Writing about me, my art and experiences
Read Jack Fisher's interview with me about my experience working for Georgia O'Keeffe: "Inside O'Keeffe's World.".
To Leah Garchik at the San Francisco Chronicle, March 2, 2016:
Leah, the bit about Anthony Holdsworth harmonizing his murals for med center departments reminded me of an experience I had with my OB/GYN doctor decades ago.
As my first marriage ended, I was short on cash, and my doctor was happy to take my art in exchange for medical services. (I had a much different experience with my dentist!) I left the area to work for Georgia O'Keeffe in 1976, and when I returned later, I visited the doctor. He had his receptionist take me to his office, where I saw my artwork hanging on the wall.
He excitedly explained that he'd had trouble getting the decorators for his new office suite to understand what he wanted. So he showed them my art. The colors used in his private office matched the rich ochers, greens and cream of my silkscreen print. He pointed out that the exam rooms used a subdued version of the same colors. The mural in the waiting room was a simplification of the fantasy landscape in my artwork.
I can't remember if I paid him for that visit, but I like to think that the exam fee was waived in exchange for the decoration advice.
Another copy of that print got me a personal meeting in the dressing room of singer Della Reese when she was performing in Denver. I left the print for her with front-of-house staff, and she had them find me and take me backstage during intermission so she could thank me. She was delighted to have the print but also seem to be checking if I'd been spying on her, because the colors perfectly matched her home decor. A pleasant reversal of my experience with my doctor.
I have now "graduated" (retired) from my museum work after 35 years, the last 14 at Stanford University's Cantor Arts Center. I'm going back to teaching art, which I did before my museum career overshadowed my art-making and teaching.
I taught at the Ghost Ranch Education Center in New Mexico, also the home to Georgia O'Keeffe, in 1974 and 1975. Then I began working for O'Keeffe as her weekend companion. I'll be teaching my annual Ghost Ranch workshop "Lessons from Georgia O'Keeffe's Art, Life, and Landscape" June 19-25: https://www.ghostranch.org/retreat/lessons-georgia-okeeffes-art-life-landscape/
Leah, if you're still reading, I want to thank you for your column. I am truly impressed with your writing. It's sensitive yet entertaining and always engaging in the best way -- making us feel more connected to our Bay Area community. You can say volumes in so few words. Case in point is what you wrote about Carole Vernier. Thank you.
As I said before, one of my greatest aspirations is to make it into your column when I die. But I need to do a lot more before then....
With best regards,
Anna Koster
Leah, the bit about Anthony Holdsworth harmonizing his murals for med center departments reminded me of an experience I had with my OB/GYN doctor decades ago.
As my first marriage ended, I was short on cash, and my doctor was happy to take my art in exchange for medical services. (I had a much different experience with my dentist!) I left the area to work for Georgia O'Keeffe in 1976, and when I returned later, I visited the doctor. He had his receptionist take me to his office, where I saw my artwork hanging on the wall.
He excitedly explained that he'd had trouble getting the decorators for his new office suite to understand what he wanted. So he showed them my art. The colors used in his private office matched the rich ochers, greens and cream of my silkscreen print. He pointed out that the exam rooms used a subdued version of the same colors. The mural in the waiting room was a simplification of the fantasy landscape in my artwork.
I can't remember if I paid him for that visit, but I like to think that the exam fee was waived in exchange for the decoration advice.
Another copy of that print got me a personal meeting in the dressing room of singer Della Reese when she was performing in Denver. I left the print for her with front-of-house staff, and she had them find me and take me backstage during intermission so she could thank me. She was delighted to have the print but also seem to be checking if I'd been spying on her, because the colors perfectly matched her home decor. A pleasant reversal of my experience with my doctor.
I have now "graduated" (retired) from my museum work after 35 years, the last 14 at Stanford University's Cantor Arts Center. I'm going back to teaching art, which I did before my museum career overshadowed my art-making and teaching.
I taught at the Ghost Ranch Education Center in New Mexico, also the home to Georgia O'Keeffe, in 1974 and 1975. Then I began working for O'Keeffe as her weekend companion. I'll be teaching my annual Ghost Ranch workshop "Lessons from Georgia O'Keeffe's Art, Life, and Landscape" June 19-25: https://www.ghostranch.org/retreat/lessons-georgia-okeeffes-art-life-landscape/
Leah, if you're still reading, I want to thank you for your column. I am truly impressed with your writing. It's sensitive yet entertaining and always engaging in the best way -- making us feel more connected to our Bay Area community. You can say volumes in so few words. Case in point is what you wrote about Carole Vernier. Thank you.
As I said before, one of my greatest aspirations is to make it into your column when I die. But I need to do a lot more before then....
With best regards,
Anna Koster