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Edgar Degas,
Little Dancer, Aged Fourteen
I'm having trouble remembering what made me think of this the other day--could have been a dream (I've been having some odd ones lately). Memory is such a strange thing to me. Years ago I visited the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha, Nebraska during a big Degas exhibition there. There was a stunning display of pastels--a medium that always got the better of me--and the unveiling of a new skirt for the museum's Little Dancer, Aged Fourteen. The usual muslin skirt was replaced with one that, as I recall, the curator explained was more typical of what a ballerina would have worn at the time the work was created. I don't care about the ensuing scandal, and I liked the new skirt, actually.
But about my memory: I realized the other day that in the back of my mind, I have an almost memory of the way the skirt felt to the touch. An almost memory that seems quite real to me--for the first few moments I thought about it, I could almost feel it in my hands. But I know I couldn't have touched it because I'm also almost sure that it was displayed in a vitrine (and honestly, gallery attendants somehow know to keep an eye on me). Is it the memory of something else that I've confused with this skirt somehow? I start to ask myself things like "was this before or after my concussion?" (long after, actually). There's no way to solve it, and memories remain strange and disjointed and cloudy whether we realize it or not.
Here's some pink stuff that I've had around. From left to right: User submitted text from Booooooom.com's Free Encouragement Project (which you should totally check out--it's really fun, hilarious, sometimes poignant & a great site in general); my knitting project (a simple scarf that I've been working on since last year somehow); my violet (which has gone apesh*t--see earlier post); a part from my sister's old (ancient) boiler (the sweetest piece of cast iron anyone's ever given me).
I like all of these things, and I like pink. So there.
Ah, Christmas. I don't always have such a good excuse to wrap pretty packages--a birthday here and there, of course, but at Christmas I really end up working in series on gift wrapping ideas.
The other day I was remembering a present I wrapped once for a friend--it was a tiny thing I covered with a scrap of pretty paper I'd saved from a bar of Chinese soap (which also smelled pretty!) and tied up with a tangled bow of the finest gauge of brass wire--all tiny and sweet with a wee little tag springing off the top. She loved how it was wrapped so much that she hung it on her studio wall. I don't know if she ever actually opened the gift--in fact, I don't even remember what was inside the package.
Here's a detail of this little cute one I wrapped up for friend--I think it's my favorite one so far this year. She's one of my fav friends, too, so it's fitting.
Happy Holidays!
Jordan Wolfson
Interior with Three Chairs and Stool
Van Straaten Gallery in Denver's Santa Fe Arts District is now hosting a group of paintings by Jordan Wolfson through January 16. You have to see these in person to fully appreciate them (like so many things). I especially recommend you spend some time looking at his two triptychs up close, then get as far away as you can and check that out. Actually, all of the work is fun to do this with, so you might want to schedule some time (luckily, there's no sculpture in there to bump into, right painting snobs?). I talked to Jordan and he wanted me to be sure to tell everyone that he's willing to do commission work in your interior as well. I assume he'd be willing to bring his own director's chair if you don't have one, but otherwise I think you'll want to provide your own assortment. At least I would.
Jordan also teaches some very popular classes at the Art Students League of Denver, just in case you were wondering.
They're here and they're cute. Go to the grocery store immediately and buy yourself a bag or two because these are the only snack you need this season. The first time I remember eating Cuties was when I was in England. I had an insane flatmate named Gloria who was a Spanish diva and a dramatic exclaimer. If I were writing a script that she was a character in, I would probably have to put exclamation points behind everything she said because that was how she was. "I cannot live without mandarins!" I obviously didn't care because on a few occasions, after the onset of my addiction and a few miles walk to the source of fruit in a cold and wet English winter, I 'borrowed' some of hers. So there you have it. I'm not above stealing mandarins, so I'll assume you aren't either and sit here in the corner and eat these while watching you suspiciously.
Ah the holidays... conceptually, I like the idea of the holidays. I like holiday lights and pretty snows and spiced wine. I like when people mistake my everyday striped socks for elf-wear (striped socks make a great gift, by the way--I don't think I know anyone who doesn't like some striped socks every once in a while). However, I'm unhappy to report that the drawing for my next print has been delayed by the crash that almost yearly is the result of the treacherous conditions on the track near the holiday season. The drawing was on the train but is okay--just a little slow getting restarted.
It's trouble for artists who work to get days off and be required to spend them entirely accomplishing nothing but alternately reaffirming then straining familial bonds. As many artists will tell you, one of the hardest things is to get past the inertia when you've stopped working, especially if you also had to put other things on hold. Then you find yourself starving and needing to hit the grocery store, dying your hair, cleaning your bathroom, fixing a chair, returning phone calls and still just thinking about getting back to that drawing while the hours count down to an event you've already promised to attend this evening. Aack! The struggle for balance continues...
Happy Thanksgiving!
I saw this funny turkey the other day when I went to visit my cousins and their triplets. Joe (my cousin Suzy's husband) writes a really well-composed and amusing blog about their 3 little ones, which you might also check out here, especially if you like to look at pictures of babies. I have nothing else to say to you today. Eat some wheat and dairy for me at your festivities!
Edgar Degas,
