FIVE PHOTOGRAPHS Gordon Parks

The release of the sound track to the motion picture “Shaft” starring Richard Roundtree was to be a major event. It featured the music of Maestro; Isaac Hayes for which he would win the much coveted Oscar and sold in the multiple millions. The album was released a few weeks earlier than the film and I had become engrossed in the music. The cover too, was itself an achievement of advertising art featuring the action hero/detective in a pulp fiction moment of triumphant motion with grim expression and guns blazing..  The bold, original concept “Shaft” logo most prominent! The liner notes spoke of many things including the film’s remarkable director; Gordon Parks. There was also a photo of Isaac Hayes with Parks and the creator of Shaft; Ernest Tidyman standing on the MGM studios film lot. All distinguished and excited about their collaboration. This was my introduction to Gordon Parks; an illustrious and variously talented man; one most gifted and accomplished. 

 From the starting point of film director I would discover that Mr. Parks had earlier directed the celebrated account of his own autobiographical novel “The Learning Tree.” He had even scored that film himself as well as having written the screen play. Parks had another major star point in his universe of expression. He was a photo-journalist of the highest order. He had been a staff member of the most lauded photography magazine in history.  The legendary magazine; “LIFE” was his home for a number of brilliant years. His contributions to the magazine included essays and photos on fashion, sports, Broadway and racial segregation. Parks remains a standard bearer for the ages; he is one among the greatest generation of photographers.

The films, writings, music and teachings of Gordon Parks have served as testaments to his journey to understanding, self-expression and the enrichment of the human experience. The catalogue of Gordon Parks’ efforts is eclectic, extensive and extraordinary. I have selected five pieces to illustrate his photography. They are his voice and speak to our pleasure.  

Wayne Theibaud: Landscapes, Cityscapes, Ice Cream and Fresh Cakes

“Landscapes, Cityscapes, Ice Cream and Fresh Cakes” could well be an ad/slogan for the colorful and generous paintings of Wayne Theibaud. His beautiful works are heavily painted, impasto rich canvases that engage and delight his viewers. Theibaud is most closely associated with the “Pop” art movement and artists like Warhol, Lichtenstein, Blake and Hockney. 

His natural talents and training come together in extravagant ways that illuminate our vision of the world through Theibauds eyes. He has this in common with many of the other historic and contemporary masters.  His cakes and candies simply look delicious. His hot dogs give off a warmth and aroma while the ice creams refresh and chill all through the sense of sight.  

It is with his landscapes and cityscapes that I think Theibaud reaches his greatest mastery and are of an even more original statement of artistry then his more famous “Pop” pieces. Theibaud’s landscapes often exhibit hills and mountains of an extreme reality. Taken in context of the Northern California hill sides they are viewed as less extreme and closely resemble the uniqueness of the mountainous area of his home. When looking at the range of land in the area of South Western Virginia that I live in I daily see    views much like those created within Theibaud’s works. The hills are so extreme where I live that the cows are possibly the world’s only cows that are able to graze by raising their heads.

Whenever I’m driving and seeing fields of any red flowers I think of Monet. Green pastures and the yellow harvesting of wheat or hay connect me to Van Gogh. While looking out my window in the dead of winter with the browns, grays and muted hues of that season; I’m seeing the land of Andrew Wyeth’s Chadds Ford.  Now the tallest of lush green hills I see when and wherever will always be Theibaud Hills in my mind.  

Theibaud has famously done and includes character and life studies within his portfolio. He also teaches and has worked in the field of animation. Theibaud is a multi-threat/talented artist and man. He has impressed and influenced many in his time. It is his works that speak most positively for the man and I will let his works serve as conclusion.

Alma Thomas' Fields of Color

Portrait of Alma Thomas by Laura W. Waring

To find one's self lost in the color-fields of Alma Thomas is remarkably; a very good place to be so gloriously engaged. For whatever time you find yourself in their company; you are not really lost but in the hands and talents of one of America’s finest creators. Miss Thomas’ paintings are  passionate feasts of color, light and gestural forms. Patterns figure heavily into her mosaic like compositions. Her works will stand the test of time and scrutiny but at best are things to be purely enjoyed.

Miss Thomas is most associated with her beloved Washington DC where she taught in public schools and at Howard University. She was discovered after retirement while attending American University studying and quickly mastering abstraction and it’s intricacies. After a few major exhibitions her reputation grew to the highest levels and she is found in major collections, museums, magazines and histories. Her work is included at both the National Gallery and the American Art Museum in the nation’s capital as part of their permanent collections.

Nature figured greatly in the aesthetics of Alma Thomas. Her mature style was unique and by observing and using nature as her measure of excellence that singularity of expression she cherished became a reality. She loved to take long drives observing the beauty, composition and effects of light and atmosphere on the objects of the natural world. She understood the importance it played in her work and the fullness she enjoyed from experiencing it’s riches. The effect it produced on her life and art are measureless and we; the benefactors remain in wondrous awe.   

LANDSCAPES George Inness

The Hudson River School, the Barbizon and even Baroque painting as expressed by the French artists; Claude Lorrain and Nicolas Poussin are magnificent styles of the landscape form. There is one great artist to encompass all of the fore mentioned and develop his own personal and recognizable vision. That artist is the American Master George Inness. Inness’ works have taken their place among the most noted and beautiful of paintings. His paintings are at once joyous, spiritual and illumining. As Inness matured; and with the spiritual influences of Emanuel Swedenborg, his work became more abstract in quality and reflected  spiritual as well as aesthetic ideals. The paintings of Inness have a softness and a muted understatement that is seductive and captivating. They are considered by many to possess a certain visual poetry. These Inness’ products of spiritualism and technique are wondrous treasures. They speak most eloquently and are their own statements.

"The true use of art is, first, to cultivate the artist's own spiritual nature."

George Inness

I Always Wanted To Meet Elizabeth Murray

I always wanted to meet Elizabeth Murray. My introduction to her was in the form of a cover photo of “Art News” magazine in the nineteen eighties. Most of the artists of the time posed very seriously in "I Am an Artist" poses. Elizabeth Murray posed smiling while holding her young daughter in her arms. She appeared to be very happy for having the attention and being noticed for her work, her art and her life. Beyond the obvious she seemed a genuinely happy person. Yes; I dreamed for years of meeting this woman and just having a very cool, intelligent and relaxed conversation with her.

 I was able to have conversations with Miss Murray through viewing her work in galleries, articles and video interviews particularly PBS’s Art: 21. These were great but one sided. I wanted a real exchange of ideas with someone so honest and beautiful. I was certain too that she would have great advice, be both funny and charming while still possessing a somewhat vulnerable soul.
 

 

Elizabeth’s works are very enigmatic while still playful pieces. Like shattered stained glass shards, disjointed puzzle pieces or mix-matched cartoon or everyday objects they lovingly present themselves to the viewer. Her use of color is dominate and strong. The works are among the most inviting the art world has to offer. They are engaging, fascinating.

 I remember visiting a contemporary gallery with a couple of friends not long ago. We had enjoyed ourselves greatly and after spending time with Warhol, Calder, Johns and Stella I caught a glimpse of a Murray as we were leaving. There is a point that you have to leave a gallery (the spirit has been enriched and filled to over flow.) I still wasn’t able to leave without studying Murray’s effort. I asked them to wait just a minute for me to say hello to Elizabeth Murray. I walked over to the work and in my way said hello, soaked in a part of Murray’s joy, her spirit. She endowed much of herself into her art. It was a good moment. 

Elizabeth Murray; one of the most respected artist of her generation, left us in 2007. She died from complications of cancer. Her works remain. I always wanted to meet her…