Something to enjoy, at last!

Hey, is anyone still writing on this blog?  Oh, I guess that would be up to me.  Well, my temp job has been slightly extended, but it's just about over..!


Here is a YouTube video featuring artwork by Dorothea Tanning, set to some moody but sweet music.  The video was created by the user "DistantMirrors", who has a number of art related slideshows on YouTube.  In particular I recommend the videos on Katherine Linn (Kay) Sage, and Giorgio de Chirico.  Watching these videos makes me want to get back to painting.

Hedda Sterne

It's been reported that the artist Hedda Sterne has died at the age of 100 (coincidentally the same age as Dorothea Tanning, still living).  Hedda was considered part of the Abstract Expressionists (although she said that she was uncommitted to any art group or label, and that she painted free of outside influence).  Although I'm certain that I've encountered her paintings at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, I have not been much familiar at all with Sterne.  Exploring her work online, I would say that she had a persistent type of inventiveness which we saw in the Expressionist Paul Klee.  As I mentioned before about Klee, he had this remarkable ability to reinvent his artwork, while still retaining enough of his own identity so that his work is recognizable as belonging to him.  To me, this helped make him a master artist.  As I gain more familiarity with Sterne, I wonder if this same characteristic could seen in her work (my initial impression is that her styles do vary more widely than Klee's).
An article on Hedda Sterne's passing can be viewed here. 

Kay Sage

In my recent salivating attention to the artist Dorothea Tanning, I may have neglected to give proper attention to another one of my favorite surrealist painters, Kay Sage.  Sage's paintings are reminiscent of those of Girogio de Chirico, with their hauntingly simple and seemingly unfinished manmade architecture, and far off horizons deep with despair. I would credit Kay Sage as one of the original inspirations for my attraction to surrealist art.  Her painting "In the Third Sleep" is the influence for a painting idea which I've had in my head for many years, but have never created (I think because it is just TOO similar to Sage's painting and needs work!).  There's something romantic about sitting in a musty old library, looking through worn books covering the lives of such special artists as Kay Sage.  It makes me wonder why I couldn't have lived in her world and time. 


Kay Sage was married to the surrealist painter Yves Tanguy, and was a good friend of Dorothea Tanning (I'll surely write more about Tanguy in a future post).  Like Tanning, Sage used subdued colors in her paintings, which I think gave her work a wonderful "aged" look.  Her colors have a creamy and smooth gradation, reminding me of something which might be edible.  Kay struggled for any recognition of her talent, and even her husband Yves was apparently prone to belittling her (if you've ever seen Yves' haircut, you might question how he could poke fun at someone else).  Sage struggled with depression and failing eyesight after her husband died of a stroke in 1955.  


Kay Sage died in 1963, from a self-inflicted gunshot to the heart.  It's disturbing to know that someone so talented and immersed in a world loved by many, could be persuaded to end her life.  It's tempting when looking at the tragic lives of artists such as Kay Sage, Arshile Gorky and Frida Kahlo, to wonder what might have been, if events hadn't cut them down so wrongly.  But then, isn't it silly to expect more than we have been given by these artists already?  Did not these artists achieve greatness regardless of obstacles?  In the same way that it took the immensity and chaos of the universe in order to create the unique Earth, so too were the trials and heartbreak in the lives of our favorite artists, the necessary catalysts of the works that we appreciate.  There could be no more great paintings.  The artists did what they could, and all that was really necessary, and then they were gone.


Some more of Sage's paintings can be seen here.

Dorothea Tanning follow-up

Today I heard from Pam Johnson (Director to Dorothea Tanning's collection of artwork)... I had requested information on where I could send a personal letter to Dorothea, and Pam was happy to oblige.  She even said that she would make sure that Dorothea receives my letter!  So I was happy about that.  Pam said that the email address I had sent my request to, had been having issues with delivery, thus the delay in getting back to me.  Anyway, I'll send a letter off to Dorothea shortly!  


Here is a photo that I took of Dorothea Tanning's painting "Birthday", as it hangs at the Philadelphia Museum of Art:

The painting is a self-portrait of course.  (I'm showing it here at a small resolution so as hopefully not to conflict with any copyright laws). When I see a painting like this, I sometimes wonder, what's lurking just off the canvas, out of sight?  I guess only Dorothea knows what lies beyond the doors.  Although as most Surrealists might say, it's whatever your deranged mind can imagine!

Dorothea Tanning

Today I started handwriting a personal letter to the great artist, Dorothea Tanning.  Dorothea is best known for her contribution to the Surrealism movement, primarily back in the 1940's.  Bless her heart, Dorothea is still with us today at 100 years old.  I contacted the folks at Dorothea's personal website, asking if it would be possible to send Dorothea a letter. I hope to hear back from them.  It would be an honor to be able to make a small connection with one of the giants of my favorite period of art. It's been a source of grief to know that most of the artists that I admire have long since passed away, so it's no small thing to know that Dorothea is out there somewhere.  I have enjoyed viewing Dorothea's painting "Birthday" quite a number of times at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.


Dorothea's artwork can be viewed at www.dorotheatanning.org