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Pick. For the
"refined" baby, here's a beautifully produced
video and DVD offering that will not only engage little
ones, it will appeal to the sensibilities of parents. Stunning works of
art, cute animations, live-action video, and a fully
orchestrated soundtrack are packed into 30 minutes of For
the Love of Art, and the production is truly
magnificent.
The
production quality of this video/DVD is superior, and the
choreography and scene selection are superb. After dramatic
live-action footage of rolling, crashing waves,
for example, the painting, Awa Province, Naruto
Rapids by Utagawa Hiroshige gradually fills in. From
there, other water-themed art and scenes appear featuring
such things as boats and docks, until a goldfish swims into
the colorful scene of the stunning painting, Goldfish
by Peter Cunningham (pictured at left). This prompts
live-action footage of fish underwater, more artwork such as
Henri Matisse’s Goldfish, which naturally moves to
Monet’s Water Lillies. This, in turn, prompts a
series of flower-themed art. Thus, the segments entitled The
Power of the Sea, Underwater, and Flowers
transition smoothly into one another. Everything flows
beautifully, and the choreography is outstanding, making
this production a true treat for the senses.
Instead
of presenting a slideshow of static images of artwork, For
the Love of Art offers intriguing scenes in which the
paintings come alive in sync with classical music. For
example, the petals of a vibrant red rose slowly fall into
place, like a puzzle, and become Salvador Dali’s Meditative
Rose; and tender depictions of love scenes, such as The
First Kiss, da Vinci’s Virgin and Child with St.
Anne, and The Bath, are revealed with
Beethoven’s Fur Elise as the musical backdrop.
"Star",
an animated yellow star character, appears from time to
time, and segments featuring real children painting pictures
and talking about imagination are included. For example,
Star moves fast and slow, then spins around, opening up a
segment about Movement.
The DVD
edition allows families to play the art scenes or animated
star scenes separately, or to jump quickly to favorite
chapters.
The pace
of For the Love of Art is smooth and unhurried, so it
may not be the best choice for restless toddlers and babies.
However, this gentle introduction to the world of art and
music will inspire the whole family.
Also
available by Baby Laureate Inc.: Baby Laureate's For the Love of World Travel
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