Welcome to the February edition of the LWD Art Appreciation series! This month we’ll explore the diverse influences of luminaries such as Mark Twain, Duke Ellington, Georgia O’Keeffe, and the timeless film “My Favorite Wife.”
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ART APPRECIATION
February 2024
Whether through Twain’s literary prowess, Ellington’s musical genius, O’Keeffe’s evocative paintings, or the cinematic charm of “My Favorite Wife,” we’ll be reminded of the myriad ways in which art enriches our lives and invites us to see the world with fresh eyes.
SHORT STORY
A True Story, Repeated Word for Word As I Heard It ~ Mark Twain
I’ve read a lot of Twain. In fact, I took an entire course about him while obtaining my degree in English. And yet, I don’t think I’ve previously read this short story. Or perhaps I’ve just forgotten. It has been awhile since my college days. 😉 Either way, this is the one I’ve selected to read this month.
You may read it free at the link above or if you’re interested, here is an inexpensive paperback of all Twain’s short stories:
The Complete Short Stories of Mark Twain
ARTIST
Georgia O’Keefe
Georgia O’Keeffe (1887–1986) was a major figure in modern American art for some seven decades. Importantly, her fame was not associated with shifting art styles and trends, but rather with her own unique vision, based on finding essential and abstract forms in nature.
O’Keeffe’s primary subjects were landscapes, flowers, and bones, each explored in successive series over several years. Certain works went on for decades, producing 12 or more variations of an original image. Among these, O’Keeffe’s magnified pictures of calla lilies and irises are her most famous. Enlarging the tiniest petals to fill an entire canvas, O’Keeffe created a proto-abstract vocabulary of shapes and lines, earning her the moniker “mother of American modernism.” In 1946, O’Keeffe became the first female artist to be given a solo show at the MoMA in New York.
This introductory book from TASCHEN Basic Art 2.0 traces O’Keeffe’s long and luminous career through key paintings, contemporary photographs, and portraits taken by Alfred Stieglitz, to whom O’Keeffe was married. We follow the artist through her pioneering innovations, major breakthroughs, and her travels and inspirations in Southeast Asia, India, the Middle East, and, above all, New Mexico, where she was particularly inspired by the majestic landscapes, vivid colors and exotic vegetation.
JAZZ COMPOSER
Duke Ellington
Considered one of the greatest jazz composers of all time, Duke Ellington had an enormous impact on the popular music of the late 20th century. Among his more than two thousand songs are such hits as “In A Sentimental Mood,” “Sophisticated Lady,” “I Got It Bad And That Ain’t Good,” and “I’m Beginning To See The Light.” For almost fifty years he toured the world as a band leader and piano player. Today his recordings remain among the most popular jazz of the big-band era. (American Masters – PBS)
SCREWBALL COMEDY
My Favorite Wife
A funny thing happens to newlywed Nick Arden on his way to the honeymoon suite. He meets his wife. No, not his bride. He meets the wife who was lost at sea seven years ago and presumed dead. All aboard for a spinning marriage-go-round! Cary Grant, the screen’s ideal combination of romantic hunk and comedy buffoon, plays flabbergasted Nick. Radiant Irene Dunne, Grant’s The Awful Truth and Penny Serenade costar, plays the returned wife who cagily sets out to reclaim her former life. And Randolph Scott and Gail Patrick add to the marital mix-up as Nick goes from having one wife to two to none to one. The right one. What romantic comedy has joined together, let no one put asunder. Of all the giddy screwball comedies ever made, this remains an enduring favorite.
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If you have any favorites to recommend for future Art Appreciation posts feel free to share in the comments!
LINKS TO PREVIOUS ART APPRECIATION POSTS…
JANUARY:
LWD Classic Film of the Month ~ Breakfast at Tiffany’s
LWD Artist of the Month ~ Manet
LWD Composer of the Month ~ Vivaldi
FEBRUARY:
LWD Classic Film of the Month ~ A Raisin in the Sun
LWD Poet of the Month ~ Langston Hughes
LWD Artist of the Month ~ Degas
LWD Composer of the Month ~ Chopin
Thank you so much for all of your inspiration on so many areas of life! I loved last month’s movie, It Happened One Night. Such fun! Looking forward to watching the February movie! 🙂
It makes me happy to hear that! I watched “It Happened One Night” with my son last year and we both enjoyed it. He collects Criteron Collection films and whenever he gets one he thinks I’ll like we watch together.