Hilma af Klint exhibition at the Guggenheim

It goes without saying that it takes a lot to get me away from my studio in Salida. As I’ve written before, I make a beeline to the studio each morning, my fingers itching to get into the Hanji.

Yet, when I had the opportunity to visit New York City last week I jumped at the chance. I was there to attend the national conference of WCA, the Women’s Caucus for Art, of which I’m a member. The Colorado chapter is dynamic, so I expected a lot of energy from like-minded women from around the country. Suffice it to say I was not disappointed. It was a whirlwind 3 days of workshops introducing new skills to share, meeting artists from other chapters, and taking time to explore the ever-pulsing city.

One of the highlights was visiting the Guggenheim Art Museum on 5th Ave. across from Central Park. A little-known artist was being shown there who fit perfectly with many of the themes we were discussing during the conference. Her name is Hilma af Klint. Even though she made her living drawing and painting landscapes, she had other passions known to only a few. While Kandinsky and Mondrian are commonly counted as the first abstract painters and Pollack as the first “action” painter who painted on the floor, Hilma af Klint pre-dated them all.

Some of the paintings I viewed at the Guggenheim are 10′ high x 8′ wide (two of my favorites shown here). They are glorious and full of life!

The architecture of the museum suited the work perfectly. The entire atrium was dedicated to the collection. As I wound my way up the spiral ramp, I was able to peer down onto af Klint’s earlier works on the lower floors and experience the progression of her career.

Now back in the studio, I have a renewed outlook on my own work. I know to trust my vision and keep going. Seeing af Klint’s work was an inspiration and an affirmation to the dedication of what it is to be an artist.