Georgia O’Keeffe: Making a Life
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- Опубликовано: 24 авг 2024
- This talk was recorded as part of our free 'Mornings With O'Keeffe' lecture series on the first Wednesday of every month. Visit our website to learn more about upcoming talks!
While we often think of her artistic eye in the compositions of her paintings, Georgia O’Keeffe’s aesthetic sensibilities extended far beyond her work as a painter, touching every corner of her life, from her highly recognizable wrap dresses to the organic garden she tended at her home in northern New Mexico. In this conversation, Projects Director for the Historic Properties, Agapita Judy Lopez, Curator of Fine Art, Ariel Plotek, and Curator for the Historic Properties, Giustina Renzoni, will explore O’Keeffe as a “maker” whose creative and aesthetic impetus can be found throughout the life she made for herself, discussing not only her art, but her homes, her garden, her wardrobe, and even her late-in-life interest in ceramics. This discussion will explore the themes of the exhibition, Georgia O’Keeffe: Making a Life on view at the Museum in Santa Fe through March 2024.
About the Speakers
Agapita “Pita” Lopez began working for American artist Georgia O’Keeffe in late 1974 as a companion and became her personal secretary in 1978 until her death on March 6, 1986. A third generation employee, her grandfather and mother also worked for O’Keeffe. She continued working with O’Keeffe Estate in 1986 and then for The Georgia O’Keeffe Foundation in 1989 as its secretary. Later serving as the Foundation’s Executive Director from 1999 to 2006. As the Project Director for the Abiquiú Historic Properties, she oversees the maintenance and preservation of O’Keeffe’s Abiquiú and Ghost Ranch Homes for the O’Keeffe Museum. Along with author and scholar Barbara Buhler Lynes, she co-wrote the publication, Georgia O’Keeffe and Her Houses: Abiquiú and Ghost Ranch. With her brother, Belarmino Lopez, the New Mexico Historic Preservation Division presented them with the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015.
Ariel Plotek is Curator of Fine Art at the Georgia O’Keeffe. Among his recent projects are Georgia O’Keeffe: A Life Well Lived, an installation of photographs taken in 1977 by Malcolm Varon, and an exhibition in the museum’s Contemporary Voices series that paired paintings by Josephine Halvorson (the museum’s first artist in residence) with works by Georgia O’Keeffe.
Giustina Renzoni joined the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum in 2018. As the Curator of Historic Properties, she oversees tours, programs, and exhibitions connected to Georgia O’Keeffe’s two historic homes. Previously, Giustina has held a variety of museum positions including at the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, Denver Art Museum, and the Museum of Fine Arts Boston. In addition, as a contemporary art curator, Giustina has organized exhibitions highlighting up-and-coming local artists for galleries in Boston and Colorado. She received her BA in Cultural Anthropology from Northeastern University, Boston and an MA in Art History from University of Colorado, Boulder focusing on colonial visual culture and printmaking.
I lived in NM in 1980s & regretfully never knew about Georgia’s history there. Hearing of the 20’ flooding of Ghost Ranch when I was back in Texas, I donated 4 8x10” stained glass pieces of Georgia’s paintings for the fund raiser. I was staying at a friend’s home in Taos & she pointed out that Pedernal could be seen from her front porch….& I took many photos of it on my next visits. Since then, on my way home each time, I would feel the magnetic pull to go to Pedernal by Abiquiu Lake & take more photos, plus drive by Georgia’s town home.
Thank you for all history you present on Georgia & her life. I’ve toured her home, have been to Ghost Ranch tour & climbed up to Pedernal. Love how Pedernal flat top pops up over various places as we drive the short distance to Abiquiu from north Espanola!
Thank you so much for this. I really appreciate the replay, as I am not able to stay the entire hour each month due to another commitment. I am so grateful to learn more in this very direct way
I went to Georgia O'Keeffe's home way back in the 80s. I couldn't believe that what seemed like a deserted neighborhood was in fact the right place.
The area across the street was dusty and all that was there was a gas station. The worker said she was at her other home. I took photos of everything and not one photo appeared on the film. That means I must return. :) I was a student of her friend Eliot Porter and would have relocated to work as his assistant. I will return!
Margaret Formby of Hereford Tx transferred her Cowgirl collection to the Cowgirl Hall of Fame in Ft Worth before passing away. I delivered her mail sometimes. The first thing I noticed thru her glass-front home was a cow skull with a rose in one eye socket. Thinking of Georgia, suddenly out walked Margaret in a black dress with her hair combed back, like O’Keeffe. I mentioned it felt like seeing Georgia, herself, & she knowingly laughed!!!
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What a wonderful and informative presentation thank you for sharing some of the intimate knowledge that you had about O’Keeffe’s life and especially the funny stories, or happenings during her life i.e. with the cleaners in the house❤
Where are ppl leaving questions?? Not seeing any here….but you are answering questions.
Hi Sharon, this is a recording of an event that occurred live on March 1 on Zoom and the Speakers were able to answer questions directly from attendees posted in the Q&A. However, we're happy to try and answer any questions you might have!
Is it possible to tour her Ghost Ranch home? We couldn’t see it when I was there.
Currently, the Ghost Ranch property is not open to the public. The house and site are remote and delicate. It is not yet easily accessible and lacks amenities for visitors. There are also legal restrictions that limit our ability to provide greater access. The Museum hopes to increase access to the home in the future!
So curios if she carried a handbag?