November 20, 2013

Saw the Georgia O'Keeffe and Alfred Stieglitz Collection exhibit called "The Artist's Eye" at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art today.  If you're going to this exhibit just to see works by Georgia O'Keeffe you will be sorely disappointed, as there are only two in this particular exhibit.  For me, the delight was inclusion of many watercolors by various artists.  I'm not positive, but to my count this is the most watercolors ever shown at this museum.   Marin is well represented (understandably).  Marin uses bold color, lets his brushstrokes show and uses little, if any, atmospheric perspective.  The bold color in the background is the same color in the foreground, but note his use of texture to suggest the foreground instead.  I like the fresh, crisp quality, but they are rather flat.  Moving on... One Cignac watercolor, but it is representative of his work as a whole.  (If you want to see Cignac's work make a trip to the Arkansas Arts Center.)  My favorite watercolors in this exhibit were actually by two other artists:  George Grosz and Charles Demuth.  I enjoyed Stieglitz's photographs.  There are some wonderful lithos and etchings.  Be sure and take advantage of the iPod that is offered at the entrance to the exhibit.  You may take photos as long as you don't use the flash.  Back to my brushes.

"Creativity is the greatest expression of liberty." - Bryant H. McGill