Homage to Van Gogh

The Philadelphia Museum of Art presents Van Gogh Up Close. The exhibit is in its final weeks. If you are in the area; an exhibit not to be missed. The exhibit featured "up close" Van Gogh paintings. Paintings of blades of grass, wheat, grapes or his famous sunflowers, all in brilliant colors with movement and dimension. His use of lavender and lilac oils for tree trunks or stone walls, set against a turquoise sky with his famous horizons, perched in the top quadrant of the canvas, dotted with yellow ochre houses; offers a glimpse of his brilliance. For those interested in textile design, Van Gogh's work is abundant in perspective and spatial design. Time could be spent interpreting his style in blocking a canvas. Using adjectives to describe his work, seems trite. Next at the Philadelphia Museum...the Rembrandt Exhibit. A trip to New York this week for the preview exhibit of "Conversations with Schiaparelli and Prada" at the Metropolitain Museum of Art. Next to Coco Chanel, Elsa Schiaparelli's work, during the 1930's, was the "rage"; lush with surreal details. And following that exhibit, a trip next week-end to the James A. Michener Museum in Doylestown, PA to see the Angel exhibit - "Treasures from the Uffizi". Each of these exhibits offer inspiration in color and design; more than the mind can absorb. Vincent van Gogh died at 37 having accomplished 2,000 works in 9 years, many of those created while in the mental asylum at Saint Remy. He painted "Starry, Starry Night" in 45 minutes. He failed at every job he undertook. He was friendless, penniless and survived by the support and love of his younger brother. Some of his oil paintings were painted with transparent, thin, pale lines of paint; thought to have been painted when Vincent was painfully low on supplies, while waiting for his brother to send more paint. And yet his work has been viewed by billions who acknoweledge and appreciate his genius. Vincent, as you watch us view your art, awestruck....our endless gratitude...