By DARLA MCCAMMON
Lakeland Art Association

“Black Iris” by Georgia O’keeffe.

WARSAW — We’ve covered daffodils, tulips and lilacs but nothing like the late spring blooming “Black Iris” created by one of America’s most famous women artists, Georgia O’Keeffe. Created in 1926, this over-large oil on canvas painting measures 36 by 30 inches in dimension. This is considered one of her monumental masterpieces. She painted this work as if we are tiny ants climbing around on the large flower, thus she has enlarged the flower to dramatic proportions so we can see more of the close up detail associated with the Iris. This particular painting is in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. O’Keeffe favored the iris for many of her works and at the time she was painting these she still lived and worked in New York. She later moving to Santa Fe New Mexico, a place she came to cherish.

Some biographers claim she concentrated on this particular flower because it was often used to represent Mary’s suffering in the Catholic schools in which she was raised. O’Keeffe herself however was quoted as saying, “Nobody sees a flower, really, it is so small. We haven’t time–and to see takes time like to have a friend takes time…they will be surprised into taking time to look…even busy New Yorkers.” 

Born in Sun Prairie Wisconsin in 1887, O’Keeffe, one of seven children decided at age ten she wanted to become an artist. A local watercolorist gave her early instruction but she eventually studied at the Art Institute of Chicago followed by studies at the Art Students League in New York City. She had an up and down career and education but eventually met Alfred Stieglitz who had a great impact on her life and painting sales. He was 23 years old than her and married but they had a relationship that led eventually to marriage. 

Her life was a whirlwind, and much turmoil surrounded her. The internet and your local library can offer you much more of interest about this amazing and unusual woman. She ultimately moved to New Mexico and lived alone but had many friends visiting often. Her life seemed to settle into a more stable time during those years and she produced some extremely effective and interesting art during those latter years. Try to get to The Met sometime if you are on the East Coast and search out a chance to see her “Black Iris.”

Upcoming and Current Events:

• New exhibit of more Senior Art Student work from Grace College at Warsaw City Hall, from 8 a.m. through 4 p.m. daily. A new group of work by students studying under Kim Reiff is now on exhibit with free admission. Reiff, quite an expert artist herself, has instilled much knowledge in these students.
• LAA spring art show competition is coming up. Call the gallery to pick up entry forms and obtain dates for entering your work.
• Last days for “Hoosier Beauty, Photographs of Indiana,” a stunning exhibit of photographers Emily Deneve, Howard Shoemaker, and Arturo Yanez. The exhibit features work from tip to toe of Indiana. Open through April 30 at 302 E. Winona Avenue, Warsaw, from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.
• The fourth Monday of each month, visit the new LAA Gallery in the evening for special programs. Call (574) 269-1101 for dates, subject of the program, and times along with contest entry info.
• The Honeywell Clark Gallery is accepting entries from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, June 7, for a themed art competition. The theme is Indiana Bicentennial.
• Don’t forget to pick up the May free issue of Glo magazine to view the cover created by the author, Darla McCammon. Inside this issue is a bit about Darla as well.
• Contact your author/artist Darla McCammon through email at [email protected], or through the website.