de Kooning’s paintings are a thing of wonder, truly. He seems to paint with true abandon within a rigid structure. It’s as close to music as painting gets in my opinion. This particular piece stopped me in my tracks at the MOMA retrospective a couple of years ago. He started using more color in the 1960s, and such color! Pure happiness going through that door to the river.
Willem de Kooning. Door to the River, 1960.
Artist Hubert Duprat plucks caddisfly larvae from various stream beds & gives them gold flakes & precious stones with which to build their protective homes. Usually they use bits of wood, pieces or rock etc. but everyone could use an upgrade every now & again, even the lowly larva.
Joan Mitchell. 1977.
When spring starts springing, I always get sentimental. And when I get sentimental, I often want Monet. Flowers! Sunny skies! Walks & luncheons in pastures & shady nooks! Gardens galore! Monet paints the life we all wish we had in the spring. Also, I just drank gallons of champagne at a friend’s house where, gasp! there was a Monet on the wall. Just hanging there, minding its business. Oh oh oh, that champagne went straight to my head.
Poppies Blooming. Claude Monet. 1873.
Ghanian artist El Anatsui constructs these beautiful, textile-like pieces out of found bottle caps & copper wire. This one measures 13 x 17 feet. If you’re lucky enough to be in Michigan, his work is up at UMMA through May and it’s a jaw-dropper.
Duvor. 2007.
Paul Gauguin. La Vita e la Morte. 1889.
Sheila Hicks. Study for Wall Panels. 1967.
Salt labyrinths made by artist Matoi Yamamoto in honor of his deceased sister.
I adore Peter Bruegel, his paintings are so lush. Netherlandish Proverbs, 1559.
Nan Goldin photograph. Nan and Brian in Bed, 1983.
