A Visit to the Met
My friend had morning tickets to the Alice Neel show at the Met and invited me. I haven’t been to New York City since Kerfe’s birthday in January 2020. The city seemed the same but different. All the restaurants had these outdoor areas gussied up with plants. I wouldn’t like to eat in one because if someone walked by smoking a cigarette I’d lose my appetite.
I’d seen an Alice Neel show with Kerfe a few years ago and I remember it as mostly portraits. This show was a retrospective and had a lot of pieces I liked so I thought I’d show you. Here were some of my favorites:
Sorry I didn’t write down the titles. I also didn’t photograph her drawings which I liked a lot.
This last drawing was done by Neel when she was in a mental hospital for a year. She had a very intense life which showed in all her work but especially this drawing:
I should have photographed some of the portraits which made up her main body of work. Her expressiveness and technique inspired me and I’d like to do some larger paintings one of these days.
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Nina I see Neel likes the dark backgrounds like you do. I see a similarity between your work and hers. How wonderful you got a chance to see her work close up. I know what you mean about a desire to work on larger canvasses.
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That is true; I didn’t make that connection. It was really good to see these paintings in person. N.
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Jade, I wrote a post early in our blogtime comparing Neel’s work to both Nina’s and mine.
https://methodtwomadness.wordpress.com/2014/08/03/alice-neel/
Looking back, I’m even more amazed by the similarities. And it makes me think I should get back to portrait painting. (K)
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Just looked at them, Kerfe. Yes, you should, and so should Nina. Those are really outstanding paintings by all three of you. So awesome Nina was able to Alice’s work up close.
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She actually lived in the building next door to me when I lived on West End Ave, but I never knew it. Her grandchildren were in a playgroup with my neighbors’ kids I found out later. That was way before the neighborhood gentrified and became unaffordable.
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Kerfe, I do think NYC is the hub of American culture. Your story proves it. How many people elsewhere can say they lived next door to such a famous artist?
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Most famous people live much more luxuriously. She never moved out of her tenement apartment even after she started to make some money. But it’s true there are lots of well-known people living all over the city.
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That was such a great post, Kerfe.
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What a treat, thanks for sharing!
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My pleasure! N.
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These are emotional pieces. They really reach out and grab you. Thank you for the visit.
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I liked these much better than the portraits; I found those rather disturbing. My friend was kind to schlep me in and take me to the show. I’ve been too lazy to go in and I need to go see Kerfe soon. N.
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I haven’t ever heard of this woman, this artist, and I really like her work! Thanks for the intro! 🤗
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I’m glad to introduce you. N.
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Thanks!
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That’s a good friend! I recognize that wall of windows, right across 107 st from where I lived on West End Ave. I can’t believe I lived next door to Alice Neel in those early years there and never knew it! (K)
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She was very kind to pick me up and drive in. I’ve been nervous about driving to the city, probably because I haven’t done it in a while. My nerves of steel have turned to jelly. N.
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Great post. I love Alice Neel’s work. It also made me reminisce about the last time I was at the Met which was about 20 years ago. Would love to go again. And to MoMa of course. And the Whitney. And the Guggenheim… 🙂
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The Met is always a great place to visit. Wearing a mask the whole time- not so much. It was good to go that early, not crowded at all at the show. N.
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Beautiful and excellent post.
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Many thanks as always. N.
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You are always welcome dear Nina ❤️❤️
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