18 October

Pilgrimage to Abiquiu: The Ghost Of Georgia O’Keefe

by Jon Katz
In Search Of Georgia O’Keefe: Her courtyard

It was curious to receive so many messages from people urging us to go to the small town (250 residents) of Abiquiu to see the last home and studio of the famed artist Georgia O’Keefe. She is why we came here, why we found a place to stay to stay nearby.  The rest is kind of a creative tour of an amazingly creative place.

We wanted and needed a vacation bu Abiquiu is a pilgrimage for us, to honor a brilliant artist who took full control of her life and attached herself to a beautiful space and drew her inspiration from it. Maria and I were slack-jawed, it.  It was more beautiful and special than we had imagined. Maria wrote about it on her blog, and I will let her speak for it. I was a bit overwhelmed.

I guess we went looking for her ghost, and we found it there, her spirit is all over every inch of that beautiful space.

I was nearly speechless by the feeling of the place, and I took a few photos of the magical courtyards and rooms of her home, where she lived and worked until she was well into her 90’s. It is a creative temple, she was a powerful presence, and every bit of the house reflects that.

I love O’Keefe’s work and understand it better now. I also admire her determination, courage and strength, she found her place, stayed there and worked hard every day of her long life to create. When her eyes failed, she painted more abstractly or took up clay pottery.

We will go back in a few days to visit some of the places she painted. Tomorrow visit Taos and some museums there.

For those asking, our schedule is quite uncertain. I am not blogging or checking e-mail during the day, I will past at night. Not relaxing  yet, but getting close. Much love and compassion to you.

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