Magical Gift of Picasso Etchings to British Museum

The British Museum recently acquired the complete suite of 100 Vollard etchings made between 1930 and 1937 by Picasso. It was a surprise gift from a man named Hamish Parker in memory of his beloved father Major Horace Parker. Depicting himself as a minotaur (in 15 of the works), the etchings are a visual diary of Picasso's great love affair with Marie-Therese Walter. Almost half of the prints show a classical sculptor's studio with Marie-Therese as a model. 

These etchings are magical and will always be inspiring. This is the Picasso that I love the most, unafraid to show emotional sensitivity toward his muse. Picasso exchanged the plates for these etchings with his dealer Ambroise Vollard for a couple of paintings by Renoir and Cezanne. This rare, complete set will go on view from May 3- Sept 3, 2012. Link

Right now, you can order the book Picasso's Vollard Suite from the Getty Museum.

The Art of Amy Crehore

RIP Etta James

NYTimes

"Some Things Just Stick in Your Mind" performed by Vashti Bunyan

More songs from album of the same name 1964-67.

Yayoi Kusama and Joseph Cornell were lovers

Although I had read Joseph Cornell's biography a couple of times, I hadn't realized that it was the amazing dot woman artist Yayoi Kusama who had been his first girlfriend (when he was 60). I blogged about Cornell a couple of times: here and here. 

 I also recently blogged about Kusama ( LINK). 

She talks about the affair (lasting 10 years) in an old interview with Kusama by Grady Turner in Bomb Magazine (1999).

Degas - drawings of the nude

Thanks to Artinfo slide show-

Bringing in the new year with some exquisite drawings by Degas. 

He makes me want to draw. 

I'm finishing up a couple of new paintings this week and I will post them here soon. 

THE ART OF AMY CREHORE

P.S. I am no longer posting my art on tumblr, in case you were looking for me there.

Rosa Loy and Neo Rauch

Rosa Loy is married to Neo Rauch. She is a painter, too. This video shows them exhibiting together. Here is her website: Rosa Loy. Their show was at the Essl Museum near Vienna in 2011. I would have liked to have seen that show.

Lori Ellison at McKenzie Fine Art (Jan 5 - Feb 11, 2012)

James Kalm (a.k.a. Loren Munk) filmed our friend Lori Ellison's art opening in NYC on Thursday night. 
LINK to video. 
Lori's drawings and paintings show a deep appreciation for the importance of design in art. She patiently builds intricate patterns on paper or wood using subtle textures and optical illusions. These meditative works are executed with the precision of Indian miniatures. Like woven textiles or combs created by insects (with their natural irregularities), William Morris' patterns or early examples of Op art, these creative works are mesmerizing and uplifting to behold. I'm sorry I can't see them in person (the great video helps), but if 

you are in NYC, be sure to catch this wonderful show at McKenzie Fine Art (511 West 25th Street).