From easel to table, the American modernist was ahead of her time, not only in her art, but in her devotion to healthy cooking and eating from her Abiquiú, NM garden
Hi Ruth, Your piece on GO'K was very well done and researched! She definitely reminds of Gerda, with the photography and the adventurous spirit. One of my memories of Gerda is coming to visit her when she was working in her front yard garden. I think Oma had the same love for her garden......Love, Denis
Thanks, dear brother! I share the same memories of our aunit and our grandma, Both were talented gardeners, with a great love, knowledge and appreciation for nature, something they would have shared with GO’K.
i really enjoyed this piece, Ruth. i've always appreciated her art from the moment i learned of her but your research has helped me feel like i know her now on another level. much appreciated. such a fascinating woman / artist. i like that she kept it all so simple, altho highly detailed. i agree with your comment below that she probably wasn't the easiest person to live with but those are the types of people who keep life interesting ; )*
Thanks so very much much for your comment, Beth! I’m so glad you enjoyed the piece. I learned quite a bit while working on it and gained a new admiration for GO’K. I think the “simplicity” of her work and life was like the calm and beauty of a pool of deep water hiding great depths of thought and feeling. I guess that’s why I never tire of revisiting tge parts of New Mexico that were so precious to her and enjoying her wonderful work.
This was such a fascinating post Ruth. It was really interesting to read about her love of food and I appreciate her detailed, precise instructions, it give such an insight into the care and thought she put into preparing her dishes.
Thanks for noticing that aspect of G.O’K, Julia. I think that care was central to her personality and probably her success, though I imagine it didn’t make her easy to live with.
What a fascinating trip, with photos and food. I have been to the museum a few years ago with my writer's group on one of our adventures. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for your comment, Sally! How very cool that your writer’s group went to the museum! I’d like to be part of a writer’s group that did such fun things!
Makes me wonder if anybody's ever thought of a Frida Kahlo cookbook? 🤔 Or an Andy Warhol cookbook that's just instructions for heating up Campbell's Soup...
Brilliant idea! Most toddlers are already channeling their Jackson Pollock, I think. The Andy Warhol cookbook would be fun! It sort of exists in that he illustrated at least one cookbook—I have 1961 edition of Amy Vanderbilt’s Complete Cookbook, with “Drawings by Andrew Warhol.” Great drawings of hanging utensils and lemon garnishes, but not a single can of Campbell’s Soup!
Yes, I’m a fan. And I share her interest in the structure and form of flowers. Eh, not just the flowers (the sexy bits of plants) but the whole structure. Evolution has been working on them for longer than it’s been messing with us ambulatory life forms, so there’s been more time for them to “improve”. (Can’t think of another word but improvement isn’t really correct - just a change that has proven to be evolutionarily useful). And it’s funny to hear brown rice and yogurt referred to as hippie food. I guess hippies liked it but to me that’s just an interesting fact, not a defining feature. Certainly the Indian subcontinent would be surprised to hear that their ubiquitous yogurt was actually “hippie” food!
Yes, plants and flowers really are an improvement on humans in certain ways. At least they don’t make war on each other (or do they? Perhaps that’s what weeds do!). And you’re also right that yogurt and rice were staples in India and elsewhere long before hippies discovered them in the ‘60s and ‘70s. But O’Keeffe predated hippies. I think she probably made her dietary choices based on concern for health and wellness and probably influenced by growing up on a dairy farm. Thanks for your comment, Crowden.
Thank you Ruth for sharing that visit to O’K country. It’s been years since I steps on those sands and it was a delight to picture Miss O’Keefe instructing Miss Wood in her kitchen. I’d have loved to be a “mouche sur le mur!” And how special to eat the food cooked in her way.
Love that “mouche sur le mur”🪰 idea. That’s just how I felt walking through her house and sampling her recipes. Her personality is still strongly stamped on the places where she lived, hiked, painted, cooked. Thanks so much for your comment, Kate!
Another great article. That you put your heart and soul into it is obvious. Great writing, great photos, great subject and great fun to read about an experience that I'll never have. Lucky you.
Great piece, Ruth! I think I first learned that O'Keefe was a good cook from Jolene. How special that you met someone that worked for and was schooled in cooking by O'Keefe. I'm not sure I could have adhered to her precise methods!
Thanks, Vicki! I believe I wouldn’t have been able to meet her expectations either, but it would have been interesting to work for her. She seemed to have definite ideas about everything.
Hi Ruth, Your piece on GO'K was very well done and researched! She definitely reminds of Gerda, with the photography and the adventurous spirit. One of my memories of Gerda is coming to visit her when she was working in her front yard garden. I think Oma had the same love for her garden......Love, Denis
Thanks, dear brother! I share the same memories of our aunit and our grandma, Both were talented gardeners, with a great love, knowledge and appreciation for nature, something they would have shared with GO’K.
This was so interesting!
Thanks, Lisa!
What a fascinating exploration of Georgia O'Keefe! I love her paintings, but I didn't know about her passion for food.
Thanks, Clarice! The food part was news to me too. I always find it fascinating to discover other sides of people whose work you admire.
That's true!
i really enjoyed this piece, Ruth. i've always appreciated her art from the moment i learned of her but your research has helped me feel like i know her now on another level. much appreciated. such a fascinating woman / artist. i like that she kept it all so simple, altho highly detailed. i agree with your comment below that she probably wasn't the easiest person to live with but those are the types of people who keep life interesting ; )*
Thanks so very much much for your comment, Beth! I’m so glad you enjoyed the piece. I learned quite a bit while working on it and gained a new admiration for GO’K. I think the “simplicity” of her work and life was like the calm and beauty of a pool of deep water hiding great depths of thought and feeling. I guess that’s why I never tire of revisiting tge parts of New Mexico that were so precious to her and enjoying her wonderful work.
I loved this article. Thank you for all the time and effort you put into researching your pieces. It is truly appreciated.
You’re so welcome, Marg! It was a labor of love as I so admire her work and find her fascinating.
Her handwritten recipe is precious! Anxiously awaiting the results of your apple cake testing.
By the way, really enjoying “Secret Recipes.” You’re such a wonderful storyteller and writer. Now I gotta get cooking (and telling!).
Thanks, Amie! Will share the results and recipe soon!
This was such a fascinating post Ruth. It was really interesting to read about her love of food and I appreciate her detailed, precise instructions, it give such an insight into the care and thought she put into preparing her dishes.
Thanks for noticing that aspect of G.O’K, Julia. I think that care was central to her personality and probably her success, though I imagine it didn’t make her easy to live with.
What a fascinating trip, with photos and food. I have been to the museum a few years ago with my writer's group on one of our adventures. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for your comment, Sally! How very cool that your writer’s group went to the museum! I’d like to be part of a writer’s group that did such fun things!
That sounds - and looks - delicious!
Makes me wonder if anybody's ever thought of a Frida Kahlo cookbook? 🤔 Or an Andy Warhol cookbook that's just instructions for heating up Campbell's Soup...
(A Jackson Pollock recipe sounds...messy)
Brilliant idea! Most toddlers are already channeling their Jackson Pollock, I think. The Andy Warhol cookbook would be fun! It sort of exists in that he illustrated at least one cookbook—I have 1961 edition of Amy Vanderbilt’s Complete Cookbook, with “Drawings by Andrew Warhol.” Great drawings of hanging utensils and lemon garnishes, but not a single can of Campbell’s Soup!
What a wonderful experience, Ruth! New Mexico is on my bucket list.
Thanks, Domenica! I think you’d love it!💕
Yes, I’m a fan. And I share her interest in the structure and form of flowers. Eh, not just the flowers (the sexy bits of plants) but the whole structure. Evolution has been working on them for longer than it’s been messing with us ambulatory life forms, so there’s been more time for them to “improve”. (Can’t think of another word but improvement isn’t really correct - just a change that has proven to be evolutionarily useful). And it’s funny to hear brown rice and yogurt referred to as hippie food. I guess hippies liked it but to me that’s just an interesting fact, not a defining feature. Certainly the Indian subcontinent would be surprised to hear that their ubiquitous yogurt was actually “hippie” food!
Yes, plants and flowers really are an improvement on humans in certain ways. At least they don’t make war on each other (or do they? Perhaps that’s what weeds do!). And you’re also right that yogurt and rice were staples in India and elsewhere long before hippies discovered them in the ‘60s and ‘70s. But O’Keeffe predated hippies. I think she probably made her dietary choices based on concern for health and wellness and probably influenced by growing up on a dairy farm. Thanks for your comment, Crowden.
Thank you Ruth for sharing that visit to O’K country. It’s been years since I steps on those sands and it was a delight to picture Miss O’Keefe instructing Miss Wood in her kitchen. I’d have loved to be a “mouche sur le mur!” And how special to eat the food cooked in her way.
Love that “mouche sur le mur”🪰 idea. That’s just how I felt walking through her house and sampling her recipes. Her personality is still strongly stamped on the places where she lived, hiked, painted, cooked. Thanks so much for your comment, Kate!
So interesting and lovely pictures!
Thanks, Susan!🤗
What a great read. Thank you so much, Ruth. How interesting and wonderful to learn more about Georgia O'Keeffe. Thank you.
Thanks, Julie! So lovely to hear from you!🤗
Great to be here!
Another great article. That you put your heart and soul into it is obvious. Great writing, great photos, great subject and great fun to read about an experience that I'll never have. Lucky you.
Thanks, Judy! I appreciate your sweet comment.❤️
Great piece, Ruth! I think I first learned that O'Keefe was a good cook from Jolene. How special that you met someone that worked for and was schooled in cooking by O'Keefe. I'm not sure I could have adhered to her precise methods!
Thanks, Vicki! I believe I wouldn’t have been able to meet her expectations either, but it would have been interesting to work for her. She seemed to have definite ideas about everything.