Comments on: The League of Extraordinary Heretics

By: Tracie

Tracie — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:13:17 +0000

Sally Mann and Joseph Cornell inspire me and stir my soul. The intimacy and silence felt when experiencing Cornell’s work and the love of family and her connection to the south in Mann’s work thrill me.

By: Evan

Evan — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 21:16:36 +0000

Great post Rachelle. I really like the link you’ve made between break-away art and break-away faith. It resonates very strongly with me.

My journeys into faith and art have both about discovering new ways to see and understand the world. It’s no surprise then, to find they are connected and feed into each other!

By: Kel

Kel — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 20:20:16 +0000

Like you Rachelle, I resonate with some of Van Gogh’s experience. Recently I painted a piece and called it Van Gogh’s Boat (it’s on my blog). I love the way you have described these guys and linked it to post-modern spirituality. Thanks.

By: sharon richards

sharon richards — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:11:15 +0000

Thanks for posting this Rachelle. Everytime I get the opportunity to travel to Paris I go to the L’Orangerie and Musee D’Orsay – I never tire of seeing the paintings. I could spend endless hours just sitting looking at the paintings, soaking them in……………so glad and thankful that you got to go.

By: Kat

Kat — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:00:19 +0000

I don’t know enough about his life to say I’m like him, but Andrew Wyeth’s work speaks to my soul. Growing up with a mother who has post-polio, Christina’s World is a favorite. Wyeth’s window scenes and fields depict a familiar hometown tableau. I grew up with a father that simply adored him and I can see his influence in my dad’s barn paintings. Wyeth’s precision speaks volumes. Just looking at the lace curtain blowing in with the breeze is inspiring. AND I really love this post.

By: kazari

kazari — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 01:16:52 +0000

The Musee D’Orsay was an epiphany for me. When we visited Paris, I went in the morning, then back in the afternoon, then again the next morning. I was … gobsmacked.
Like you, I’d seen the posters, but now suddenly I could see what it was all about.

I’ve no idea which artists I feel kinship with. There’s an Australian poet called Gwen Harwood, who seemed to share my recurring concerns (family, suburbia and the australian bush), but she ended up very bitter and twisted. I don’t want that.

By: Bethany

Bethany — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:29:01 +0000

I love this post too. I’ll have to get back to you about my artistic soulspirations… but I know that the artists, musicians, and writers who have had the most impact on me have been the ones unafraid to be unique. The bright, uncompromised creativity flowing from path-blazers like Van Gogh can’t help but inspire. A league of extraordinary heretics, like you said (love that!).

By: blisschick

blisschick — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:21:39 +0000

I was the same exact way about Monet’s waterlilies! Oh, too pretty! Too “conventional!” HA!

Then we went to the big Monet show at the Art Institute of Chicago in the mid 90′s, I think? And yep — walked in and was just knocked over. The waterlilies especially. I loved watching him STRUGGLE to capture those. And toward the very end, you could see he was breaking through, into Modernism. Amazing.

By: Jolie

Jolie — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:11:34 +0000

You’re so smart.

Berthe Morisot. She was not only an Impressionist rebel, she was a woman. Who had a real career, and a stable family life. Apparently, it can be done.

Plus, her paintings are magical.

By: jess

jess — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:34:31 +0000

wow, love this!

my historical soulmate is Anais Nin. I too believe in breathing, creating, and nurturing healing through love. Whilst exploring the self through writing, feeling, through the body.

peace -
Jess