At Mabel’s house

Le Repos is very flowing and reflective. I could not figure out why something distrubed me at first. After a few minutes, it was the chair leg hanging down from the young ladies thigh. It was ‘distracting.’ Other than that, I felt the relaxation of the human form and perhaps the “nothingess” she was experiencing. The chair and body flows very well. There is a “oneness” which is gratifying. This painting talks to me. Nice painting other than the little distraction that I might have made less significant.

I’ve especially enjoyed these last two posts as I’ve lived partway between Santa Fe and Taos for many years and am always glad when a visitor reminds me how special this area is. Is it possible to see the familiar with new eyes or is it necessary to actually go to a new place to have that experience?

I recently watched the movie of Georgia O’Keeffe’s life and Mabel played an important part in her survival as an Artist in a man’s world. I think it was the flamboyant personality of Mabel that balanced that introverted Georgia. In the movie we see Georgia spending long periods of silence while painting the Taos landscape and while I watched I wished to see myself there deep in the silence of the moment. I think a silent art retreat would be a way for the artists to get out of their egos, spend time with something greater than his or herself and create.

“For the first time in my life I discovered I could trust someone always and that I could be trustworthy to someone always.” This is freedom to me.

I believe you are right about the couch leg, it is at a weird angle, I think for the perspective to be correct it should come down at different angle. That is likely why it distracts.

While you are in Taos visit the Taos Museum of Art and the Nicoli Fechin Hosue if you already have not. A film you may enjoy is Local Color filmed in Louisiana but it is supposed to take place in New York and PA. It is semi autobiographical story of the painter, film maker George Gallo. I think you will enjoy seeing both.

I love Mabel’s house and Taos! Thanks for sharing it. I also love Natalie Goldberg’s (never met her) work. Lucky you! I think a 30 minute meditation daily before each painting session would be the best of all worlds. Thought you’d appreciate the feedback. I’ve attended the ISS Taos watercolor seminars for the last two years so I know you are enjoying Taos.

While reading your last letter the expression that comes to my mind is “You are part of everyone you meet.” I don’t know about everyone, but certainly many. Is is similar to painting. After taking workshops and classes I decided that if I wanted to benefit from the instruction I should do everything they told me to do while I was in the class. Later I could use or not use what I liked. The more artists or works of art you come in contact with the more you have to choose from. Then comes the quiet time when you sit down with your information and apply it to your painting.

I found this interesting because while Mable was building in New Mexico, Mathilda Dodge Wilson 10 years later built the Wilson Theater in Detroit. It ended up being the home for the Detroit Symphony and later after the Symphony build its own venue, housed the touring dance companies. The Dodge Family did a lot of good – full of eccentricity, but good. The Dodge Mansion at Meadowbrook Center is set on incredibly beautiful grounds and is the summer home of the Detroit Symphony in the pavilion. Don’t you know that every wealthy family had to have a pavilion???

Just want to say a BIG THANK YOU for all the wonderful information you share with everyone.

You probably don’t remember me, I’ve only written you once….but hearing you’re in Taos inspires me to invite you south to beautiful Las Cruces, where pecans and chiles grow under the towering Organ Mountains. My home/studio/gallery is full of paintings lined up for a show at the NM Farm and Ranch Museum. I deliver them Tuesday, and would be happy if you feel like stopping by for a meal and some art talk before or after. I breathe art. My old adobe farmhouse is full of art and food and good karma from years past. I enjoy your blog and Love Letters, and welcome you to the secret town of the south.

Lucky you!! I love Taos! What an incredible art place!!

My husband, Jack, had the amazing privilege of visiting Georgia O’Keeffe at her house in the early ’70s. While you are in those parts, and if you haven’t already done so, do spend some time in the Loretto Hotel at Santa Fe; the lounge is a wonderful inspiration.

Doris McCarthy’s perspective of the place and its history was fascinating.

Yes, I would definitely go to Mabel’s for a painting workshop and silence. Marvelous idea I think. That is if I could afford it! Or perhaps something in New Brunswick? I could find the yoga teacher, we could figure out the meditation stuff easy enough and you could do the painting instruction!

While in Taos check the gallery Taos Blue. It’s more of a craft gallery vs. painting but still fun to visit. And Sue Westbrook, the owner, is a great lady!! Please tell her I sent you. I’ve been to Mabel’s House….you can feel the ghosts of Mabel and her famous friends all around you.

i am now back on Poipu beach for the 30th year. Two years ago, I was where you are now! So artists and art takes us many places in our lives at year 1976, at 36 I traveled to Stonehenge with my History of Art notes from U of Manitoba/Architecture School. Then flew to Greece, Italy and Germany for a “first look” at what I had learned. I now live in B.C. with cold winters to escape from and I am now still “filling myself” with experiences, in my 7th decade. I am an artist born to express my world within and without!! you too seem to know what artists must keep doing….as well as painting

I taught a number of plein- air workshops there in the eighties and always loved that place. During the filming of “Easy Rider” Dennis Hopper bought Mabel Dodge’s place. They say he almost lost everything there because of the drug scene at that point in time. As you step of the office, turn left, Hopper’s room was the last down on the left. That is where I stayed when I taught in Taos. That place sure has the history!

Yes, it’s a magical place!

Loved the note Robert especially the success and fame right place right time sentence. If you are still in this area you may want to visit CHIMAYO; there is a church there of high spiritual aura. It was a very moving experience; for me, and one that has remained. Years ago an area gallery featured Indian sculptor Allan Houser. “HAOZOUS”, his Indian name. Awesome too.

You’re with Natalie Goldberg? OH MY! Tell her I have a 1986 copy, signed “For Debbi” of Chicken & In Love! I LOVE her work! HAVE FUN! WISH I had known about this one at Mabel’s house.

When in Taos be sure to get to the E.I. Couse house, studio and foundation.

Mabel was a handful. She processed people. She was extremely jealous of everyone, men and women. Everyone came to her because of her mystique and reputation. Then they had to get away from her. Everybody made a joke out of it. There were cartoons about her in The New York Times. Tony was the only one she could stand because he said little and played solitaire while she went on. Read the biographies. She was in love with Indians — noble savages — and Tony was her ornament. She had to pay off Tony’s family to get him to come and stay at her house.

And this is why I live in Taos, New Mexico

Your writings on Mable Dodge Lujan and Mabel House up in Taos are making me nostalgic. I was fortunate to be introduced to Northern New Mexico through the eyes and tales of an elderly friend who moved to NM while Dorothy Brett was still alive and who also knew Nicolai Fechin. My friend, R. Pete Colgrove, was also a very good friend of Lawren Harris whom you probably know had a NM connection, being a member of the Gurdjieffian movement. Harris was deeply into Theosophy. Anyway, not to digress, Pete took me to Mabel House where my first night was spent in the “Starlight” room at the top that had all-around glass. It was magical! The bathroom was one where D. H. Lawrence had painted the windows. I made several pilgrimages to Mabel House over the years to paint , and have stayed in various rooms, including the O’Keeffe room. One time, I was able to purchase a pair of earrings made by one of Mabel’s granddaughters who was a jeweler/silversmith. Pete was able to point out (with stories) the Lawrence House, surrounded in the springtime by Persian lilacs; Brett’s house that became a very fine restaurant that housed a fair collection of Brett’s work; and he took me up to the Lawrence Ranch where D. H. escaped to to write. At the time his old typewriter was still on the screened porch. It is there that the huge Ponderosa pine that O’Keeffe lay under and painted from that perspective, is situated. Also, there is, as I recall, the monument to D.H. Lawrence and Freida, there, where their bodies may or may not be buried. (There was some question as to whether or not this was entirely true). Pete also introduced us to Frank Waters and Barbara, and through their eyes I learned a lot more about Taos and New Mexico in the old days. Barbara still lives in Arroyo Seco; but she is not very well.

Not only are your books worth having, but all of the valuable correspondence from the rich resource of your readers is brilliant. Thank you to all who participate.

I read your ‘Mabel’s House’ email the day before I visited Taos. I had never heard of Mabel Luhan before your letter. As soon as I got to Taos I went straight to this incredible house (almost interrupted Natalie Goldberg’s yoga class at the convention center). What a great house! I enjoy reading each of your weekly emails and would have thanked you in person if I had run in to you during my self-guided tour of Mabel’s House. Thank you for introducing me to such a wonderful place.

Last fall my cousin organized a week-long retreat at my families’ summer camp on a lake in Maine. I painted, one cousin composed music, one wrote, another person worked on editing a story, one women created a website and another friend did woodworking. The only rule was no talking after breakfast until dinner. We had a sign-up sheet for chores and cooking dinner. That way, you could plan your own time and didn’t have to feel guilty about not helping prep dinner or doing the dishes if it wasn’t your turn. This was especially liberating for the hosts . I highly recommend the no talking rule, it gives you permission to not be social and not to be considered rude. (although we weren’t so strict that you couldn’t say hi in passing) Portland and Georgetown

Mabel claimed to have empathy, but like a lot of people who claim it, she had little of it.

I slept and worked in the room where Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda edited “Easy Rider.” There were some old tokes lying around in there.

It was so nice to read your latest ‘At Mabel’s house’. I am a fan of Georgia O’Keeffe and it is on my bucket list to visit that part of our world. I love to try and connect with the icons who have influenced me so. They seem to offer the encouragement that I need even though they no longer walk among us.

The Stewart Cubely video at the top is interesting, but it also gives an idea what’s wrong with American art education. Lightweight, self-indulgent, accepting low standards in the name of self expression and no interest in technique or quality. Fun for people with time on their hands, but not much use for anything but “freeing up.”

One of the best art teachers I have experienced had a subtle gift for enforcing, oh so gently, a silent studio. She would present the day’s challenge and allow us to talk at some length about our responses. Then we would very quietly get to work, and only talk occasionally and very quietly when she visitied each of us at our easels as we tackled the day’s assignment. For some of us, nothing is more fatal to creativity than listening to others’ aimless chatter as we are trying to work out a painting challenge. I bless her for this sensitive approach to teaching. Her name is Julia Hensley of Seattle, Washington.

We are surrounded by noise at every turn today. There are few repositories where one can get silence and allow your thoughts to run free. The studio is one of these places for me. The only interruption I will allow sometime is soft music. I also bought a car without a radio, so I could have quiet when going to and from a painting session. Also whenever painting in a group, I will not hesitate to tell a chatterer to takeit outside. My class is also a place where if talk is to take place, it has to do with what we are working on and nothing else. Constant chatter is for those who are not serious about art and use art as a social function. They learn the least and have the most trouble. It’s hard to solve a problem when your mouth is constantly going. Unfortunately, this is a social problem today waht with all the devices we use and the need for constant interruption. We actually fear silence, for in that silence you might hear your heart ticking. And this reminds us we are mortal and time is running out.

Every July Lorne Loomer teaches Brush Explorations at MISSA, located just outside Victoria, BC. Canada. The studio is on the side of a hill, with large windows looking into the treetops. During the painting sessions he encourages silence. Not an enforced silence, but an friendly quietness that allows the students to focus on the dance of the brush. They are welcome to discuss their work and to socialize during the breaks. I am easily distracted so it is a pleasure for me to not have to listen to someone going on and on in the background.