For breakfast, I and the new arrivals from Manhattan
had spinach with pine
nuts that was covered with a well-cooked, over-easy
egg. Accompanying the dish was a fresh piece of cornbread.
Our host introduced us as we engaged ourselves in conversation
with "Where from," and "Why are you here?"
As fate directs, Georgia
O'Keeffe was the inspiration. The Manhattanites
were visiting the ranch
where she had done some of her important paintings; I,
to see her work at the museum.
The husband and wife team talked about their experience
walking along the trails where Georgia had treaded. I
shared my Magic/Abstract
Realism revelation in interpreting her work. This
time I interjected how Georgia's Abstract Realist paintings
were completed around the same time the Magic
Realist Movement started to take hold in the States.
I also paralleled the Abstract Realist theme explained
in the brief documentary, presently on view at the museum,
were similar to the Magic Realist themes described in
the Andrew
Wyeth retrospective--and the fact that there is presently
a strong push of magic (romantic) realism at the Pennsylvania
Academy of Fine Arts as well as at the James
A. Michener Art Museum.
I topped-off my abstract/magic theory by referring back
to the documentary where Georgia stated that she had "ideas"
that she wanted to "explore," and that being
in New Mexico allowed her to "explore those ideas:"
modern painting techniques imbued with cattle skulls and
Kachina
doll motifs as exhibited in the museum.
I then drew the connection between what Georgia was doing
(did) was what Jamie
Wyeth did (is doing [?]) when he was painting at the
Factory with Andy
Warhol [Magic
Realism meets Pop
Art thing]. (Jamie's meld
was part of an exhibit recently on view at the Brandywine
River Museum).
The astute Manhattanites' eyebrows rose.
Our host quickly changed the subject by sharing with
us the two projects she was working on: 1) to assist Muslim
women in the Middle East with loans who are in need, and
2) support for victimized Congolese
women.
Our host interjected the dynamic of the husbands of the
victimized women and how their "embarrassment"
impacted the problem. I, sensing a morning morass, apologetically
qualified my comment before stating that the movie the
Outlaw
Josey Wales was based in this same topic: however
the focus was on his
good Christian
rage and revenge.
We paused for a moment.
We chatted some more about Georgia and her home while
we finished our breakfast.
"Where
are you going today, Edward?"
"I'm going south, then north. I've got some materials
to pick-up before I leave."
"We're headin' back to the Ranch,"
declared the Manhattanites.
Ed/Ken/daddy
