More on Gauguin

Holland Cotter reviewed the ''Gauguin Tahiti'' exhibit in the New York
Times on Friday, March 5, 2004. His article, "Gauguin's Paradise: Only Part Tahitian And All a Fantasy" continues the schizophrenic look at Gauguin's life and art. "Dreadful man" and potent visual artist. To understand Gauguin the bully and opportunist, he suggests reading Nancy Mowll Mathews's ''Paul Gauguin: An Erotic Life,'' published by Yale University in 2001.

Although Gauguin painted an illusion of a Tahiti that did not exist, Cotter praises his use of color, rhythm, originality, and his ability to portray deep mysteries. The show is a must see. Cotter's descriptions are lush.

Cotter also disects Gauguin as a questing hero. To understand questing heroes, he calls upon the historian Alison Goddard Elliott who wrote ''Roads to Paradise: Reading the Lives of the Early Saints''. Purity of heart is the one pure thing they quest, according to Elliot. Cotter concludes, "Gauguin's desire was greedy and promiscuous. He wanted Eden plus everything else, including love, fame and art. Impossible."

Response from Elizabeth Childs

Wednesday, March 10, 2004 12:45 PM
To : chrisyocca@hotmail.com

Hi! Just read your blog!
Wanted to respond to your characterization of my comments on The
Connection. What I objected to in that caller's remarks was the
judgement that he "left his wife and family" and was so immoral and was
"just off to have a good time," in the caller's words. What I was
suggesting was that his leaving Europe shouldn't be seen through 21st
century lenses of what constitutes family, and that the pattern of an
adult leaving the family and children to go off and pursue a
career/calling was common in his class (lower middle class) in France,
and even in his family (look at his own mother and grandmother), and he
shouldn't be so judged for that. I was trying to suggest we see his
biography in more historical than mythic terms. I don't think I ever
said "just look at the work." I also agree we wouldn't have the work,
had he not lived his life that way. I was trying to say, let's also look
at that notorious and legendary life more from a 19th century
perspective.
Anyway, thanks for the blog!
Liz Childs

Heart of Italy: Fiber Workshop and Mountain and Sea Tour

Study shibori dyeing methods in the medieval Apenine village of Santo Stephano. Visit with local artisans, including weavers working on ancient looms. Tour the mountains, L'Aquilla, and Rocca Calascio. Travel to the Adriatic and the Vasto Artist and Writer's Retreat. Tour the gorgeous Tremiti Isles. Our tour guide, Luigi Monteferrante, is a Canadian author of At the Hearth of the Devil's Lair. He visited the home of his ancestral roots and decided to stay.

The dates are July 26 - August 5, 2004.

Contact me via email (chrisyocca@hotmail.com) for more information.