Picasso Ex.

My husband and I along with a couple of friends went to the Picasso exhibition at the  Art Gallery of NSW 10 days ago.  I was blown away as I am not an art lover but was intrigued by his work.  It covered 7 decades  (1895-1972) and represented every period of Picasso's long career and almost every medium to which he turned his hand.  They were also the works drawn from the collection of the Musee National Picasso in Paris and Picasso's Picassos' - the works he kept in his own possession which only after his death in 1973 were give to the French State by his family in lieu of taxes.

I am not sure if he revered or hated women but he had a strong fascination with big breasts and these featured in many of his works.  I still think he was a sexual deviant who got his kicks from the seamier side of life as it was in his times.  He was married 5 times and in between had mistresses so he did have a strong sexual appetite which came across in some of his work.
 Animal imagery was a significant part of his 36-39 period and the bull and the horse appear as symbols of male vigour and virility and in many Picasso casts himself as the animal.  His many and varied abstract are even to this day are way beyond the imagination and ingenuity of many artists. He drew  his subjects from the underbelly of city life, beggars, prostitutes, the homeless in endless shades of grey and blue.  Much eroticism and violence were shown in so many of his works and sculptures too and I could feel myself being drawn down a spiralling hole.  Once we came to his colourful period things were no more clearer as he was still using cubism but at least the works were brighter, even his landscapes were laden with nude women.  The only 'normal' works for me were the portraits of his first wife Olga and his son Paul.

However, I came away needing to get out in the fresh air and take some huge breaths, it was truly inspirational and even today I would say there would not be an artist who could touch him for artworks.  I am a converted Picasso fan.

Tuesday, 13 March 2012

Why is it so easy to write things down in a diary but damned difficult to think them onto a screen - because I am not used to it.  Hell, let's have a go anyway. An hour's walk, bike to the shops, and then a swim all before lunch.  Lucky, yes I am as I am heading to 65 and fit and healthy and i believe we are the new 50's.  Certainly don't feel like I am heading to 65.  

Today was my time to take my friend to school and do some reading with year 2 kids ( Aust 7-8yr olds) who have difficulty learning to read.  My friend, Jake (my dog) and I are part of an organisation called Story Dogs and we go, as volunteers, into schools to help these students.  It has been  proved that animals, and in this case dogs, calm the child, the dog is non-judgmental, doesn't mind if things are said incorrectly or pronounced wrong, they are there to be stroked and loved.  Jake loves it, he lies down and the kids can stroke him while they read and their whole demeanour changes. Challenging yes, rewarding certainly come the end of the school year when you see the progress.  He is ready when he sees me put on my shirt, hes vest is slipped over his head and  I bring out the bag of tricks.  His favourite time is recess when there are extra bits left all around the playground, also as he is ultra friendly he loves the kids coming up to him and speaking and stroking him as he walks around.  He is a "star" now. Of course this works for nursing homes, but how reluctant so many 'institutions' are to give their clients the benefits of having the chance of just seeing an animal in their midst. I guess "dollars before dogs" -