased through large windows throughout the complex. A must see gallery if you visit Seoul. . . . #seoul #korea #modernart #contemporaryart #koreanart #arthistory
Flaneur for the day in Seoul ✨🇰🇷 A global city of high contrast, beauty, and living history around every corner.
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#seoul #korea #flaneur #daytripping #streetart #contemporaryart #modernart #urbanart #arthistory #urban #globalcity
Flaneur for the day in Seoul ✨🇰🇷 A global city of high contrast, beauty, and living history around every corner. . . . #seoul #korea #flaneur #daytripping #streetart #contemporaryart #modernart #urbanart #arthistory #urban #globalcity
Hello Seoul! 🇰🇷🛬✨안녕하세요 서울 Lucky me, I am incredibly excited to have arrived in South Korea today and staying smack dab in the middle of the stylish Gangnam District at the COEX Conference Centre. It is my first time in this beautiful city and I ca
Hello Seoul! 🇰🇷🛬✨안녕하세요 서울 Lucky me, I am incredibly excited to have arrived in South Korea today and staying smack dab in the middle of the stylish Gangnam District at the COEX Conference Centre. It is my first time in this beautiful city and I cannot wait to begin exploring, especially the contemporary art and design scene. I am here to attend and give a paper at the #IPSA2025 International Political Science Association World Congress, the largest global gathering of researchers and academics working on all things political and international relations oriented. IPSA as an academic association was founded under the auspices of UNESCO in 1949 and is devoted to the advancement of political science in all parts of the world and promotes collaboration between scholars in both established and emerging democracies. The 2025 Conference theme is “Resisting Autocratization in Polarized Societies” and I was invited to present a paper on my ongoing work on Trumpism, the neo avante-garde, and visual culture on a panel examining the role of cultural actors during periods of democratic backsliding. I only had a few hours after I arrived to my hotel to check out COEX, but I had to see the world famous library housed inside the shopping complex. It was a very cool sight for a book nerd like me 🤓 . . . #seoul #korea #southkorea #politicalscience #arthistory #academiclife #conference @kpuarts @kwantlenu

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© Dorothy Barenscott, Avant-Guardian Musings, and dorothybarenscott.com, 2010-2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Dorothy Barenscott, Avant-Guardian Musings, and dorothybarenscott.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Graham, the eternal flaneur, walking in the heart of Paris.

Graham, the eternal flaneur, walking in the heart of Paris.

Location| Paris: Meet Field School Blogger Graham Smith

June 13, 2017

Tell us a little bit about yourself—your background, major program of study, reasons for taking this trip, and anything else interesting you want to share (maybe something people might not know about you).

Hi there, my name is Graham Smith and I am a 24 year old marketing professional living in South Surrey and working out of Vancouver for Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management . I attended my first Kwantlen Polytechnic University course in September 2010 and my field school trip to Paris in June 2017 marks the completion of my undergraduate degree. I know, a 7 year degree? What has this guy been doing? Fortunately I have graduated with 4 years of professional experience under my belt, a full year of international travels, and a great plan for the future. KPU has helped me emerge as an excited and industrious young man.

I chose embark on this Impressionist Art field school adventure in Paris due to my recent intrigue and scholarly work in the fine art world. During my four semesters of study under Dr. Dorothy Barenscott, I have found a passion in working with artists and their creations. My role in the art world is that of a dealer, promoter, and patron of the arts. As I transition back to my life in Vancouver I will pursue opportunities to vitalize the art world with the multitude of fresh, industrious artists of Vancouver and the world.

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What has met or exceeded your expectations or surprised you about Paris (or Kassel) so far?

The Parisians are the ultimate curators of visual commodity. From their body language, to dress, to behavior, they dictate the way our eyes move and what we accept as visual ideals. Come on, we all know the Parisians have style. Prior to arriving in Paris we spoke about the voyeuristic nature of the city and how people are always looking, judging, and observing. We see that gazes of the Parisian public truly are for sale, commanded by what is different, interesting, and absurd. To become a part of this visual vernacular of the city, one must practice in uniqueness of dress and attitude. Parisians live a certain way, and the two weeks we have here will give us a closer understanding of the decadence of life in Paris. The lives of Parisians are decadent because they are filled with culture and style. From the way they dress and carry themselves, to the afternoon picnics in the park, to the cafe loungings, we see that Parisians have established a certain liberty, equality, and fraternity that they cherish in all aspects of daily life. 

Graham was assigned Edouard Manet's The Balcony (1868-69) for the field school.

Graham was assigned Edouard Manet's The Balcony (1868-69) for the field school.

Give us some insight into your assigned artwork from the Orsay Musuem. After seeing the work in person in Paris (and any other related art from the same artist or art movement associated with the assigned work), what struck you most about it and/or how did the artwork’s form, content, and context shift for you when seeing it.

Unfortunately the piece of artwork I had most recently been working with, Le Balcon (1868-69) by Edouard Manet had been moved to Turin, Italy for a last minute special exhibition. Although I would like to have seen it, its quick move has showed me the agile nature of the art world, one that allows for a flurry of opportunistic moments.

Monet, Le Bassin aux nympheas, harmony rose (1900).

Monet, Le Bassin aux nympheas, harmony rose (1900).

In place of Le Balcon, Musee d’Orsay gave me another set of opportunistic moments captured by Claude Monet. As I walked through Monet’s collection on the fifth floor I was greeted with sun and clouds moving overhead. The glass skylights of the room amplified the sky, and as these clouds drifted by, the sun shone into the room and changed the light in the room, therefore affecting the way we viewed Monet’s paintings. With Monet having such an intimate relationship with the intricacies of sunlight, I thought that in this moment, a special connection was happening. In Monet’s masterpiece Le Bassin aux nympheas, harmony rose, we see his dialogue with the natural sunlight and the shade and shadows it causes. Formally the painting is typical of the Impressionist style, we see a painterly quality to this piece, unrefined in line, but but complex and poignant in colour deployment. Especially through the shaded area towards the bottom of the canvas, the colour becomes muttled by the lack of sunlight. Content wise, the painting captures a beautiful moment in Monet’s backyard in Giverny. Showcasing the natural wonder world was Monet’s specialty, he takes a simple place found in nature, and with his brushes he provides a deeper understanding of nature and its intricacies. More powerful than a photo, more powerful than actually being in the garden, viewing the natural world through Monet’s lenses gives us the attitude and essence of the wild and free. Through Monet’s thousands of brushstrokes here we find that he has a special ability to enlighten nature’s features through colour, and an exciting, eye-capturing yet confusing technique. In the fog he finds clarity, in the sun he finds shine, and in the man-made subjects he captures labour through a labour of his own.

The sun and the clouds were dancing with each other at 14:11 on 06/06/2017, giving us moments of brightness and gloom while viewing Monet’s works. At this time I had my most vivid passage of artistic thought and I furthered my deep understanding for the abilities and messages of the Impressionist Era painters.

Graham collaborated in an Impressionist inspired photograph titled The Banana Eater taken by his roommate Lukas Paul.   

Graham collaborated in an Impressionist inspired photograph titled The Banana Eater taken by his roommate Lukas Paul.   

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Today’s activity was located at the Louvre. What were your impressions? What will you take away of the experiences of this day?  What are the most memorable moments for you?

There was definitely a buzz in the air, the Louvre was packed with excitement, and crowds were bustling due to the other main Parisian museum, the Orsay, being closed for the day. I heard a girl in the crowd of the Mona Lisa mention “I feel like I’m at a festival,” this idea really speaks to the atmosphere found at hotspot paintings within the museum. It is almost like bees buzzing around a flower, however, these bees are armed with a digital device that provides the opportunity to capture a snapshot of priceless art pieces. This is where we find the true excitement in the crowd, they are able to create an image and memory of their own (through photography) and therefore take ownership a moment of the painting’s life. Having this proof of attendance or proximity to the artworks can elevate ones role in society. Enjoying fine art is a sought after pastime for great masses around the world, and the Louvre in Paris provides the perfect warehouse of art for these consumer masses.

To see more photos and impressions of Paris and Kassel as the field school continues, check out our Instagram feed #kpuparis

← Location| Paris: Meet Field School Blogger Gurleen VirkLocation| Paris: Meet Field School Blogger Margot Overington →
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© Dorothy Barenscott, 2010-2025