What is the one work of art that you would want to live with every day?
Isn’t this a great question to consider? It’s quite a fun idea to explore. Just think about it. Take your time. I find a seemingly unending stream of memories is elicited. I offer it as a satisfying bit of escapism this summer. As Annie Dillard says Spend the afternoon, you can’t take it with you.
It’s not an easy choice for me. I acknowledge that much of the remarkable work I’ve experienced wouldn’t be easy to live with every day. There are size and volume constraints, of course, but tone and meaning and the intention of the work must be considered, too. Just as we are (or ought to be) selective about choosing housemates and partners, we are sensitive to the spirit of the artwork we bring into our lives.
If you could have your portrait made by any artist, who would that be?
I especially like this question. (Could it be because it’s so self-centred?!) Maybe it’s because I don’t know much about portrait painting and so I have fewer choices. Whatever the reason, it too, offers the opportunity for entertaining possibilites.
Artemisia Gentileschi? Caravaggio? Rembrandt? John Singer Sergeant? Berthe Morisot? Njideka Akunyili Crosby? Käthe Kollwitz?
Njideka Akunyili Crosby, I Refuse to be Invisible, 2010, artist image
The questions are not originally conceived, nor are these:
What is the work or art / monument / museum that changed your life?
What is the book, and what is the piece of music, that inspire you the most?
Which artist do you find most overrated? Which artist do you find most underrated?
These questions are posed by the Frick curators on their twice a month series, The Frick Five, available on the Frick’s website. The Frick curators, Amiee Ng and Xavier F. Salomon, conduct relaxed, remote video conversations with other curators. It’s fun to get a glimpse into their homes – not always the ubitquous book shelves – and hear them speak from a personal, as well as a professional viewpoint. The stories surrounding a life-changing piece of art or monument are delivered honestly and with a measure of vulnerability. Isn’t that what happens when we resonate with a piece of art? As they ably explain the historical and artistic significance of the works supporting images are provided.
It’s highly entertaining to hear art professionals discuss the ‘overrated’ artists, and very informative to hear their support and enthusiasm for an artist deserving more attention. They are limiting the discussion to deceased artists, and not dishing any dirt on contemporary artists – although I initially held out some hope for just such an exchange, but they are obviously more gracious, and a whole lot wiser, than me. I’ll leave it to you to find the interview with the curator who dares to question the values attributed to certain Impressionist painters.
The music and book choices are sometimes surprising, but always charming. Kylie Minogue, anyone?! I think I would find it impossible to choose only one book, or one single piece of music. Just like one piece of art, how does one choose?
What great questions. I wish I had answered those questions every decade of my life to mark how life moves on. During Covid, I watched more TV than usual and have enjoyed Fake or Fortune and learning about the process of evaluating the authenticity of a painting. We are so fortunate to so easily be able to access the expertise of curators at the Frick. Thanks for steering me to their website.
You’re welcome, Karen. I like your idea of thinking about those questions for every decade…..I guess we have the opportunity to begin now! The Frick is doing a fine job of educating and entertaining during these strange days.