Iris, Messenger of the Gods 1895: North Carolina Museum of Arts 2000
In 2000, The North Carolina Museum of Art was the home of the most extensive exhibit of Rodin ever in the Southeast. Raleigh welcomed tourists from all over the world during this time.
I admit that I fell into the inertia of the local, and almost didn't get there. But someone I will always thank, saw to it that I didn't miss it. There were huge statues on the lawn and the inside was crowded with the most amazing works; it was much more than I had expected. Because there were so many of them, they were placed close to together, but each was so amazing that it made a presence all on its own. Each one drew in the eye and the soul as if it were the only thing in the room.
Some of the works I would have missed are: Balzac 'F' Athlete; I am Beautiful; Tragic Muse;
Monumental Head of Jean D'Aire; The Prayer; Bust of Rodin, by Camille Claudel; Walking Man; Iris, Messenger of the Gods; The Three Shades; The Thinker; Monument to Victor Hugo.
Leo Steinberg on Rodin:
"Rodin has not so much modeled a body in motion as clothed a motion in body, and no more body than it wants to fulfill itself"
Auguste Rodin: Working Class Beginnings and a Work Ethic
Rodin was traditionally trained, but during his life also got a lot of criticism because his innovation was not classical. In 1857 he applied to the Grand École and was turned down despite fact that they had low standards for admission.Although he suffered those setbacks as well as many others, he was also referred to as the Michelangelo of his day. But he often seemed oblivious to the criticism. He couldn't understand the objections to body parts without heads when there were so many sculptured heads without bodies.
But through it all, as well as the typical complicated life of an artist, he continued to produce the work as he saw fit to do it. And in doing this he left of legacy of some of the greatest works of art that exist.
The quote above, by Leo Steinberg sums up the quality and spirit of Rodin's work.
At one point Rodin was training to become a skilled craftsman, the art he produced was not seen by anyone because he could not afford the castings. However, he persevered and eventually his statue, The Thinker, became arguably the most widely recognized sculpture in modern day.
Rodin is not only a great artist, whose works are inspiring, but his determination and ability to rise from the constraints of his origins as well as several early discouragements is something we can all look to as a model.

The Three Shades 1881-1886 NCMA 2000 Adam in Three Casts Rodin's Desire to Rival Michelangelo
Auguste Rodin: "Inside you there's an artist you don't know about. He's not interested in how things look different in moonlight."

Rodin and the Monumental Head of Jean d'Aire, 1900: Exploring the Artist Inside and in The Art 2000
North Carolina Museum of Art: Museum Park
MUSEUM PARK: The picture is from the NCMA website. It depicts the Museum Park which "consists of 164 acres of woodlands, open areas and streams filled with trails and monumental works of environmental art. The combination of an important art museum and a large natural area offers a rare opportunity to explore art and ecology together".The Museum is currently undergoing extensive renovation and expansion. When it is finished the State Museum will be gifted by the Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Foundation, in September 2009, with approximately 29 Rodin bronzes, some of which will be in the park.
- The North Carolina Museum of Art
- The site of the North Carolina Museum of Art with Current and Upcoming Exhibits

Rodin's Monument to Victor Hugo
Auguste Rodin: "The artist must create a spark before he can make a fire and before art is born, the artist must be ready to be consumed by the fire of his own creation."

Rodin Observing Work on the Monument to Victor Hugo

Rodin's "I Am Beautiful" 1882, NCMA in 2000
Auguste Rodin: "I choose a block of marble and chop off whatever I don't need"

Rodin "The Athlete" 1896 at the NCMA in 2000.
Auguste Rodin: "It is the artist who is truthful and it is photography which lies, for in reality time does not stop, and if the artist succeeds in producing the impression of a movement which takes several moments for accomplishment, his work is certainly much less conventional than the scientific image, where time is abruptly suspended."

Rodin: "Walking Man" 1905 NCMA 2000

Rodin: "The Prayer" 1909 NCMA in 2000
Auguste Rodin:
"I invent nothing, I rediscover."
Your Words on His Work Are Welcome
As well as comments about the lens. Stars appreciated!
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- Sylviane_Nuccio Sylviane_Nuccio Jan 11, 2009 @ 9:06 pm
- I live in Raleigh, I am French and I love Rodin... wow, many reason to find your lens somehow. Beautiful lens!
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- JaguarJulie JaguarJulie Oct 6, 2008 @ 7:02 pm
- Wow! You have certainly taken a bit of time to develop this artistic lens -- terrific polaroid pictures. Love artsy lenses.
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- Tiddledeewinks Tiddledeewinks Sep 25, 2008 @ 12:42 pm
- As a young girl, when I was in Salt Lake City, I was walking my blind Dad and saw a small sculpture of "The Thinker" by Rodin in a shop window. My Dad had pointed out a little about it, and got me interested in art this way.I like The Embrace. I'm not sure if that was Rodin though?
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- spirituality spirituality Sep 18, 2008 @ 10:44 am
- WOW, love these pictures.
I Almost Didn't Go
I learned a lesson here. Don't put things off, get into life!
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The Thinker, perhaps Rodin's most well known and popular piece, is actually many statues of different shapes and sizes that all come from Rodin's mold and with his approval.
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Lensmaster Margo_Arrowsmith has been a member since June 21 2008, has rated 2,010 lenses, favorited 120, and has created 129 lenses from scratch. Margo Arrowsmith donates their royalties to Squidoo Charity Fund. This member's top-ranked page is "Debbie Wasserman Schultz?". See all my lenses
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For Arrowsmith Printing 9/22/08
I was born into a small business, I believe that small business and entrepreneurs are the backbone of America and what has made us great. They are what made us great and will save us in these unsure times. I have never wanted to have a great job. Well, better a great one, than a boring dead end one, and I have had both. But I have never really wanted a job at all.
Don't get me wrong, I am a hard worker. I have worked a full-time job, a part time job and a private practice all at the same time for a lot of years in my past. It isn't the work, its the working for someone else. Never wanted to do that, and I don't understand those who want to do that.
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Growing up in Iowa, in the fifties, I also grew up politically conservative. By the time I was 30 I was radically left. Today? I am proudly liberal and what that means will be clearer as we progress.
However, I have had conflicts about 'taking advantage of people'. I now know that employing people is not automatically taking advantage of them, but it took a while for me to learn that nothing is intrinsically good or bad. Well, almost nothing.
I have educated myself in business, I have a small business and I have used EFT and other energy clearing methods to help me clarify the old conflicts and move forward.
My mission here is to provide a forum for people who want to work independently through one person businesses or through employing others and for whom the betterment of human kind is an important value. My lenses are about offering good products, teaching people about betting their lives, and using the money they make for their pleasure and the benefit of others.
That is how I see business and if you have a similar vision I invite you to my blog www.creatingbusinessenergy.com
Margo Arrowsmith
Raleigh, North Carolina
Mother and Grandmother
Clinincal Social Worker, Coach and Internet Marketer
Interfaith Contemplative Minister
Student of life, business, the human spirit that motivates us to be our best in all circumstances.
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For Arrowsmith Printing 9/22/08
I was born into a small business, I believe that small business and entrepreneurs are the backbone of America and w... (more)





























