Among my favorite places to visit is the Brandywine River Museum in Chadds Ford, Pa. It houses a spectacular collection of three generations of Wyeth artists works: NC,Andrew,Carolyn and Jamie, among others.Today I read in the NY Times that Andrew Wyeth passed away in his sleep at Chadds Ford at the age of 91.Although it saddens me, it made me think fondly of all the beautiful images that he created that continue to inspire me as an artist.
My favorite are the Helga Pictures.
From 1971 to 1985,Andrew Wyeth created over 240 images of his neighbor Helga Testorf without sharing them or the knowledge of his specific subject matter with a single individual, including his wife. To me they are his most beautiful and intimate images. Whether working in tempera,watercolors or pencil, Wyeth's skill and passion for his art, was undeniable, despite the ongoing controversy amid art critics.It is impossible for me to look at the layers of pigment and his detectable and deliberate brush strokes, and feel anything other than confidence and awe, that his path in life was meant to be just what it was: as an artist.
I will make the trip this year to Brandywine once again. I had the opportunity to hear Andrew's granddaughter Victoria speak about his work at the Philadelphia Museum of Art several years ago.That particular retrospective and the stories of his life and work,made me value Andrew as a painter and as a person even more.
For more information, read the NY Times article devoted to Andrew Wyeth and visit the Brandywine River Museum site.
Andrew Wyeth will live through his art and his stories.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment