DIANE ARBUS – WOMEN IN ART

“The thing that’s important to know is that you never know. You’re always sort of feeling your way.”

Born Diane Nemerov in 1923 – her name is pronounced Dee-Ann.

Her family ran Russek’s Department Store on Fifth Avenue in New York.

the building today

When her father, David Nemerov, retired, he pursued a career in painting.

Her younger sister, Renee Sparkia Brown, was a sculptor and designer. (Her first husband, Roy Sparkia,created the Empire State Building illuminated panels depicting the 7 wonders of the world, with the 8th wonder – the Empire State Building. These 5’ x 7’ crystal resin and stained glass panels were installed in the lobby in 1963.)

Her brother, Howard Nemerov, was a Pulitzer Prize winning poet and the United State Poet Laureate in 1988.

Obviously, this was a creative family. Diane studied panting in high school. At age 14 she fell in love with Allan Arbus (19 at the time). She lost interest in painting and said her only ambition was to be David’s wife.

“I hated painting and I quit right after high school because I was continually told how terrific I was. I had the sense that if I was so terrific at it, it wasn’t worth doing.”

They married when she was 18 and together pursued a career in photography, turning their bathroom in Manhatten into a part-time darkroom. Her father gave them work shooting fashion for Russek’s.

Allan was a military photographer in WWII. After the war, their photography business took off, shooting for magazines like Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. It is said Allan shot the photographs and Diane came up with clever ideas and props.

But Diane wanted to be an artist, not a stylist. Allan wanted to be an actor, not a photographer. During this time, Diane suffered from several depressive episodes. They had two daughters, Doon (who later published two books with Richard Avendon) and Amy, who became a photographer.

Diane’s turning point came by taking a class at the NewSchool in New York with Lisette Model.

“I always thought of photography as a naughty thing to do – that was one of my favorite tings about it, and when I first did it, I felt very perverse.”

She began taking photographs of the seamier side of New York.

1959, the Arbuses separated. Also that year, Diane had her first magazine assignment for Esquire – that included photographs of a sideshow performer Jungle Creep.

In 1962 she changed to a 2 1/4 format camera, and her pictures became sharper and more detailed. She said she wanted “to see the difference between flesh and material, the densities of different kinds of things: air and water and shiny.”

She was known for having intense relationships with her subjects. In fact, she spent 10 years with Eddie Carmel, whom she called the Jewish giant, before she captured the photograph she had been looking for! Some of the circus performers she photographed appeared in her images for 10 years!

The Jewish Giant at Home with His Parents, Bronx 1970 ©Diane Arbus estate

The art-world began to see Arbus’ pictures as more than journalism. In 1967, 32 of her photographs were chosen by MOMA for an exhibition.

A Young Man in Curlers at Home on West 20th St. NYC 1967

“I remember going to New Documents (the show at MOMA) when I was in college and seeing a man spit at her work. People hadn’t seen an unambiguous picture of a man in curlers with long fingernails smoking a cigarette, and at the time it seem confrontational. Now, at this distance in time, it seem elegiac and empathetic rather than threatening” Sandra Phillips, SFMOM’a Photographic historian

With her growing fame, people became a little wary of being photographed by someone that had been dubbed “the wizard of odds”. At this time, Allan, who she remained close to, moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting full time. Do you know his most famous role?

Allan and Diane

Allan as Dr. Sidney Freedman

Yes, he played the psychiatrist on MASH!

To make money, Diane had a plan to sell limited editions of 10 of her photographs in a clear box that doubled as a frame, for $1,000 per set. Very ahead of its time, only four sets were sold, but one set was sold to the artist Jasper Johns and two sets to photographer Richard Avendon! (one set recently sold for $553,000).

In 1971 she was chosen to represent the United States in the 1972 Venice Biennale – the FIRST American photorapher to be so honored.

Unfortunately, in 1971 she was ovewhelmed by what she called “the blues”. On July 26, she took barbituates and slit her writes and was found in her West Village apartment two days later.

Identical Twins Rosell NJ 1967

Circus Performer

Some of my favorite quotes:

“Love involves a peculiar unfathomable combination of understanding and misunderstanding.”

“A photograph is a secret about a secret. The more it tells you the less you know.”

“The world can only be grasped by action, not by contemplation. The hand is the cutting edge of the mind.”

What do you think of Diane Arbus and her photographs?

What female artists beginning with the letter “A” would you have included? I ask because I think I will continue this project for awhile!

WOMEN IN ART – PEGGY GUGGENHEIM

PEGGY GUGGENHEIM

SELF PROFESSED ART ADDICT

1898 – 1979

Peggy Guggenheim’s life reads like a series of headlines – so, I wrote it as such! (more…)

THE WOMEN WHO CHANGED ART – JOHANNA VAN GOGH BONGER

Without Johanna Van Gogh Bonger, there is a good chance you would never have seen this:

Yes, that is The Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh, and you can thank Johanna’s (Jo as she was called) persistence and dedication to keeping Vincent Van Gogh’s memory alive. So – let’s look at her life.

Johanna was born in Amsterdam in 1862,. Fluent in English she earned what was the equivalent of a collage degree, which was practically unheard of at this time. She went to London and worked briefly at the library in the British Museum.

Upon returning to Utrecht (about 1/2 hour from Amsterdam), she taught English at a girl’s boarding school. Meanwhile, her brother, Andries, had moved to Paris and met Theo and Vincent Van Gogh. Being close, Johanna travelled to visit her brother. Theo immediately declared his love and devotion to Johanna, which alarmed her and caused her to return to Amsterdam. Luckily (for us and the world) he eventually wore her down and they were married in 1889.

Jo always knew that Vincent came with Theo. When Jo and Theo had a son, they named him Vincent Willem.

Well, we know this story doesn’t end well. Vincent died at the age of 37 in 1890 with Theo at his side. Theo already had a pre-existing case of syphilis (somehow he didn’t infect Johanna) and his health declined rapidly because the grief of Vincent’s death was just too much for him. He died in January 1891 at the age of 33. The official cause of death was listed as “heredity, chronic disease, overwork and sadness”.

Johanna picked herself up and moved to Bussum (a suburb of Amsterdam) and ran a boarding house and eventually married John Cohen Gosschalk, a painter ten years younger than herself. Being very forward thinking, the new couple signed a pre-nuptial agreement stating the property they brought into the marriage would always remain separate. Jo not only had hundreds of both paintings and drawings but also hundreds of letters between Vincent and Theo.

With all the paintings, Jo literally knocked on the door of every art gallery she came across. She began lending individual pieces out to museums for specific shows. Even though the art community did not welcome her, she never gave up.

FINALLY, in 1892 she arranged the FIRST formal exhibition of Vincent’s work at the Kunstzaal Panorama in Amsterdam. She also published a book of letters between Vincent and Theo in 1914.

She NEVER gave up. She promoted his work through her life. She died at the age of 62 (in Switzerland) with complications from Parkinson’s Disease.

Also – before her death, she moved Theo’s grave to lie next to Vincent in Auverse-sur-Oisa, the village north of Paris where Vincent spent the last 70 days of his life

SO – I think it is safe to say, without Jo Van Gogh Bonger, we probably wouldn’t know about Vincent today.

Also – her son Vincent inherited an estimated 200 paintings and 300 drawings and all the letters between the two brothers. He became a mechanical engineer, which gave him the financial stability that allowed him to focus on his uncle’s artistic legacy. He actually managed to negotiate with the Dutch Government to open the Van Gogh Museum in 1973 – one of the most popular museums in the world.

VAN GOGH MUSEUM

This is the first installment of the series WOMEN WHO CHANGED ART. Next up? Self proclaimed “Art Addict” Peggy Guggenheim.

If you have any suggestions of anyone to include, let me know in the comments!!!!

WINTER READING AND WATCHING

If you know me, you know I am a daily reader. But, I am also a “watcher” – I watch a lot of art documentaries. So, here are a couple of “art” books I recommend, as well as an entertaining documentary about a crazy art theft!

SPRING CANNOT BE CANCELLED by David Hockney and Martin Gayford. If I were to describe this book in one word, it would be “delightful”. Hockney is the eternal optimist. When he turned 80, he moved to Normandy and spent a lot of time “watching” – he watched the sun move across the sky, he watched the shadows dancing across the water. He looked “TO SEE”. AND he painted the arrival of spring. This book is based on conversations between Hockney and the art critic (and friend of decades) Martin Gayford. It is full of art history, they talk about Van Gogh, Monet, Bruegel, and others.

Hockney’s enthusiasm and his sense of wonder is infectious. This uplifting book is one that will put a smile on your face. In fact, this reading was with an “art” bookclub – and I have to admit, it was my third time reading it, and I’m going to keep it to revisit at a later date. You don’t have to like Hockney’s art to fall in love with him!

Oh, when I asked the members of the book club to rate the book 1-10, several members wanted to give it an 11 or even a 12.

A GENEROUS VISION: THE CREATIVE LIFE OF ELAINE DEKOONING BY CATHY CURTIS

Finally, a good biography about Elaine DeKooning!!! This book goes into her life, exploring her abstract expressionist paintings and her work as an respected art critic and writer.

Most consider her best work as an artist are her figurative paintings, including the “faceless man” series. AND she painted the official 1963 portrait of JFK, that was unveiled in 1965.

She was also the first visiting art professor at the University of Georgia in 1976 – 1978 (my alma-mater). She kept a studio on the campus beginning her famous “Bachus” series while there. She even went to Cortona, Italy in the summer of 1977 as part of the UGA Study Abroad Program.

In keeping with the “DeKooning” theme, watch the documentary THE THIEF COLLECTOR. Directed by Allison Otto, it tells the story of WOMEN-OCHRE by Willem DeKooning, which vanished from the University of Arizona Museum of Art in Tucson in 1985. Value at $160 million (today) it was discovered in 2017 in the home of Jerry and Rita Alter, a deceased married couple. It’s a crazy story, with interviews of the Alters’ family. Here is a short trailer from the film, which is available free on KANOPY.

If you aren’t familiar with KANOPY, it is available to most people using your library card!!!!!!

Do you have anything to recommend? I’m always looking for a good book and I often take breaks in my studio by watching free documentaries on KANOPY.

28 DAYS OF COLLAGE: WHAT DID I LEARN?

On July 24, 2023 I embarked on a QUEST to do a collage a day for 28 straight days. I started out knowing each collage would be based by an individual song, as is all my art. After all, depending on who you listen to, there are estimated to be between 82 and 200+ million songs on the planet at any given time. That’s a bigger number than there are rivers and mountains in the world (in case you are wondering, rivers and mountains on the planet adding up to about 1.3 million). Can you think of a better way to find inspiration?

What did I learn? I learned how to maintain consistency, to choose quality over quantity, and to express myself without using words. It wasn’t just about cutting and pasting paper, it was a lesson in planning, and finding inspiration within a song that told a story.

I’ll Fly Away, collage 5×7

WEEKS 1 and 2: In the first two weeks I began with a list of songs I put together that told a story. Each morning I picked a song then took a walk after reading the lyrics of the song. I thought about how to translate the lyrics and the back story of the song into visual cues. I learned to embrace quirkiness and I suddenly realized I was having FUN! It ruled my creativity and I found new ways of using images. BUT – after 14 days I realized I needed more structure.

Rainy Days and Mondays 5×7 collage

WEEK 3: I was on the verge of hitting the proverbial creative block. I needed more structure in choosing the songs I was using. So – what should I do? I decided to use the days of the weeks as the springboard for choosing a different song each day.

Beethoven’s 9th

WEEK 4: I chose songs that were about a specific color. BUT – I ended the entire quest with what I feel is the most magnificent piece of music ever written – Beethoven’s 9th. My research expanded to studying synesthesia – which is the fancy name for when you experience one of your senses through another. Some examples include tasting words or linking colors to music. My research had begun to expand. I was becoming more resourceful – viewing every day images differently than before. There was a feeling of playfulness, spontaneity and curiosity that was not as apparent to me before.

What other things did I learn or do?

I bought better scissors
I began using an exacto knife for more intricate cutting
I totally reorganized my studio
I gave away a lot of old collage material – they no longer served my needs

Here are a few more images from the month of collage.

I have decided to repeat this exercise once a quarter for one week instead of four. The next week will be the week of September 23 – the first day of fall! Want to join me? Do you have any requests for a song, preferable about fall or the colors of fall? Let me know!

THE TRAGIC STORY BEHIND THE SONG “COME DANCING”

I have been asked why I used a woman in the artwork I created inspired by the song “COME DANCING”. Well, there is a reason.

The seemingly happy catchy song was written by Ray Davies in 1982 and recorded in 1983. His sister’s visit to England (she had emigrated to Canada) happened to coincide with Ray Davie’s 13 birthday. He had begged his parents for a Spanish guitar, to no avail. Rene stepped in and got it for him (his first guitar!).

Then she did what she always did when she was in town – she called her friends to go dancing that night. So – off she went to the Lyceum ballroom. But, she suffered a fatal heart attack, as a result of a childhood bout of rheumatic fever.

“Rene had died dancing in a ballroom in London in the arms of a stranger….Coming back from Canada, where she’d emigrated, to die. Really, and again, being a source of inspiration…She gave me my first guitar, which was quite a great parting gift.” Ray Davies

Finding stories like this are one of the reasons I love working on this series “CAN YOU SEE WHAT I HEAR?”. I also learn to play each song on the piano.

I usually do a collage using research materials I collected for the painting. Look closely at this collage. You can see where I hand wrote the beats for the tricky timing in the opening!

You can read more about the series and my quest for the series “CAN YOU SEE WHAT I HEAR?” series HERE. Each piece I create is inspired by a song that I also learn to play. Why? to bring awareness to dementia, because music is the last memory, the one thing you will keep.

They put a parking lot on a piece of land
When the supermarket used to stand.
Before that they put up a bowling alley
On the site that used to be the local palais.
That’s where the big bands used to come and play.
My sister went there on a Saturday.Come dancing,
All her boyfriends used to come and call.
Why not come dancing, it’s only natural?

Another Saturday, another date.
She would be ready but she’s always make him wait.
In the hallway, in anticipation,
He didn’t know the night would end up in frustration.
He’d end up blowing all his wages for the week
All for a cuddle and a peck on the cheek.

Come dancing,
That’s how they did it when I was just a kid,
And when they said come dancing,
My sister always did.

My sister should have come in at midnight,
And my mum would always sit up and wait.
It always ended up in a big row
When my sister used to get home late.

Out of my window I can see them in the moonlight,
Two silhouettes saying goodnight by the garden gate.

The day they knocked down the palais
My sister stood and cried.
The day they knocked down the palais
Part of my childhood died, just died.

Now I’m grown up and playing in a band,
And there’s a car park where the palais used to stand.
My sister’s married and she lives on an estate.
Her daughters go out, now it’s her turn to wait.
She knows they get away with things she never could,
But if I asked her I wonder if she would,

Come dancing,
Come on sister, have yourself a ball.
Don’t be afraid to come dancing,
It’s only natural.

Come dancing,
Just like the palais on a Saturday.
And all her friends will come dancing
Where the big bands used to play.

If you have a favorite song you’d like to see represented, I’d love to know.

B IS FOR BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER

This is a continuation of my quest to create a piece of art inspired by a song beginning with every letter of the alphabet. You can read about it HERE.

I always do a “deep dive” into the song, learning as much as I can about the story behind it, even learning to play it on the piano – and this is a great song to play because it is written in the gospel tradition.

Written in 1970 by Paul Simon and it is one of the Simon and Garfunkel’s biggest hits, even becoming their signature song. It won five Grammy’s in 1971, including Song of the Year and Record of the Year. Simon insisted Garfunkel sing this song (a decision he later came to regret).

BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER, 20×20 Mixed media ©2020VickieMartin

What was the inspiration for the song? When Simon heard the southern gospel group Swan Silvertones 1959 song “Oh Mary Don’t You Weep”. The line “I’ll be your bridge over deep water / if you trust in My name” jumped out at him. In a rare interview with Dick Cavet in 1970, he said “I think that must have subconsciously influenced me, and I started to go to gospel (chord) changes”

The line “like a bridge over troubled water” is a metaphor for someone living through a tough time, and “I will lay me down” refers to the sacrifices made to find a way through them.

Bridge Over Troubled Water, ©2008 ink, charcoal, crayon on paper, 15×18

In the third verse, the line “Sail on silver girl / Sail on by / Your time has come to shine” shifts the rhythm and the mood changes. Simon later revealed it was a reference to his then-wife. But many interpret it being focused on someone who needs help during a difficult time.

It is important to remember the times in which it was written. In 1969 America was in turmoil. Viet Nam, Nixon, and the country was still dealing with the loss of Martin Luther King Jr. and Bobby Kennedy. This was a song that was needed for the times. In fact, It continued to be an uplifting anthem in bad times. In 2005, Simon and Garfunkel reunited to sing it to help raise money for those affected by Katrina.

In the past 50+ years, everyone from Willie Nelson, Elvis Presley, The Jackson Five, Peggy Lee, Johnny Cash and more, with Aretha Franklin winning a Grammy for her cover in 1972.

Bridge Over Troubled Water, 6×6 collage on 10×10 board @2020 Vickie Martin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-XCmb6t6Zw

When you’re weary, feeling small,
When tears are in your eyes
I will dry them all
I’m on your side
Oh when times get rough
And friends just can’t be found

Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down

When you’re down and out
When you’re on the street
When evening falls so hard
I will comfort you
I’ll take your part
Oh when darkness comes
And pain is all around

Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down

Sail on, silver girl
Sail on by
Your time has come to shine
All your dreams are on their way
See how they shine
Oh if you need a friend
I’m sailing right behind

Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind

Check out the story behind AIN’T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH here.

A IS FOR AIN’T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH

For the last several years I have been creating art that is inspired by a particular song. Why? To bring awareness to dementia, because you NEVER EVER lose you musical memory. This was inspired by my mother’s dementia and noticing the effect music had on dementia patients. The reason this is happens (without getting all scientific) is because the place where music is stored in our brains is the last place affected by dementia. Music is often referred to as “THE LAST MEMORY”.

Several months ago I declared a quest to create work that is inspired by a song beginning with every letter of the alphabet, documenting the journey as I go. (You can read it HERE. )

The first song for my quest is AIN’T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH. To get inspiration for the painting not only do I listen to several versions of the song and learn to play it on the piano, I also research the story behind the song.

I always “assumed” this song was about finding a great love. Did you? If you did, we were both WRONG!

The song was written by Nicolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson in 1966 hoping it would be their ticket to join Mo-Town.

In 1962, Nick Ashford moved to New York City after graduating high school to become a dancer. When this didn’t work out, he ended up homeless. Meanwhile, while still in high school, Valerie Simpson was singing in a choir in Harlem. One day Nick showed up there, basically looking for a hot meal. And, you know what happened next – right? Valerie persuaded him to join their group. They eventually began collaborating, and in Valerie’s own words, “Nick was the perfect mouthpiece for my melodies, and my piano inspired his lyrics. It was an easy relationship.”

Nick had already written the lyrics for this song. He said the words came to him while walking the city, worried about whether he could stay in NYC. He noticed the buildings along the park looked like mountains, and these lyrics came to him:

“Ain’t no mountain high enough/Ain’t no valley low enough/Ain’t no river wide enough/to keep me from getting to you.” So, the “you” was not a love interest, it was SUCCESS.

As you can see, I put texture on each piece and while listening to several versions of the song, I handwrite the lyrics directly on the canvas. This is my way of really meditating on the piece.

The next thing I do is to get the piano music and start playing.

To create the mountains, used canvas I reclaimed from old paintings, which gave it the kind of texture usually found in nature.

To add more texture, I played around a little with fire (I guess I was in that kind of mood that particular day).

I love to experiment and try new things, but I always keep the spirit of the song in the forefront. While I cover up the lyrics, I always have them, along with the sheet music, close by.

Here is the resulting image. If you look closely, you can see the images of city buildings in the mist on the right.

Here are more interesting facts about the song:

Dusty Springfield wanted to record it, but Ashford and Simpson felt it was their ticket to Motown (it was, it was recorded on the Tamla label, which was a division of Mo-Town).
Marvin Gaye and Tammy Terrell recorded it in 1967 becoming a Top 20 hit on the Billboard charts (#2 on the R&B Charts).
The Supremes recorded it as a duet with The Temptations.
Ashford and Simpson produced Diana Ross’s first solo album, of which this song was the 2nd song released from.
All of the music and background vocals were recorded before Diana recorded her part. She was able to hear it while recording it.

ONE FACT ABOUT DEMENTIA: Dementia is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States for older people. Some estimates rank as high as third in older people, behind only heart disease and cancer. AND THERE IS NO CURE.

What’s up next in my quest? Since I’ll be traveling to a song that begins with a “B”, I’m going to a BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER.

MY WILD, PRODUCTIVE AND CREATIVE WEEK WITHOUT SOCIAL MEDIA

Our internet kept getting slower and slower, and then POOF – it was gone! We were told it would be repaired in five days – FIVE DAYS!!! My first thought was I have so much to do in the next few days. Then I reframed it and decided to see what I COULD do with no distractions. It was such an amazing experience that I pushed on through and did it for a total week.

First, let me say – I rarely use my phone for social media. I was determined to keep this practice in place.

The time had come for me to do without social media at a moments notice. I discovered I felt more present and productive than I have in – well, I don’t know how long!

What did I accomplish?

I hand wrote an outline for three upcoming blogs (of course, this is the first one) and I outlined an upcoming newsletter. (My handwriting stinks!)
I organized my music. If you aren’t familiar with my work, I am currently working on a series called DO YOU SEE WHAT I HEAR? Every piece of art I create is based on a song that I also learn to play. I had pieces of music all over the place. I began putting them into one binder – and then I sat down and played.
I walked 46 miles. I am a walker, but usually walking around 30 miles a week. Before you start thinking I was just wandering around, know I am a big believer in the connection between walking and creativity. I actually wrote a blog about this that you can see here.
I FINISHED 18 PAINTINGS!!!!! AND – on the eighth day, I finished 4 more!
I had been playing around with making my series into a quest. I decided to go for it – I’m going to create a piece of art for a song that begins with every letter of the alphabet. But, I’m going one step further in this quest, I vow to write a blog about each and every song individually. This gives me the opportunity to explain the symbolism I use in the pieces and also share some amazing stories about the song itself. And, I’m going to learn to record playing them as I go.

I would call this a pretty productive week, wouldn’t you?

When the internet was restored, I looked up some statistics and it is staggering how it is taking over our lives.

In the US, 79% people check Facebook within 15 minutes of waking up, and most check it 14 times a day. In 2020, the US spent 1300 hours on social media.

I know social media helps us stay connected – which is rewarding. But there are drawbacks. It is so easy to get addicted to other people’s agendas.

While using it in moderation doesn’t cause significant issues. But, addiction does happen. In fact, I found a piece of research that for many checking social media is harder to resist than cigarettes and alcohol. What causes this?

It’s so easy to access.
It provides instant gratification.
The Fear of Missing Out (FOMO).
There is a tendency for some to compare themselves to others.
Studies are showing the more frequently you visit social media networking sites, the more socially isolated you may feel.

Having balance in our lives is critical, and the time spent on social media should become part of that balance. Use social media time carefully. Realize what you are seeing is curated and edited many times – it is often not the real world. AND, NEVER compare yourself to others.

I will continue to use social media, but I decided I want to continue living my wild and wonderful life on my own terms. Not on the terms of the ” pretend world” that social media creates.

“What do you think?

Take a minute to follow my blog. That way you can see my quest develop over the remainder of the year. Also, it gives you a chance to follow another quest of mine – reading a book by an author from each state. Up next? Iowa and Bill Bryson.

Taking a last look at my paintings before having them photographed

WHEN BEETHOVEN SHOWED UP IN MY ART

If I were going to a deserted island, I would definitely take Beethoven with me. (You can read my blog HOW A WALK AND A PODCAST MADE ME GET SERIOUS ABOUT MY ART here.) During the past year I spent time learning to play both Fur Elise and Moonlight Sonata, so it makes sense these pieces would find their way into my artwork!

Moonlight Sonata, ©vickiemartin2020, mixed media on canvas 30×30

The inspiration for MOONLIGHT FOR ELISE is from both The Moonlight Sonata and Fur Elise. While Fur Elise is not the hardest piece of music piece of music to play, it is hard to play it well. I listened to the pianist Lang-Lang discuss Fur Elise and simply said it should be played “as light as a feather”, a statement that I think of every time I sit down to play it.

Interesting, Fur Elise was not published until 1867, forty years after Beethoven’s death in 1827!! It was written in 1810 and apparently shoved into a drawer (without the nickname Fur Elise on it!). He revised it in 1827 and put it back in the drawer where it stayed until 1867, discovered by a musicologist. No one knows who is was written for, Beethoven was NOT lucky in love! There have been so many variations of this piece of music, if you look on YOUTUBE, you can find a blues version, a ragtime version and a classical guitar version. It has been referred as a “little trifle” that became a classic.

The top painting was inspired by The Moonlight Sonata. Beethoven once complained to fellow pianist Czerny (and student) “Everybody is always talking about the C-sharp minor Sonata! (Moonlight Sonata) Surely I have written better things. There is the Sonata in F-sharp major—that is something very different.”

It is interesting to note Beethoven was already loosing his hearing when he wrote The Moonlight Sonata. The name was not given to the piece by Beethoven, but rather the1830s German music critic and romantic poet named Ludwig Reilstab was the first to describe the piece as relating to moonlight. He referred to the sonata as “a boat visiting, by moonlight, the primitive landscapes … in Switzerland”.

Below are two collages based on the songs. Note the feathers in the ones inspired by Fur Elise (inspired by Lang-Lang’s description).

Fur Elise, ©vickiemartin2021, 6×6 on a 10×10 board

Moonlight Sonata, ©vickiemartin2021, 6×6 collage on 10×10 board.

The above piece integrates my own music into the collage. The vertical pieces are inspired by – from left to right, the octave in the bass, then moving to the right, there are two sets of three vertical pieces that symbolize the broken chords that make up the theme of Moonlight Sonata.

One last interesting fact about Beethoven is there is no proof that he ever met Mozart. But, both Beethoven and Mozart studied under Haydn.

Also, Beethoven played with so much passion and was so intense, he often broke the strings of the pianos in performances. Pianos back then were no where near as resilient as they are today, the cast iron frame commonly used in pianos wasn’t developed until after Beethoven’s death.

Do you have a favorite piece of music you couldn’t live without?

Vickie Martin

Mixed Media Art