Picasso WORDS

The 20^th Century produced an infinite number of great and innovative artists and minds. The movements, styles and schools go on endlessly. Dada, minimalism, abstract expressionism, pop and cubism are but a few idioms from the last hundred years or so. Picasso was at the forefront of many and the proponent of many more. He worked as a painter, ceramicist, sculptor, print maker and theatrical designer. With works numbering in the thousands he was considered by most experts to be number one in vast fields of practitioners.

The mind and talents of the man represent something unparalled in scope. It is only fitting that his words would be equally as impressive, witty and poignant as any of his other creations. His attributed quotes are as entertaining and richly original as would be expected of a man possessed of such genius. 

Picasso’s spoke on every subject. Among his particulars were of course art, creativity, imagination, the meaning and purpose of living and many other essentials of the genius mind as well as the everyday. By most accounts Picasso was no writer (imagine that) his quotes came largely from the conversations held with his friends and lovers; also members of the media and other inquisitive types were exposed to Picasso’s insights. His thoughts and opinions were self-expressions that propelled the artist and man through life. One of Picasso’s most interesting quotes summed up his passion, purpose and spirit of living. He was noted to have said; perhaps in jest; “Mass in the morning, Bull Fight in the afternoon and Brothel at night.” He was famous for his attentions and devotion to all three. He also said this small thing that summed up his prenominal work ethic; “I often paint two or three paintings in a single day. Afterwards; I will often paint another to relax.”    

Take a little time now and immerse yourself in the view points, wisdom and words of Picasso. And what would any text on Picasso be without the embellishment of his provocative, timeless, uniquely original and immaculate images?

Picasso QUOTES

“People don’t realize what they have when they own a picture by me. Each picture is a phial of my blood. That is what has gone into it.”

                                                                                                                           Picasso

                                                                                                                                  

“When I paint my object is to show what I have found and not what I am looking for. What one does is what counts and not what one had intended of doing.”

                                                                                                                               Picasso      

                                                                                                                           

“Painters should have their eyes put out like goldfinches to make them sing better.”

                                                                                                                            Picasso

“When there’s anything to steal.

                 I steal.”

               

“Anything of great value-creation, a new idea-carries its shadow zone with it. You have to accept it that way. Otherwise there is only the stagnation of inaction. Every positive value has its price in negative terms and you never see anything very great which is not, at the same time, horrible in some respect. The genius of Einstein led to Hiroshima.”  

                                                                           Picasso

 “You mustn’t always believe what I say. Questions tempt you to tell lies, particularly when there is no answer.”

                                                               

         

“No, painting is not done to decorate apartments. It is an instrument of war.”

The Power of Art

The Hirshhorn INSIDE & OUT

RODIN

I spent a couple of morning hours at the “Hirshhorn” a few Sundays ago. The “Museum and Sculptor Garden” located on Independence Ave. in Washington DC is in many ways my favorite place to view great art in it's diversive forms and incarnations. It was the museum’s extensive collection of sculpture that became my main focus of attention on that particular June Sunday. Castings from the great Rodin to moderns like Zúñiga and Moore are featured in their regal grandeur and authority. Kusama, Calder, Cave and Mueck  are also on view for study, enjoyment and Zen reflection…whatever way you choose to relate with these masters is available for locals and world travelers.

RODIN

RODIN

RODIN

I have casually run into many great contemporary artists of the day and others at this Washington, DC site. Julian Schnabel, John Currin and his spouse; sculptor Rachel Feinstein. Historian and lecturer Simon Schama is another art world luminary I’ve had the pleasure of meeting at one of his Hirshhorn seminars. The Hirshhorn is a fabulous place and always new serving as both contemporary collectors of new pieces while possessing a unique and expansive permanent collection that is displayed in rotation. The Hirshhorn is always fresh and exciting.

Zúñiga

Zúñiga

                               

Moore

There is ever a sense of discovery associated with walking around the sculpture garden that surrounds the physical building and extends to a lower level across Madison Dr. This can be both relaxing and comforting for the soul and spirit. Walk ways that lead to hidden treasures are many and you must be sure to explore them all.

The Hirshhorn opened in early 1974. I was actually one of the first visitors to this “museum in the round.”  It was even still under partial construction at the time. It has grown into a world class destination and is remarkable in it’s reach and depth of character and understanding with a distinct and unique perspective of the purpose of art. Currently artist Mark Bradford has the first continuous single artistic creation that encircles the entirety of the third floor’s interior walk way.  The outer walls became a 360’ projection surface in 2012 for artist Doug Aitken's "SONG 1” that was especially memorable for my personal mid-night viewing and experiencing  that "shock of the new.”

Enrico David

Enrico David

Enrico David

So much to see; so much to review, that I’m just including a sampling of what I saw during my morning visit. I’ve selected and presented here some historic, some new and all spectacular. I’m hoping that this is enough to wet any appetite for more and a visit of your own. Of special interest and featured as illustrations are the works of Enrico David (above.) This was my first exposure to his art and it had a tendency to jump out perhaps for that very reason. For those who haven’t already visited themselves; please for all purposes do visit the Hirshhorn when you can and I would love to compare notes with you on it’s many exhilarating wonders. 

POMODORO

SCHNABEL

               

Mark Bradford

SONG 1

Louise Bourgeois: Her Love of the Spider

The eminently provocative and intriguing work of Louise Bourgeois spanned two centuries. Her work; largely sculptural, often spoke to her love of the fabric/textile world. French born; she came from a family of individuals that made art and tapestries their business. The very essence of her being was tied to the creative activity of restoring and the selling of antique tapestries. It is no accident that she also connected to nature’s most prolific weaver; the spider. Her affinity for the spider was expressed over and over within her body of works. This abundantly evident throughout her life as she tireless worked through the decades. She would even acquire the nick-name “Spider-Woman.”    

The Spider is an ode to my mother. She was my best friend. Like a spider, my mother was a weaver. My family was in the business of tapestry restoration, and my mother was in charge of the workshop. Like spiders, my mother was very clever. Spiders are friendly presences that eat mosquitoes. We know that mosquitoes spread diseases and are therefore unwanted. So, spiders are helpful and protective, just like my mother.

                                                                                                       Louise Bourgeois

Louise Bourgeois’ father too affected her throughout her life emotionally and creatively in that he was harsh, overly critical and had multiple affairs with women. Bourgeois’ nanny was included in the number of his continuing infidelities. Louise was greatly affected and really never forgave her father. She would go on in life and replaced any misgivings with education, work and a desire for self-exanimation and curiosity. These models would encouragement and inform her for her life’s entirety. 

Once I was beset by anxiety but I pushed the fear away by studying the sky, determining when the moon would come out and where the sun would appear in the morning.

                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                        Louise Bourgeois

After marrying and moving to New York City she would continue as both teacher and student at the university level and even in public schools, Bourgeois was a force. Her salons at her home in Chelsea (Manhattan) would take on the name “Sunday, Bloody Sunday” because of her scathing and brutally honest critics that often expressed her dry, biting wit.  Friend and associate to many of her famous peers including Dekooning, Pollack and Ferdinand Léger (who informed her early on that she was a sculptor; not a painter.) She would be late acquiring wide success possibly due to gender. Her work could be construed as feminist and even surreal but she rejected all labels as she worked to express her emotions, memories and muses.

“My work deals with problems that are pre-gender...for example, jealousy is not male or female."

                                                                                                                            

                                                                                                          Louise Bourgeois

It was MoMA that would be the first museum to give Louise Bourgeois a retrospective in 1982. Other retrospectives would follow world-wide including Saint Petersburg’s Hermitage and London’s Tate Modern. Washington DC’s foremost museum of modern art The Hirshhorn would exhibit a Bourgeois retrospective in 2009. I was able to attend it several times and enjoyed passing her huge “Crouching Spider” at the museum’s entrance. The Hirshhorn retrospective was extremely inclusive boasting 120 pieces and showcased her every style and medium; plaster, bronze, marble, wood, resin, latex and found objects. Bourgeois was talented, intelligent, caring, thoughtful and beautiful in every aspect of her being. Her art is her testament to life.

It is not so much where my motivation comes from but rather how it manages to survive.

                                                                                                                       

                                                                                                            Louise Bourgeois

In a Time of Sorrow: Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

 Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec as Pierrot

Within the short span of the last sixteen months the Nation of France has been struck with three sobering, disastrous and murderous attacks. In this climate of uncertainty and mourning we reflect and pray as we of many nations look for solace, strength and understanding. A lesser nation than France might succumb to the senseless, wanton disregard for peace, liberty and the joy of living all people of good will seek to enjoy. The French are an exceptional people who will not succumb. Neither will the free world as we have to try to look away from the insanity toward the light of possibility. Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec’s life and work remain a beacon of light for the entire world. The Artist Lautrec is one of France’s national treasures. 

Toulouse-Lautrec; a man possessing personal resolve and character celebrated the passions and joys of living in spite of personal obstacles. We will look to his work for it’s greatness and glory…this, as our hearts and spirits weep.

My first encounter with the art of Toulouse-Lautrec was when I walked into the “Art” department at my high school in South Western Virginia.  On the wall at the entrance amid the plaster casts, drawing tables and pottery wheels was a seemingly gigantic poster reading Moulin Rouge, Moulin Rouge, Moulin Rouge. The poster colorfully featured dancer La Goulue and the patrons of the world famous establishment in a moment of feverous excitement. I was at the time and remain transfixed by the work’s exquisite beauty, sense of style and most importantly daring nature.   Seeing it would be the greatest lesson I would ever receive in art. I had never experienced anything as lovely as this! I knew I was going to enjoy my journey into this larger world of art, history, culture and contemporary fashion. 

                                                             


I would take much from my beautiful and exuberant young teacher; Mrs. Wonderly. The Moulin Rouge poster was her own and not the schools. It was a way of enriching her student’s lives and adding her own flair to our class room. We would work and learn while the music of the day; Santana, Led Zeppelin, James Taylor and Cher played in the background.  Our lessons included not only the importance of technique but an enhanced and enriched way of seeing along with a genuine love of this most indescribable addiction;  Art.

Toulouse-Lautrec draftsmanship, skill and dedication were central to the teachings of Mrs. Wonderly and in turn our learning. Lautrec’s uniquely distinctive abilities, his tolerance in living and his triumphant joy over life’s obstacles are a reminder of all that is good in this world and in humanity. The wit and wonder of the man is a beacon of the best a single person can offer…a beacon in a time of sorrow.