USA's Top Daily Chess News Blog, Informative, Fun, and Positive
hosted by Chess Queen™ & 12th Women's World Chess Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
Awesome Chess Art Trivia: Name the Artist
Hello chess friends, how well do you know your chess history and chess art? This lovely piece of work is by a talented artist of the Gilded Age. Of course, it is titled 'The Chess Players'. Can you name the artist? Click on photo to find the answer.
What's a Chess Painting Gonna do in a Middle East Desert?
Hello Chess Blog friends, For the chess part of this news feature, here goes:
Francis Cotes' painting named "Portrait of William Welby and his wife Penelope Playing Chess" (1769) and Antonio Canova's sculpture named "The Pugilists Creugas and Damoxenos" (1797-1803) are displayed as part of the exhibition "Louvre Abu Dhabi. Birth of a Museum", at the Louvre museum, in Paris, Monday, April 28, 2014. The Louvre Abu Dhabi, the Persian Gulf’s first ever world museum, will open its doors in December 2015 in the arid Arab federation. Several thousand kilometers away on Tuesday the Louvre in Paris previewed the art that the Abu Dhabi project has acquired since 2009 for the first time to a European audience. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
For the art bit of the news feature, read here. From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
Chess Blog for Daily Chess News and Trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2014
Hello everyone, Can you identify the artist and the city in this beautiful chess painting?
This beautiful chess painting, aptly titled 'Chess Players' is by Stanislaw Chlebowski. He painted images of historical battles related to the history of Turkey, oriental genre scenes, landscapes, and portraits of Sultans. This painting was in Istanbul. Click on photo to read the wikipedia entry on the artist.
Chess Blog for Daily Chess News and Trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2014
Hello everyone,
We found this nice chess video uploaded by JMRWS on YouTube with a montage of 500 chess paintings! Pretty cool. Music: Vivaldi - Nisi Dominus - Ensemble Matheus
Art and Chess Trivia: Identify the Chess Legend, Location of Painting
Chess Blog for Daily Chess News and Trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2014
Hello everyone, This chess painting takes your breath away every single time you pass by it. How about you? Can you identify this chess legend? (And where is this painting installed?)
Chess, Art and the Creative Process: Living St Louis Video of World Chess Hall of Fame
Chess Blog for Daily Chess News and Trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013
Hello everyone,
The World Chess Hall of Fame in St. Louis is more than a place that honors the greatest players of the game. Producer Ruth Ezell shows how the Hall of Fame links chess to art and showcases the creative process.
Chess Blog for Daily Chess News and Trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013
Hi everyone,
Emanuele Bonomi, curator of B Project in Milan, has brought chess into the art sphere with one-of-a-kind, eye-popping chess sets designed by contemporary artists like Damien Hirst, Alastair Mackie and Tracy Emin. This is a must-watch chess video for sure.
Alexandra Kosteniuk's Chess Blog for Daily Chess News and Trivia (c) 2013
Hi everyone,
Here is your chess trivia question of the day: Can you identify this work of art? We will give you the answer by the weekend in the comments section of Chess Blog. You won't use Google Images to find the answer, will you?
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
This is an interesting video about one man's interest in art and chess. He dreams of putting a chess board in every household in the world! What's your chess dream?
Cool Chess Art Video: How Fast Can You Draw a Pawn?
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012 Hi everyone, Chess art is a whole new level. Check out this cool chess drawing video. How fast can you draw a pawn and how well? From Alexandra Kosteniuk's www.chessblog.com Also see her personal blog at www.chessqueen.com Don't miss Chess Queen™ YouTube Channel
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
Photography by Norbert Schoerner Courtesy RS&A
The Saatchi Gallery in London is all set to hold a special chess exhibition from September 8 - October 3. This collaboration with RS&A brings together 16 chess sets designed by some of the world's leading contemporary artists in celebration of the game of chess. These specially commissioned chess sets have been created by: Mauriio Cattelan, Jake and Dinos Chapman, Oliver Clegg, Tracey Emin, Tom Friedman, Paul Fryer, Damien Hirst, Barbara Kruger, Yayoi Kusama, Paul McCarthy,Alastair Mackie, Tim Noble and Sue Webster, Matthew Ronay, Tunga, Gavin Turk and Rachel Whiteread. Each set is individually crafted in a wide variety of different materials including wood, porcelain, glass, amber and silver. This exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery will be the first time that all 16 chess sets are displayed together and it will also be the first public showing of a new commission by British artists Tim Noble and Sue Webster. Famous for their shadow sculptures, the artists have taken the opportunity to return to their on-going fascination with dead animals and have created a woodland chess set complete with hand carved tree stump with bronze chess pieces inspired by the artists' collection of mummified animals - found on their farm in Gloucestershire - squirrels take the roles of King and Queen and frogs act as Pawns. From Alexandra Kosteniuk's www.chessblog.com Also see her personal blog at www.chessqueen.com
Innovative Chess Artwork by Canadian Artists for US Prez Barack Obama Re-election!
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
A Canadian couple has come up with an innovative chess design artwork for US President Barack Obama's re-election bid in 2012. Jurik Designs has created captivating artwork titled “Obama – Issues 2012” to support the President's re-election campaign and is available as a free download.
Ann and Peter Jurik of Jurik Designs is a Canadian based husband and wife design team. To support President Obama’s reelection, they created the "Obama - Issues 2012" artwork to not only inspire but encourage discussion and remind voters about the Key issues that are at stake. The artwork is available as a free download at http://www.peterjurik.com. The Artists request that individuals who download the free artwork make an Obama reelection contribution directly to the donation fund.
According to Ann and Peter Jurik, "We chose a Chess analogy for this artwork because we feel that President Obama is similar to a great chess player - smart, thoughtful, informed, tactical and considers all options and repercussions before making final decisions. The theme of the image and what makes it unique is that it showcases the important issues of this election and what is at risk of being lost.”
The original artwork is based on the famous chess match Kasparov vs Topalov 1999.
The original 25 3/4" X 37" pencil drawing of "Obama - Issues 2012," depicts a bold and striking image of President Obama in the image foreground. Behind the President is a dramatic, eye-grabbing chess board and game where symbolic images represent the important issues of this campaign. The 44 chess squares shown on the chess board are symbolic of Obama's 44th Presidency. Along with chess game pieces, the other images on the squares represent the issues of President Obama's 2012 re-election campaign.
For example, there's an apple representing education; the Statue of Liberty is for immigration; the windmill symbolizes energy; the medical symbol represents healthcare. Some of the President's strengths and objectives are also depicted: the handshake represents integrity and honor; while the world map is a sign for both global diplomacy and leadership. The climatic moment of the chess game depicted is when one brilliant move of the game is being played out.
Jurik Designs said that they hope the image will act as a conversation piece during the election season to incite discussions about the issues, to remind people to vote and to serve as a keepsake of this historical election.
About Chess Development: Expert Chess Video about Lewis Chessmen
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
Discover what the Isle of Lewis Chessmen can tell us about the development of chess as both a game and an art form. Introduction by exhibition curator Barbara Drake Boehm, Department of Medieval Art and The Cloisters, MMA. Presented with the exhibition The Game of Kings: Medieval Ivory Chessmen from the Isle of Lewis.
Creative-Cool Chess Video: See if You can Figure it Out Before the End!
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012 Hi everyone,
This is one of the most creative chess videos we've received on Chess Blog ever. As the video catchline says: See if you can figure it out before the end!
Here is another one in the same series from the US Chess Federation. Enjoy.
The Scoop on the World Chess Hall of Fame: Inspiring Women Through Art. The US Chess Scoop spoke with Laura Reeves (COO) about how work and programs at the World Chess Hall of Fame can inspire more women to play chess. She also discusses works by artists Yoko Ono, Diana Thater and Barbara Kruger.
Cool Chess Graffiti on 17 ft. Wall near Los Angeles
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012 Hi everyone,
Speaking of chess and art, here's a real cool chess video. Apo Avedissian painting and stenciling his original work 'Headshot Checkmate' on an 8x10 in. canvas and 'Queen Checkmate' graffiti on a 17 ft. wall in a private property near Los Angeles, CA.
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
A special chess event lasting a full week has drawn much applause in Ukraine. The unique event 'Week of Chess Art' was held in Dnipropetrovsk Region of Ukraine from April 19-25. It included:
Chess tournament with more than 5000 players from the Dnipropetrovsk region, Ukraine, Russia, Belorus, and Israel.
Dnipropetrovsk native and Guinness World Record certified GM Alik Gershon's 80-board simul.
Chess exhibition 'Move by Move' devoted to history of chess in region at the local museum. It covered the history of chess activities in the region and biographies of famous chess players like Jose Raul Capablanca, Mikhail Botvinnik, and Mikhail Tal.
For the temporary exhibition in the Museum the Ukrainian Chess Federation provided the Hamilton-Russell Cup, which is the main prize of the World Chess Olympiad. It was made from the personal funds of the President of the British Chess Federation Federic Hamilton-Russell for the first World Chess Olympiad, held in 1927 in London. The Ukrainian chess team won the temporary Cup in the Chess Olympiad 2010 in Khanty-Mansiysk.
In 'Battle for Dnepr' children from Dnipropetrovsk art schools presented their work. A special catalogue of all the pieces was coordinated by Irina Filatova.
This special event was organised to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Dnipropetrovsk region and to develop the intellectual movement in the region. The simul lasted more than six hours. The grandmaster lost seven games and drew 17.
The governor of the Dnipropetrovsk region, Oleksandr Vilkul, praised the event and said it was important for the development of the region. On the invitation of the governor of the Dnipropetrovsk region, Alexander Vilkul, and the Ukrainian Chess Federation, FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov also visited the opening ceremony of the event at the Potemkin Palace.
Young artist Polina Usenko also presented her work 'Chess Maharajah' to Mr Ilyumzhinov. The work was created using an interesting technique of combining graphics, pastels and gouache on black paper.
Several other events were organised as well - international chess composition tournament at the National Center for Youth Aerospace Education, Internet competition for solving chess tasks among pupils of Dnipropetrovsk region, blitz tournament among veterans in Shevchenko Park etc., the traditional school team tournament 'Memorial of A.V. Sinitsyn'. For many years the event is financially supported by entrepreneur Andrey Filatov, a native of Dnipropetrovsk and the main sponsor of the World Chess Championship match between Vishwanathan Anand and Boris Gelfand to be held in Moscow in May 2012.
The children's tournament brought together teams from Russia (St. Petersburg, Orel), Belarus (Minsk, Gomel), and Ukraine (Donetsk, Lugansk, Poltava region, and 10 clubs from Dnipropetrovsk). The winners of the tournament became the team of Sports School - 9 (Dnipropetrovsk), the second place took the team from the School named by B. Spassky (St. Petersburg), the third place got the team from Lugansk. All winners, as an additional prize, would get an opportunity to attend the Anand-Gelfand match in Moscow. Selected TV-reports:
Don't be shy about contacting me
to share women's chess news
or to propose collaboration
Best chess wishes to you! Alexandra Kosteniuk
12th Women's World Chess Champion
Facebook, Twitter, Youtube
