...For Crowabout, Pointy Hats and Wings, and Mixed Media Monday...
Beatrice...
Last night I watched a documentary on the famous ceramist Beatrice Wood, titled, "Mama of Dada". If you can get your hands on this, you need to see it, and I'm told that the entire documentary is on the web, so I'm sure if you Google it, you might find it.
Beatrice died at 105. The film was made to celebrate her 100th birthday, and the interviews with Beatrice were done when she was in her late 90's, still working, and sharper and more alert than many of us when we are in our 30's. Her artwork is sheer genius. She was a true alchemist. Her glazes are without equal--anywhere, anytime. But it's her chosen mix of independence and self-discipline that speaks to me most clearly, and I believe that mix is the secret of her long career and her total presence of mind.
DADA...
Webster's defines Dada as: "A movement in art and literature based on deliberate irrationality and negation of traditional artistic values." In reality, Dada cannot be defined, as labeling it as an art form of any kind would immediately classify it as something other than "Dada". Dada is a mindset which insists on the license to create without the constraints of surrounding societies. Beatrice's work is pioneering and classical at the same time. Beatrice as an artist, and as herself, embodied the spirit of Dada like nobody else, exceeding even Marcel Duchamp with her intense combination of freedom and discipline.
Tying It In With The Process...
The documentary played in the background while I worked with the Crowabout images, and I'd pause it from time to time and play parts of it back as was necessary while painting, drawing, cutting, glueing, and taking stretch breaks. For me, placement of images and painted areas on paper often are made by shape and color, regardless of subject matter, although I am basically a storyteller when I create, and without thinking, I am thinking of scenarios and painting new ones in my head as I move ahead with what I'm doing. So much of it is subconscious work, that when I declare a piece as finished, I let it "sleep" for a period, then go back to it and allow it to tell me what influenced it.
Is there anything more self-disciplined and independent (read DADA) than a cowgirl? There were other images on that sheet that I could have chosen, but this was the combination that my eyes and hands picked and placed, along with other pieces of ephemera, a child from Lisa's Altered Art, and additional paint and dots. Now that I think about it, a cowgirl is probably the perfect combination of pinks and blues, and all the gradients in between, and while I think that idea was somewhat present at the time, it wasn't until I was finished that the symbolism took hold.
Beatrice said, "If I could sum up my life, I would say it was a burning desire for freedom and to be hugged." My vision of Cowgirl Ranch is a place that provides a girl with both.
Now I'm off to:
Paint some pages in one of my handmade take-along journals to fill some down-time while I'm out this afternoon
Make sure I've packed a decent supply of pens and snippets
Choose a new "before bed" book to read tonight, and
Think about what we'll have for dinner
Have a great day, Everyone!
This is great fun! I like your gunslinger's wings. Nice juxtaposition of images.
Posted by: Beth | October 12, 2009 at 05:35 PM
Super!
Posted by: Janny | October 13, 2009 at 02:40 AM
I love these posts Barbara! I feel educated and my eyes are happier for visiting. It's brilliant that when you create these pieces, you are almost doing the bidding of your alter ego, or Higher Self... Fantastic mixture of imagery, colour and elements. If I had seen this elsewhere, I would have been certain you'd had a hand in it! x0x0x0
Posted by: Rosie | October 13, 2009 at 05:52 AM
Oh what a fun piece, wonderful image of the cowgirl with wings, wonderful sense of humor in this art piece.
Posted by: Anni | October 13, 2009 at 06:15 AM
Fantastic!
Posted by: Yvonne | October 13, 2009 at 06:28 AM
This looks absolutely awesome
Posted by: Hermine | October 13, 2009 at 07:08 AM
Very fun piece, love all the elements you combined so wonderfully!
Posted by: Pam Carriker | October 13, 2009 at 07:17 AM
Your collage is scrumptious and your written piece on Beatrice Wood is wonderful. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about this remarkable woman. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge with your blog friends.
Posted by: Marie | October 13, 2009 at 03:57 PM
What beautiful art work, its so intricate and lovely to explore and also you have interesting posts too my friend. Thanks for your kind comment on my other blog arty retreat yesterday. I was thrilled.
Hugs June x
Posted by: june | October 14, 2009 at 02:35 AM
nice collage thanks for talking about Dada ..I remember that Marcel Duchamp Urinal!! from my art days..off to look for that link now and thanks for your comments on my blog
Posted by: lorraine | October 14, 2009 at 03:45 AM
Wonderful piece, I love how everything is laid out.
Posted by: Betty | October 14, 2009 at 12:58 PM
Beautiful!
Posted by: José | October 15, 2009 at 09:16 AM
Thank you for your kind comments about my "rebel ballerina" for MMM - I am so behind this week that I may not have found you otherwise. How LUCKY am I to have done so?! Your blog is so very wonderful and I too really appreciate the experience and education that you bring to your audience. I am truly wowed by it all! Thank you! Kristin :)
Posted by: Kristin Van Valkenburgh | October 15, 2009 at 08:21 PM
Forgive me if you get this twice, but I had trouble leaving a comment, and I really want to Thank You for your kind words about my "Rebel Ballerina" for MMM - I am so grateful for finding your blog in this way - it is so informative and inspiring! Your work is wonderful and I feel like I have really learned from your posts - I love it! Kristin :)
Posted by: Kristin Van Valkenburgh | October 15, 2009 at 08:34 PM
What a fun piece, Barbara! Diane
Posted by: Diane | October 16, 2009 at 11:16 PM