Pay no mind to Roberta Smith's snide and nasty review of this wonderful show in the New York Times and take yourself to see it. I found so much to like, love and enjoy in this beautifully installed retrospective of this marvelous painter who sadly died at the young age of 51. It's of course drawing in crowds, its geared for that and at the head of the show is of course his most famous painting "American Gothic" which is just a pinch on my artistic skin. I loved his details and his great ability to paint a field of wheat or corn from a distance and from above. Yes his work verge's sometimes on the illustrative but so what. He was also a great colorist and there are lots of stories in these works. The show is also full of surprises, his early funky and funny surreal like flower pot sculptures from 1925, his book covers and that comfy mid west lounge and ottoman is both inviting and a hoot. If it sat today in some hipster Billyburg or lower east side gallery installation maybe ms. Smith would have liked it with love and kisses. Sure some of the work is too sweet and flag waving for me, but his portraits are brilliant and touching and again full of rich textures and details. There is also a strange and strong film norish like painting of two cars on a night road about to collide with an on coming truck seen from a twisted perspective. A telephone pole stands there like a cross as storm clouds gather. An amazing work. There is also strong homoerotic images and signs here and there, as Grant was a closeted gay man when one really had to be, especially in the dry and conservative Mid-West which sadly is still true to this day. Many of his landscapes have the look of toys, and for me reminded me of my childhood view master scenes with their candy cotton clouds, vegetable looking trees and foliage and doll house exteriors and interiors. A marvelous show.
Grant Wood: American Gothic and Other Fables. Whitney Museum through June 10
Pay no mind to Roberta Smith's snide and nasty review of this wonderful show in the New York Times and take yourself to see it. I found so much to like, love and enjoy in this beautifully installed retrospective of this marvelous painter who sadly died at the young age of 51. It's of course drawing in crowds, its geared for that and at the head of the show is of course his most famous painting "American Gothic" which is just a pinch on my artistic skin. I loved his details and his great ability to paint a field of wheat or corn from a distance and from above. Yes his work verge's sometimes on the illustrative but so what. He was also a great colorist and there are lots of stories in these works. The show is also full of surprises, his early funky and funny surreal like flower pot sculptures from 1925, his book covers and that comfy mid west lounge and ottoman is both inviting and a hoot. If it sat today in some hipster Billyburg or lower east side gallery installation maybe ms. Smith would have liked it with love and kisses. Sure some of the work is too sweet and flag waving for me, but his portraits are brilliant and touching and again full of rich textures and details. There is also a strange and strong film norish like painting of two cars on a night road about to collide with an on coming truck seen from a twisted perspective. A telephone pole stands there like a cross as storm clouds gather. An amazing work. There is also strong homoerotic images and signs here and there, as Grant was a closeted gay man when one really had to be, especially in the dry and conservative Mid-West which sadly is still true to this day. Many of his landscapes have the look of toys, and for me reminded me of my childhood view master scenes with their candy cotton clouds, vegetable looking trees and foliage and doll house exteriors and interiors. A marvelous show.
