Can you imagine our world without Georgia O'Keeffe in it?
To contemplate this question personally brought me to a very fragile state of mind today. Her existence, so profound, left a legacy for generations of women to explore Art. Her influence touched me in incredible ways, but most of all she ignited my passion for the Arts at the tender age of 17.
It was her 'Power of One' that gave me the courage to become an Artist.
As a Texas schoolteacher and promising artist, Georgia O'Keeffe [30], contracted The Spanish Flu in 1918. Part of her convalescence was to move to New York City in 1919. There, Alfred Stieglitz, cared for her and became her mentor by providing an apartment/studio for her to paint in. The world was in chaos and the two fell in love gifting the world with an unique Art relationship it never saw before.
During this time her artistry emerged creating works like Music Pink and Blue #2 1918, Red Canna 1919, Blue Line 1919, Blue and Green Music 1921, and the start of her flower paintings- Purple Petunias 1921 just to name a few. Imagine never feasting your eyes on her 'Painting to Music' canvases. Or our world without the lesson to look at flowers closer-to enjoy their inner beauty. A world without her Poppy paintings would be so dull. Then imagine our world without her artistic influence that touched so many women with courage to create, not only painting, but the courage in all facets of the Arts. Photography, Pottery, Poetry, Writing...the list is infinite.
In reflection, to our state of affairs with Covid-19 and the Spanish Flu, Georgia was an Art Teacher in Canyon Texas when she got sick. Her age at 30, most likely aided in her survival similar to the statistics we encounter today. Her recuperation time in New York was of isolation with a combination of rest and art exploration making great use of time on her hands as the world stood still and healed itself. It is about when you quiet your mind your creativity will flow, a great artist is born.
With no doubt O'Keeffe would be wearing a mask caring for others and herself. Everything written about her personality gives measure to that. Adding the other layer of her being a teacher on the front lines of society doing her job, it makes me ponder about our teachers and the 'O'Keefe" that is out there going back to school soon. I, with great hope, history repeats itself and takes care of that teacher-so we never need to know what it is like to live with out 'Poppy Paintings'.
In Addition;
Gustav Klimt succumbed to the Spanish Flu. Edward Munch painted his self in a portrait sick with the Spanish Flu.....and Walt Disney was a survivor! Can you imagine a world with out Mickey Mouse!
