Okay, now that you’ve checked off your list of teachers, people you went to school with or know from the local co-op gallery…how many female artists of note can you name?
Of note meaning right up there with the big boys.
Hmmm…not too many, eh? Two pop into my head fairly readily–Georgia O’Keefe. Frida Kahlo. Throw in Grandma Moses and make that three.
This is embarrassing. Especially since I’ve got a degree in art. It’s been a long time since I took any art history classes but yet if you asked how many MALE artists I could name, the big boys, I’d tell you to grab a cup of coffee and sit down ’cause this is gonna take awhile. I could tell you their names, Their most famous works. Who they hung out with. Where and when they lived and died. Along the way I’d throw in tidbits of juicy historical gossip.
Do you see what’s wrong with this picture?
I didn’t…but only because I never even thought about it. Been too busy raising a family, taking care of an elderly parent, tending critters, teaching art, making art…. I’ve been too busy squeezing everything in to look outside myself at the BIG picture. The picture that says the glass ceiling extends into the art world too.
Until my friend Tracy Verdugo (an artist as well as a woman–imagine that!) posted a link to a video on facebook. Check it out down below.
I’m writing this post on Thanksgiving day. Got one pie cooked (pumpkin), another in the oven (apple). We did the turkey thing last week when family was in town. Today we’ll dine on roast beef. And veggies, LOTS of veggies. Carrots and onions roasted with the beef. Broccoli and salad served on the side. And pie. Don’t forget the pie. A lot of food for just the three of us–Mr. Spouse, Darling Daughter and myself. Enough leftovers to take us through the next couple of days. Which is good ’cause most days I’ve got better things to do than hang out in the kitchen.
Like make art. I’m itching to do that right now. And I quite possibly will. It’s a low key kind of day, you see. Guests were last week. I could slip away and no one would notice. Mr. Spouse and Darling Daughter are happy watching football while Studio Grande calls to me. It’s a good place to be on a rainy, cold afternoon. A quiet place for meditation, introspection, creation.
But for now I’m in the kitchen, sitting at the table. My favorite place to write. I can look out the window. See the forest. And the gray skies. Check out the ever changing parade of wildlife. Deer. Coyotes. Jackrabbits. Squirrels. Sometimes a bobcat or a bear.
Or I can look to the right, at the purple wall I managed to get past Mr. Spouse’s conservative paint sensibilities when we repainted last spring, and enjoy some of my students’ art.
Sophie was sitting on Mr. Spouse’s chair until she was displaced by the spouse himself, come to check his email. We both leave our laptops on the table, you see. Now she’s awake and concerned…there’s a couple of pies cooling on the stovetop–the apple came out of the oven since I started this– and she can’t have at them.
Sometimes it’s tough being a dog.
I’ve got a couple hours free now that the last pie is baked. Mr. Spouse is back on the couch watching the game. Sophie has given up on the pie. I’m heading down to Studio Grande to meditate. Love on Studio Quat. And quite possibly, paint.
Before I go I’m leaving you with this. A marvelous video courtesy of my friend Judy Shreve. It’s short, under 10 minutes. And watching it will change your day for the better. Guaranteed.
First day back at work after two weeks vacation at the scenic Studio Grande. Hello world…back to teaching at the Neighborhood Center of the Arts, a day program for adults with developmental disabilities. I’ve been there forever, love what I do but still…coming back after vacation….
I decided to make it a productive play day. Had a whole bunch of brown craft paper sitting around the studio. I order most of my supplies online and they all come packed in this stuff. And who can throw away paper?
First thing we did was lay out the sheets on the tables.
Then we took crayons, plain old cheap crayons, and went to town SCRIBBLING. Lots of energy here. Had some salsa music on. Dancing, scribbling, nobody sat down.
Next thing we did was paint. I dribbled some acrylics in random patterns, gave the artists some rollers and let them have at it. But still, something was missing. Music at this point was North African Groove. Fun stuff.
Dots! And squiggles. Credence Clearwater Revival. Loud.
Then it’s time to hang ’em up to dry.
Hand painted wrapping paper for sale by the sheet. Just in time for the holiday show and sale opening next week.
Just a quickie. It was a looooong day and bed calls.
Opening reception this afternoon.
Sophie came. She was on a date with her first mom. It’s an open adoption. Visiting rights when the mood strikes, every six months or so.
Some people came. Even people I don’t know–but I didn’t take their pictures. And new friend Don from the on-line hot wax class showed up with a couple of beautiful handmade wax color blocks. They’re right in my pallet and will find themselves melted and painted on something soon enough.
After it was over we went home and had an early Thanksgiving dinner, turkey and all the trimmings. I ate too much and went up three sizes in half an hour.
I do not think I will ever eat mashed potatoes and gravy again. At least not before tomorrow night’s leftovers.
Speaking of tomorrow, that’s when sister Marjorie Ellen leaves. She’s hitching a ride to Berkeley with nephew James who drove up for the show. Or maybe he came for the pumpkin pie? She flies out of San Francisco Monday. Back to Norway she goes.
It’s been a good visit. Good talks. Fun doing art stuff together.
And now I’m heading off to bed. But first a reminder. The show hangs for another three weeks. If you’re in the area please stop by and check it out. Love to hear what you think!
