Tag Archives: art

“Reality is always extraordinary.” — Mary Ellen Mark

It’s her birthday today. My first job was as a page at a local library. I would go there after school, shelve books for a couple of hours, and then head home. I ended up working there all through high … Continue reading

Posted in Art/Photography, Movies, On This Day | Tagged , | 3 Comments

“I wish I had not been so reserved.” — Joseph Cornell’s final words

Today is the birthday of artist Joseph Cornell. “Cornell is superb. I first saw the Medici Slot Machine when I was in college. Oh, I loved it. To think one could have bought some of those things then. He was … Continue reading

Posted in Art/Photography, On This Day | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

“Improvement makes strait roads, but the crooked roads without Improvement, are roads of Genius.” — poet/engraver/visionary William Blake

“I mean, don’t you think it’s a little bit excessive?” “The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom. William Blake.” Pause. “William Blake?” “William Blake!” “William Blake???” “William Blake!!!” — Bull Durham William Blake was a poet virtually … Continue reading

Posted in Art/Photography, Books, On This Day, writers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

“A vast amount of rubbish is published in the name of art. A man should let his work talk for him. ” — Charles Dana Gibson

It’s his birthday today. Old-timers will remember when my blog-design was Gibson-Girl inspired. My favorite haughty Gibson Girl was in the blog banner for years! What a goddess. She is gorgeous and she does not give af. The only vestige … Continue reading

Posted in Art/Photography, Books, On This Day | Tagged , , | 15 Comments

“If I could say it in words there would be no reason to paint.” Happy Birthday, Edward Hopper

I wrote about Edward Hopper quite a bit in my Present Tense column at Film Comment, detailing the Hopper-y vibe of Tom Noonan’s great film about urban loneliness, What Happened Was… In fact, I have a sneaking suspicion that Karen … Continue reading

Posted in Art/Photography, On This Day | Tagged , , , | 32 Comments

Happy Birthday, painter Henry Ossawa Tanner

When I lived in Philadelphia – a million years ago, with my boyfriend who was in law school at U. Penn – I became intimately familiar with Henry Ossawa Tanner’s paintings since so many of them hang in the Philadelphia … Continue reading

Posted in Art/Photography, On This Day | Tagged | 5 Comments

April/May 2023 Viewing Diary

River of Grass (1994; d. Kelly Reichardt) Reichardt’s first film. Wendy and Lucy (2008; d. Kelly Reichardt) The start of Reichardt’s collaboration with Michelle Williams. Showing Up (2023; d. Kelly Reichardt) Reichardt’s latest. I reviewed for Ebert. It’s fine. Her … Continue reading

Posted in Monthly Viewing Diary, Movies, Television | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Review: Close to Vermeer (2023)

I liked hanging out with the people in this documentary, I liked soaking up their passion and expertise. I reviewed for Ebert.     Thank you so much for stopping by. If you like what I do, and if you … Continue reading

Posted in Art/Photography, Movies | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Tamara de Lempicka’s Sexy Art Deco Stare

For her birthday: Fascinating woman, too. (The fabulous painting of the woman in the car is called “Self Portrait in the green Bugatti.” She did not lack confidence.)     Thank you so much for stopping by. If you like … Continue reading

Posted in Art/Photography, On This Day | Tagged | 10 Comments

For International Women’s Day: Ladies I Love

These women inspire, entertain, challenge, comfort, provoke, or were “there” in my formative years as an inspiration. The list is huge. Below the jump.

Posted in Actors, Art/Photography, Directors, Personal, writers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 96 Comments