George Rodrigue’s Blue Dog Hog premiered in 1994 in a New York City gallery called The Time is Always Now. This unique three-dimensional artwork dazzled at the center of the warehouse-type space, with George’s paintings, some as large as fifteen feet across, surrounding the bike. -click photos throughout to enlarge- The exhibition coincided with theContinue reading “Blue Dog Hog”
Category Archives: New York
Absolut Blue Dog
It’s twenty-five years since George Rodrigue last drank alcohol,* and yet he was part of one of the most successful stories in advertising history, promoting a vodka. “Even when I did drink,” laughs the artist, “it was always bourbon or wine. I never liked vodka.” (pictured, Absolut Rodrigue, 1993, one of three paintings created byContinue reading “Absolut Blue Dog”
Blue Dog, The Book
“To find her you must lose her. The Blue Dog knows the way.” –Blue Dog, 1994 In March of 1992 journalist Bridget O’Brian interviewed George Rodrigue for an article, front page, center column, in The Wall Street Journal. Although George had no control over the content, O’Brian allowed him one special request. Without hesitating, heContinue reading “Blue Dog, The Book”
Success
This week I read Just Kids, poet/rocker Patti Smith’s personal account of life with her closest friend, artist/photographer Robert Mapplethorpe. I had planned an essay on Louisiana’s Legends, a series of portraits completed by George Rodrigue for Public Broadcasting between 1990 and 1993, but after finishing Smith’s memoir late Thursday night, I suffered Friday aContinue reading “Success”
A Star-spangled Blue Dog (from Houston)
Happy 4th of July! It’s an odd one, this middle of the week celebration, but perhaps that awkward timing renews enthusiasm, as folks have big plans, including barbeques and neighborhood parties despite the hottest summer on record. We spied decorations in unexpected places, and for the first time ever received gifts and cards as weContinue reading “A Star-spangled Blue Dog (from Houston)”
The Human in the Painting
“She was like a woman of Leonardo da Vinci’s, whom we love not so much for herself as for the things that she will not tell us.” –Cecil Vyse, A Room with a View by E.M. Forster, 1908 Certain paintings, particularly a certain era of paintings, transport us, if we let them, to another ageContinue reading “The Human in the Painting”
Moonstruck, Madame Butterfly and the Mudlark
“Bring me the big knife; I’m gonna cut my throat!”* Several nights ago, as we walked in a chilly, blowing drizzle across the street from the Metropolitan Opera, I stopped, even as the crosswalk sign suggested we proceed. “What are you doing?” asked George Rodrigue, as I explained that I saw Cher in my head,Continue reading “Moonstruck, Madame Butterfly and the Mudlark”
Our Anniversary
Fifteen years ago today, George Rodrigue and I married beneath a Louisiana live oak, the same Evangeline-style tree he’s painted for years, in Rip Van Winkle Gardens at Jefferson Island, Louisiana. It was a stormy day, and yet the sun emerged just long enough, as we exchanged our vows. “It seems like yesterday,” said George’sContinue reading “Our Anniversary”
Chef Paul Prudhomme
If George Rodrigue has a chef’s counterpart, it’s Paul Prudhomme. They grew up in the relatively close Cajun towns of New Iberia and Opelousas, Louisiana. As young boys both pursued their passions as career goals, determined to hone their talents and define their lives with innovative, bold and personal contributions to the art of paintingContinue reading “Chef Paul Prudhomme”
Art Abounds
“Cracklins are the purest form of pork; minimalist pork, if you will.” –Doug MacCash* Art abounds at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and on the streets of New York City. If we pay attention, art abounds in life. “Look around this room,” I hear George Rodrigue tell students during school visits. “Everything youContinue reading “Art Abounds”
Green Dog
I asked George Rodrigue earlier this week, “Any thoughts on the color green?” “Trees,” he said. A bit disappointed in my creative artist, I followed up……. “Okay, how about thoughts on the Irish?” “Emer,” he said, referencing our Irish friend from New York. Turns out that George does not remember hearing of St. Patrick’s DayContinue reading “Green Dog”
New York Art in West Texas
I could spend the rest of my life traveling and writing about the West. That’s what I thought to myself as I sat with George Rodrigue in a café in Marfa, Texas and watched the barbershop across the street. The barber, visible past a single strand of colored lights and his barber’s pole, shaved hisContinue reading “New York Art in West Texas”
A Passionless Style?
We took a short trip to New York this week as we met with publishers and celebrated the launch of Deb Shriver’s elegant tribute to New Orleans, Stealing Magnolias. With only a few hours to explore the city, I found myself once again with my museum pal Emer*, this time at the Morgan Library. FarContinue reading “A Passionless Style?”
God Bless America: A Silkscreen Following 9/11/01
Like most of you, what I remember vividly about September 11th 2001, is a never-ending televised replay of airplanes flying into the World Trade Center. I have another memory though, just as vivid, of my nephew William Parker, only a few months old, lying on the floor and laughing up at his mom and meContinue reading “God Bless America: A Silkscreen Following 9/11/01”
Lilacs: A Memory
The scent of spring flowers suspends reality … but only for a short while. I stumbled on a rare treat at the farm stand yesterday – lilacs. For a southern gal they’re a tease, everything I want in a flower in their sweet strong scent, soft purple color, and bouffant blossoms, yet they don’t growContinue reading “Lilacs: A Memory”
Miniatures: Manuscripts, Landscapes, Blue Dogs and Blogs
Jean de France, duc de Berry commissioned the Belles Heures, an elaborate calendar and religious volume, in 1405. Created by the German Limbourg brothers, Herman, Paul, and Jean over five years in Paris, the illuminated manuscript is a mere 9×6 inches, with many paintings no bigger than a postage stamp. My friend Emer and IContinue reading “Miniatures: Manuscripts, Landscapes, Blue Dogs and Blogs”
Chef Paul Prudhomme
If George Rodrigue has a chef’s counterpart, it’s Paul Prudhomme. They grew up in the relatively close Cajun towns of New Iberia and Opelousas, Louisiana. As young boys both pursued their passions as career goals, determined to hone their talents and define their lives with innovative, bold and personal contributions to the art of paintingContinue reading “Chef Paul Prudhomme”
Rodrigue on Monet
In 1993 George Rodrigue and I went to Paris. We recently were dating, and I was relishing this artist-at-my-fingertips. Today I tend to take that access for granted, and I have to remind myself that not everyone has this sort of expertise along while visiting a museum or watching Frida or just sitting at homeContinue reading “Rodrigue on Monet”
Two Publishing Stories: The Cajuns and Blue Dog
The Cajuns of George Rodrigue By 1975 George Rodrigue was painting forty canvases a year, all scenes of Cajun folk-life stemming from his first painting with people, Aioli Dinner (1971), and incorporating the distinctive oak trees from his landscapes as well. Although he had a gallery in Lafayette, Louisiana, he was selling most of hisContinue reading “Two Publishing Stories: The Cajuns and Blue Dog”