There is so much to say. To begin with, I consider my greatgrandmother, Ada Alden, to be an abiding inspiration. My creed is wonder is just a thumbnail of that great Ada wisdom.
Now there's another Alden in my life. The man for whom my artist in residency is named, J. Alden Weir. Weir was an academic American painter who traveled to France for five years of study. While there, he saw a radical show by the then-unnamed group later known far and wide as the Impressionists. He hated them. In fact, he walked out of their show within fifteen minutes.
The work was too loose. Too undisciplined. Slightly primitive.
Well, jump cut forward by about ten years. Weir returns to New England, barters for this big plot of land in Wilton, Connecticut, and begins painting outdoors in the forests and hills that make up his parcel of paradise. Voila, he discovers impressionism - American style.
Looking at this pond today, it's easy to see how such a conversion occurred.
No comments:
Post a Comment