Artz has 50 Shades of Blue

50 shades of Blue. That is the name of the show we have going on at the Schertz Civic Center. What does blue make you feel?

Blue comes from the Germanic word blao.  The earliest blue dyes were made from woad a plant also known as Asp of Jerusalem or from indigo also a plant. 

                                                 Woad

Blue pigments were made from minerals such as lapis lazuli a semi-precious stone found in Afghanistan. In 2500 BC the Egyptians created the first synthetic blue pigment by heating to 900 degrees a combination of copper, lime, silica and alkali. 

                                             Lapis Lazuli 

In Egypt blue was sky and divinity. The Romans believed blue to be a color of mourning.  They also associated it with Barbarians such as the Celts since they painted their faces and hair blue. Byzantine art depicted Christ and Mary in deep blues.  In the 12^th century blue became associated with humility, holiness and virtue. Saint Louis became the first king of France to dress in blue a color that was once only worn by peasants. 

Blue became the color of liberty and revolution; thanks in part to the War of Independence in America. By the 19^th century blue became the color of government authority was used in the uniforms of the police, being considered a color that was serious and exuded authority without feeling threatening.

The Impressionists favored blue in their paintings not only for the color but to create moods, atmospheres and feelings.

Picasso used blue to create melancholy.  Kuznetsov used blue to create exotic and fantastic atmosphere. Kandinsky used blues to symbolize eternity and spirituality. Matisse once wrote, "A certain blue penetrates your soul."

                                         Matisse

The English language uses blue to describe an emotion.

To be blue in German is to be drunk.

Blue represents boys.

In China the face of the villain is painted blue in the Opera. It is the color for ghosts and death.

Blues is a music genre inspired by the music of Africa.

Bluegrass is a genre of music that comes from deep in the Appalachian Mountains inspired by old Scottish and Irish ballads.

To be true-blue is to be a loyal friend.

Someone with blueblood is a member of the Nobility. Queen Elizabeth wears a blue sash at state functions to symbolize her status.

Cold water taps are usually marked by blue.

This week the Schertz Area Artz Council shows us 50 Shades of Blue.