Georgia O'Keeffe at the AGO

Andrew and I went to the AGO last night for the new Georgia O'Keeffe show.  I am always pleasantly surprised when I get the chance to see a well known artist who I don't know well and find that in fact there is a lot more to their work than what they're best known for. 

Jimson Weed, 1932

  The flowers are the images of O'Keeffe's that everyone knows but with good reason. This is a stunning painting and in person it draws you in and casts a spell.

Blue, 1959

 But I was not familiar with some of O'Keeffe's more abstract work. I stood in front of Blue for a long while getting lost in the depth and wishing I could dive straight in.

Pelvis III, 1944

  I knew O'Keeffe got into painting skulls but I was less aware of her series of sky views through pelvis bones.  I love the mystery and anticipation of this shift in perspective.

Lake George, 1922

 O'Keeffe's early work was much more traditionally figurative, but no less captivating.  This piece is in the collection of SF MOMA which was a extra little joy.

Lake George Barns, 1926

 I'm a sucker for old barns, I guess O'Keeffe was too cause she painted them a lot.  

East River From the 30th Story of the Shelton Hotel, 1928

I would not have picked this painting out of a line-up as a Georgia O'Keeffe.  But it is, and it's lovely.

Peter Doig Loves the Don

Peter Doig, COUNTRY ROCK (Wing Mirror)

Peter Doig COUNTRY ROCK 1998-9

Into it... Douglas Coupland

Went to OCAD last week to hear Douglas Coupland talk about his upcoming retrospective at VAG.  I didn't know much about Coupland other than he is a prolific writer, artist and collector of Canadian Heritage.  Check out two of my current Coupland obsessions.

Digital Orca, from 2009 sits across from the Vancouver Convention Centre.  

I also really enjoyed seeing some of the new works he is doing for the show including more of his "Group of Seven" reinterpretations.  This one here is  Harris Superior Tweed in Colour and is based on a beautiful piece by famed Canadian painter Lawren Harris. 

Walker Evans is on my mind

Warhol's Portrait of Gretzky

Andy introduced me to both this song by Hawksley Workman and the original portrait below

Look at this stud

But I found this video of Warhol inspired nails all on my own.  

I love it when Property topics come together! Now excuse me I have to do my nails.

For Paul

Art Basil Miami, can you spot him?

David Hockney at Pace Wildenstein

One of my favourite artist David Hockney has a show opening at Pace Wildenstein this week in NYC, according to this NYT article. I wish I was in town earlier to see it. But I am sure Paul and Virginia will let me know how it is, and maybe it will still be on when I get down next month for American Thanksgiving.

Why i love Francesco Vezzoli

http://www.artforum.com/diary/id=22033

Vezzoli's, seen in the above photo on the right with Miuccia Prada courtesy of art forum, has a new show. "Greed," which opened at Gogosian in Rome earlier this month, and sounds amazing from what The Diary says. The show opens with a commercial, that's right. Filmed by none other Roman Polanski and features Michelle Williams and Natalie Portman fighting over a perfume called, what else, Greed. Cathryn Drake who wrote the piece for art forum said that opinions about the commercial were mixed. And of course people compared it to Vezzoli's most famous work the trailer for Caligula, which I saw here in Toronto, at the Power Plant talk Vezzoli gave. Despite that, the show sounds right up my alley. And the after party sounded equally as amazing. Vezzoli has a great personal reputation, which I can personally confirm. He was a doll when Paul attacked him with star-studded awkwardness, by telling him that he could not miss Joan Crawford's bracelets on display at Yedessa's and then running off without another word. Anyway, I digress but I can only imagine he is as unassuming as always. The best part of the piece, and I bet, the party ,came at the end when Vezzoli handed out impromptu party gifts for the last revelers. The gift? A copy of the morning's International Herald Tribune covered in ad paper for Vezzoli's perfume Greed. OMG I need to see this commercial, and the prints.

I'm getting so excited for DC

I can't wait

Better get out to Brandeis

More bad news for the Art World. Brandeis University has announced that they are going to close their prestigious Rose Art Museum. And to make matters worse they are preparing to sell their entire collection. The Rose's collection is estimated to be worth 350 to 400 million dollars, but could fetch far less in the current art market. This is such seriously bad news that it makes me want to get down to Mass. before the University can follow through with its rape and pillage. Of course the Times is quick to point out that the University is going to face stiff opposition and that the State's Attorney General is investigating whether the sale is legal. But even if it is, anyone who knows anything should be trying to dissuade Brandeis, not only because it is financially stupid but also because it means that one of the most important collections in New England is going to be dispersed all over the globe.

image courtesy of the New York Times

Power Plant director Gregory Burke with Norah Stone.

Gregory Burke, perhaps Toronto's most important international art figure was in San Francisco over Pride weekend - well not San Francisco exactly but Calistoga, in the heart of Napa's wine region. Burke, who I admire from a far at many Power Plant openings but never have the nerve to speak to, was photographed for the Art Forum Diary with none other than Norah Stone. A San Francisco social/power broker, Norah is "Wiki fined" as a philanthropist, lawyer, art historian and collector. She was also named by San Francisco magazine as one of the city's best dressed citizens in 2007. She always reminded me of another San Francisco lady, Ms. Nan Kempner, although they look nothing alike - because they are both so fierce. Norah married Norman Stone and together they have amassed an impressive collection which is divided between their residences in San Francisco and the Napa Valley, and which features artists such as Jan de Cock, Robert Gober, Jeff Koons, Cady Noland, Richard Prince, Richard Serra, Keith Tyson, Christopher Wool, Andy Warhol, Marcel Duchamp, Hans Bellmer and Tony Conrad. And according to ArtForum a few Baldessari's here and there. To make the Stone's credentials even more impeccable their property in Calistoga is a respected vineyard. And their art cave, where most of their work is on display was custom designed by Bade Stageberg Cox. Below are Norman and Norah greeting their guests, and their sculpture by James Turrell called Stone Sky. Don't they look flawless? There is nothing I love more than art collectors with good taste, who throw dinner parties at their property. It is also nice to see a local Torontonian out and about in the international art world. Now if only I could get myself invited.

Check out the rest of ArtForum's article about dinner at the Stone's, the article is linked below.
http://www.artforum.com/diary/#entry20686