Georgia O'Keefe : Art and Letters

by Jack; Hamilton Cowart

Catalog of exhibition of the National Gallery of Art and other major institutions. Nov.1987 to Feb 1989. 120 color plates and 125 letters. Text is clean bright and unmarked. Soft board are slightly toned with minor wear.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Biography, Art History, Memoir, Biography Memoir, Reference

Paperback

First published August 1, 1990

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book during a Sunday afternoon bookstore prowl in the early 1990's, probably around 1992 or so...I read it cover to cover and found my way back to making art the way I wanted to make art, but I had to go through a lot of paper and canvas, paint and pencils before I really got to the core of what I wanted to make...it's a fascinating read and powerful, especially for the artist...

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the summer of 2015, my husband and I took a road trip through the Southwest. In New Mexico, we stopped at the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum. I have always been drawn to O'Keeffe's use of color, and it was a dream come true to see just how vibrant the colors are in real life. I picked up this book last year at The Bookery, a used bookstore in Placerville. It was such a delight to read O'Keeffe's letters to friends and acquaintances. Her use of punctuation was inventive, but, through these letters, I can more fully see how much New Mexico meant to her. Indeed, during my visit to New Mexico almost two summers ago, I could see the appeal of the land--the wideness, the openness, nothing but sky and desert. Her letters include these hints of the grand mystery of the land.

I loved her letter to Anita Pollitzer from 1915. In the letter, she writes, "I'm glad I want everything in the world--good and bad--bitter and sweet--I want it all and a lot of it too..." (p. 142).

I thought this line she wrote to Russel Vernon Hunter was lovely: "Try to paint your world as tho [sic] you are the first man looking at it--the wind and the hear--and the cold--the dust--and the vast starlit night..." (p. 214).

There is also a letter she wrote to Eleanor Roosevelt in 1944. Mrs. Roosevelt was opposed to the Equal Rights Amendment. O'Keeffe wrote in support of the Equal Rights Amendment: "It could very much change the girl child's idea of her place in the world. I would like each child to feel responsible for the country and that no door for any activity they may choose is closed on account of sex" (p. 235).

There is also a passage where O'Keeffe meets a black girl who seems to make O'Keeffe think about O'Keeffe's own prejudices and privileges: "I had no idea before of the the many things color of the skin can means and do--it is sad--That black girl had something that made me discount the color of her skin as I never have with any other colored person..." (p. 251). The year is 1949.

There is also a letter she wrote in 1950 that is just great fun to me. It's about mint tea and snakes. "I have a patch of mint just outside the door that goes into the garden because I like mint tea. Yes--mint tea and snakes--the mesa and the moon. How are you?"

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently attended an event where Leslie Goddard, PhD, performed a historical portrayal of Georgia O'Keeffe. I was fascinated by her insight and had been to Santa Fe and Taos, NM so I had a solid appreciation for her work. I now have a a solid appreciation for her life and how she became such a confident and independent woman artist. Excentric also should be considered in the mix of attributes along with focused and intense. I read this in tandem with another book, "Becoming O'Keeffe - The Early Years" which speaks to her relationship and marriage to Alfred Stiegletz. The Georgia O'Keeffe exhibits at The Art Institute of Chicago and the Milwaukee Art Museum are definitely worth a revisit after hearing the presentation and reading these books.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Favorite quote from a letter to Russell Vernon Hunter, "I am divided between my man and a life with him--and something of the outdoors...that is in my blood..I will have to get along withe my divided self the best way I can."

[Mirjam]

I think a lot of people* tend to fall into two camps regarding Georgia O'Keeffe's flower paintings.

#1: Those flowers are NOT vaginas, they were NOT intended to be, O'Keeffe herself SAID SO, so STOP IT.

#2: Regardless of what Georgia may have SAID, if she didn't want people to think her flower paintings looked like vaginas, then maybe she shouldn't have made them look so much like vaginas.

Me, personally (uppity self-aggrandizement incoming, sorry), I think, yeah, okay, that flower sure does look like a vagina, but that's not all. And yes, I do think O'Keeffe was aware that her vagina flowers look like, well, what they were. I think what she was trying to say when she railed against people whose deepest (heh) takeaway from her art was its yonic tendency was that although the flower paintings might look like vaginas, that's not all they are. O'Keeffe didn't want to be defined as "the vagina artist" (although personally I think that would be awesome, like Ana Mendieta in a way...).

Regardless, it is what it is. This is a great book though, I highly recommend it.

*Who aren't of the juvenile "haha look that's a pussy" variety.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

O’Keffe has such a unique perspective of life and on color, and she greatly contributed to the history of American art. She is extremely attuned to Nature and its detail, and uses light, darkness in shades of color to juxtapose the concept in her mind. Emotion is color to her. Her most famous paintings of flowers are vivid and draws us into another world filled with the minute details of Nature. This book is beautiful because it also contains a collection of letters O’Keffe wrote to loved ones, and we have a rare glimpse into the whirlwind of sophistication and balance in her mind. I highly recommend this for anyone wanting to understand American art.

[Stormy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a catalog from a national tour of O’Keeffe’s works that was published by the National Gallery. I saw this exhibit in Los Angeles in 1989 when living in Claremont and was able to see many of her works in person for the first time. Since then, the O’Keeffe Museum has opened in Santa Fe and her artwork has, unfortunately, been trivialized by too much access through popular outlets. This doesn’t diminish her own life and work - she was authentic and original in her efforts.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you can see O'Keeffe's work in person, I highly recommend it. The scale of some of her works doesn't come across even in a large book. I was surprised by how many of her paintings and drawings I remembered having seen from this book which covers a retrospective exhibition.

I enjoyed getting a sense of her as a person and artist through her letters. It's definitely worth reading the notes about the letters which give context and background.

[Ashley Morlan · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s something so powerful about viewing an artist’s work and simultaneously hearing their words and stories behind each piece. I am forever grateful for Georgia’s art and the impact it has had on my life.

[Steven Harms · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could sit on my back porch reading her letters and admiring her art for hours on end

[hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

An insider peek into my fav artist's art life trajectory. The colors of the work are stunning

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been reading from this book and enjoying the reproduced paintings since we returned from Georgia O'Keeffe's home and studio at Abiquiu. The man who schedules tours at the tour starting point started talking about Georgia and Frank Lloyd Wright. He recommended this book. I need my own copy!besides gorgeous prints reading her honest and direct letters to friends both known and unknown is like opening a window on her life. Besides the letter to Wright I especially enjoyed her letter to Eleanor Roosevelt regarding the Equal Rights Amendment.... In 1944! If you are a fan of O'Keefe's art you will also enjoy the letters.

[M. Jane Colette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Someone who loves me searched the world over (I exaggerate only slightly) to get this book for me, and I LOVE it. It feels like an intimate weekend--week--month--year with O'Keefe. Her art, yes, of course, but the woman who dances through those letters...

I do not often think about artists past--I wish I had known her. O'Keefe, I'd like to spent my entire afterlife with (don't be jealous, Frida, you can come visit.)

[Mj]

I visited Abiquiu and an area within Ghost Ranch in New Mexico. Interesting how some people are drawn to an area by the landscape and colors.

Wow, once I started reading this, it made sense and I really enjoyed the 1st person letters.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Flipped through this collection several times before, I pulled it out today because I'd missed the O'keeffe's at the The Art Institute when we were there a few days ago (Its impossible to see everything). Read some of her letters. Really lovely way to spend my quiet Sunday morning.