Asheville and the Blue Ridge Mountains on a Misty Foggy Day

Blue Ridge Parkway 

This is not far from my mountain house and studio near Asheville.  The Blue Ridge Parkway runs along the ridge of the Blue Ridge and Smokey Mountains.  It was built by the WPA during the Depression with most of the tunnels and bridges built during that time remaining.

Jackson Pollock As You Never Knew Him-No Drips!

Los Tres Grandes by Jackson Pollack  from google image for  educational purposes only

There was a time when "Jack the Dripper" did not do the abstract drip paintings on the floor that you may know him by.  Many people do not know about his time in the WPA(click) and the Federal One Project. He studied with other artists who would later become famous as well. Another artists you may know is Thomas Hart Benton.  From 1935-42 Pollock's work was very different artist than the abstract expressionist he became later.  He revered the Mexican muralist artists of the 1930's, one of which was Diego Rivera.  When you look at Rivera's art it is not hard to see the influence. 

Diego Rivera   Mexican Muralists  from google for education only

"Jackson Pollock, often considered America's greatest modern painter, was born on January 28, 1912, in Cody, Wyoming. He grew up in Arizona and California and studied art at the Manual Arts High School in Los Angeles, eventually studying with the painter Thomas Hart Benton at the Art Students League in New York.

Thoma Hart Benton  Work Project Mural

Pollock admired the Mexican muralists of the 1930s. These artists had a great influence on his work, particularly with regards to scale and social theme. Like many artists of the day, he found work through the WPA Federal Art Projects from 1935 to 1942. During these formative years of Abstract Expressionism, Pollock's role as leader came to be recognized. He had his first show at Peggy Guggenheim's gallery, The Art of This Century, in 1943. 

Pollock, who suffered from alcoholism and depression, underwent psychoanalysis for several years. His treatment fostered an interest in Carl Jung's theories of trans-historical archetypes that formed the basis of the artist's works, particularly from 1942 to 1947. 

In the late 1940's, Pollock began to develop the technique of "action painting." Placing the canvas on the floor, he used brushes as implements to drip paint. This moment marks the greatest Abstract Expressionist achievement – symbolized by the Drip and a rejection of the traditional figure-ground relationship, often referred to as the Allover. In this process, Pollock challenged the entire Western easel tradition. In 1949, Life Magazine, placing Pollock on the cover, asked "Is This the Greatest American Painter?" catapulting Pollock and the Abstract Expressionist movement to the forefront." from an article with the L&M Gallery  

It is Never Too Late to Pursue Your Passion!

TODAY I WITNESSED A SMALL MIRACLE!
Seek your Dreams and they will find you!

Early this morning I awoke and made a journey across the bay to attend a very special event.  It was to attend the college graduation ceremony of a friend of mine.  Bright and early near the water under the palms Pat received her college diploma after 40 years.  She had taken university courses when she was younger, but events in her life had taken her away from her pursuit.  Now in her fifties it looked like her dream of being a college graduate might not happen and then the closing of her job offered her the chance to go back to school.  Two years later and lots of hard work Pat graduated.  It was held under a giant tent in the Florida heat and humidity.  The names were called off, one hopeful young person after another stepped up and families cheered.  When Pat's name was called we, her family and friends, yelled and clapped. The pride in her face was so wonderful to witness and the pride in her husbands face who also had graduated two years earlier, was just as great. It is much harder to go back to college when you are older among much younger students.  This college, as some do, offer a program for experienced learners.    

You may wonder why I put this story in an art blog, but the pursuit of ones dreams is no small thing when you don't relent and don't give up the satisfaction is twice as sweet!  But, Pat is an artist as well.  She is one of the most creative people I know.  Her most recent research paper is about the artists of the WPA and Federal One project.  It is a fascinating topic of how in the worst of times people found a way to bring out the best in human nature.  During the worst depression America has ever known a government group had the idea to support art and artists with federal monies and get people back to work. This is a wonderful topic and I would like to cover it more in depth in another post, but now I would like to focus on bringing your passion and dreams to reality as Pat did today.  

It is truly a miracle at what Pat achieved today.  There is so much in life that can keep one from seeking ones dreams, there is no end to reasons or events in life that we give credit to being obstacles to our success.  And there are many countries where a woman and a mature person could never to school much less go back to school.  So it is no small achievement that was done today and my friend walked across that stage and received her diploma with honors when one considers the small percentage of women in any country that could go back to school in their 50's and get their degree.  

So be like Pat, wherever you live and how ever old you are, seek out your passion, let nothing stand in your way and go after that dream!  Pat will go on to give much back to her community and to others because she sought out a higher education.  People will be enriched and lives improved, just like a pebble dropped in a pond...the rings of influence will reach out even when Pat doesn't know her passion and love of learning and art has touched other lives!

Pursuit of the Race  WPA Art       from college for educational purposes only