Anecdotes of Modern Art XI

[elag]

Georgia O'Keeffe

The sexuality of her paintings was always an issue.

One woman who owned a big O'Keeffe flower painting was shocked to
discover someone teaching a child the facts of life from it. When she
hastily rehung it in her bedroom, a friend remarked, "Oh, I'm so glad
you moved that vagina out of the living room."

There were always other expectations.

In 1954, when she greeted art critic Emily Genauer while carrying
flowers, Miss Genauer exclaimed, "How perfect to meet you with flowers
in your hands." Still acutely sensitive about the subject, "O'Keeffe
snapped, "I hate flowers - I paint them because they're cheaper than
models and they don't move!"