Father’s Art: Works of Billy Charles Duvall [12]

Detail of a photo below

By André Duvall

Beyond the 31 works of art I’ve catalogued so far in this column, there are still other paintings in Dad’s oeuvre worthy of sharing. He recently rediscovered a few more completed works, owing to searches motivated by the evolution of our Father’s Art project. He also discovered several unfinished works from many years ago that the project has inspired him to work on completing.

Father’s Art: Works of Billy Charles Duvall [11]

Billy Charles Duvall

By André Duvall

La Vision de Guillermo: The idea for the first painting (see below) came from a pamphlet purchased at a book sale at the Little Rock public library entitled “Bolivia,” from Nov. 1, 1917. The pamphlet contained many photographs, including one taken at night with the caption, “A Pack Train of Llamas in La Paz, Bolivia – Twilight.” Dad’s llamas are based on the first two shown in that photo. Lights from the buildings are shining, casting shadows.

Poetry & Portraits: Sondheim

Drawing by Susan C. Price

Sondheim
By Eric Meub

[Originally published on August 13, 2016, and republished on May 12, 2018.]

Has no one seen? Has no one yet been told
      a star is being born in me at last?
Who grouses I’m too old, that I’m a mold
      from which one character alone is cast?

River (a sonnet)

By Eric Meub

[Originally published on February 8, 2014, as “Second Saturday’s Sonnet.”]

An unexpected gust puffs flames into

the candles, blowing suns across the glow

of water. Flashes let the waves slip through

like fabric over muscles in the flow.

Heavenly

Detail from “Sunset”

Paintings by Shirley Deane/Midyett

By Vic Midyett
[c. 1952–2/11/2022]

[Published originally in the “Tuesday Voice” column on May 5, 2015.]

Shirley has completed two new paintings, both commissioned.

Father’s Art: Works of Billy Charles Duvall [10]

Detail from “Origin of
the Hattieville Bison”

By André Duvall

Almost all of my father’s art that I’ve presented so far have been oil paintings (except for one with acrylic and a couple of sketches). Oil painting is Dad’s preferred medium and comprises the majority of his work.
    Today’s presentation, in contrast, shares two pieces with three-dimensional elements, both created within the last eleven years. Both were inspired by objects he collected while taking walks along the several curves the Arkansas River makes between Little Rock and North Little Rock. From its banks he has collected rocks, driftwood, and plants such as trumpet vines. Both works featured below were also inspired by the bio-evolutionary and geological processes on Earth.

From “The Scratching Post”: Entertain me, dammit!

By Ken Marks

[Opening from the original on The Scratching Post, February 25, 2023, published here by permission of the author.]

It seems likely that entertainment and religion were once inextricably linked. Furthermore, the priest, the poet, and the chanter were likely one and the same person. Chanters would in time become what we recognize as singers. They added a musical accompaniment, at first only percussion. Then ritual dance joined in. These enhancements made the bond between entertainment and religion even stronger.
    At some point, we realized that worship must engage eyes as well as ears. The visual arts were needed to give shape and color to shrines and representations of the divine. This was yet another form of entertainment. It had the mark of all that we call entertaining: the power to command our notice, evoke emotion, and give us an inexplicable sense of enrichment.
    It was comedy that first made us think of entertainment as an independent phenomenon. There is nothing funny about religion. To laugh, someone’s dignity has to be punctured. It’s a minimum requirement. We can’t have gods tripping on banana peels, but if a proud hunter catches a spear in his ass, that might be hilarious. We noticed as well the artistic similarity between a heroic narrative and a comedic narrative. The droll story became an art form unto itself.

    Entertainment evolved further when we realized how much in love we were with ourselves. Our flaws had given birth to tragedy and comedy. Might our opposite qualities, excellence of the mind and body, also be entertaining? Yes, in fact. Watching a savant compute the cube root of 53,582,633 or recall the box score of a baseball game on a given date makes us gasp at the magic of the mind. Watching jugglers and acrobats at work or a running back breaking tackle after tackle has a similar awe-inspiring effect. We love being amazed by ourselves….

[Read the whole thing on The Scratching Post.]

Copyright © 2023 by Ken Marks Ken Marks was a contributing editor with Paul Clark & Tom Lowe when “Moristotle” became “Moristotle & Co.” A brilliant photographer, witty conversationalist, and elegant writer, Ken contributed photographs, essays, and commentaries from mid-2008 through 2012. Late in 2013, Ken birthed the blog The Scratching Post. He also posts albums of his photos on Flickr.

Mary’s Voice: Posthumously Speaking 24

Detail of “Mother Red Bird”

Mother Red Bird

By Mary Alice Condley
(1925-2007)

Editor’s Note: Here is the second of Mary Alice’s two paintings that her niece Dawn Stella Burke found the day after discovering “Morning by the Sea.” The first of the two was “Flowers in Glass.”

Father’s Art: Works of Billy Charles Duvall [9]

His Only
Self-Portrait

By André Duvall

After a long hiatus, I am excited to resume sharing more artwork of my father, Billy Charles Duvall. If you enjoy this post and his artwork, I invite you to visit any of my eight earlier Father’s Art posts on Moristotle & Co. In the first installment, on September 25, 2019, you can read some background on Dad’s hobby, and about my inspiration for this project.

Mary’s Voice: Posthumously Speaking 23

Detail of “Flowers in Glass”

Flowers in Glass

By Mary Alice Condley
(1925-2007)

Editor’s Note: The day after Mary Alice’s niece Dawn Stella Burke found “Morning by the Sea,” while searching for a 1949 photograph of her parents, Don & Flo Elowee Story, Dawn Stella found two more of Mary Alice’s paintings, the first of which we’re sharing with you today.

Mary’s Voice: Posthumously Speaking 22

Detail from “Morning by the Sea”

Morning by the Sea

By Mary Alice Condley
(1925-2007)

Editor’s Note: After Mary Alice’s niece Dawn Stella Burke found the three paintings recently shown in this column – “The Barn,” “Autumn Hues,” and “Flowers in Bronze” – she was overjoyed to find a fourth, which we are pleased to share with you today. Says Dawn Stella:

Mary’s Voice: Posthumously Speaking 21

Detail from “Flowers in Bronze”

Flowers in Bronze

By Mary Alice Condley
(1925-2007)

Editor’s Note: Today we present the second of the two of Mary Alice’s still lifes that were brought out of storage in January by her niece Dawn Stella Burke, along with “The Barn.” The other still life was “Autumn Hues.”

Mary’s Voice: Posthumously Speaking 20

Detail from “Autumn Hues”

Autumn Hues

By Mary Alice Condley
(1925-2007)

Editor’s Note: Today we present the first of the two of Mary Alice’s still lifes that were recently brought out of storage by her niece Dawn Stella Burke.
    But first a few words about Mary’s approach to painting, or her technique. My wife remembered Mary’s telling her that she always painted by copying other paintings – or pictures of other paintings, usually in books she owned or borrowed. That is, Mary did not paint from direct observation of the things represented. Mary’s daughter, Karen Abbey, whom I asked about Mary’s barn painting that we presented on January 23, told me:

Mary’s Voice: Posthumously Speaking 19

Detail from “The Barn”

The Barn

By Mary Alice Condley
(1925-2007)

Editor’s Note: I am grateful to my niece Dawn Stella Burke for bringing out of storage three recently discovered, previously unspoken paintings of my sister (Dawn’s aunt) Mary Alice Condley, of whom Dawn says, “She did so many wonderful paintings and other creative things, she was a great cook, and a lovely person.”
    We will share with you soon the two other paintings that Dawn Stella brought out of storage – still lifes of flowers.

“The Barn,” 16" x 20" (1986? – see numerals below signature)

Copyright © 2023 by Moristotle

Quilting: One of My Passionate Hobbies

By Theresa E. Dow Saffold

When I decided to take up the art of quilting, my mind turned toward decorating my quilts with landscapes. After a bit of exploratory research, I realized it was going to be trial and error.

Moristotle 80th Birthday Interview

Interviewed by Geoffrey Dean

I posed a number of probing questions to Moristotle recently. His answers give us new insights into his mind and heart, while on a lighter note, they also helped me figure out what to give him for his 80^th birthday tomorrow!

     Thanks to my sister, Jennifer, for taking the photos above.

What three (or more) words would you use to describe yourself?

Skeptical, optimistic, helpful. I’m surprised how easily those three words came, and how confident I am of them….No, those came too fast; they need qualification, elaboration.

Highways and Byways: Poinciana

By Maik Strosahl

A couple of months ago I stumbled on Vic Midyett’s December 2016 posts, “Thunder Down Under: Four little paintings for Christmas,” which featured art works his wife, Shirley Deane/Midyett, had done for Christmas gifts. I really liked her 5" x 7" painting of a Poinciana (#4), 12/29/2016, but didn’t know much about it.

Poetry & Portraits: Theseus

Drawing by Susan C. Price

Theseus
By Eric Meub

[Editor’s Note: I chose to republish this Poetry & Portrait pairing today because, 79 years ago today, my mother gave birth to me, and I noticed that the last time I republished the pairing was the day after my 78th birthday – though no god gave ME the body of an ad for underwear. Eric’s poem & Susan’s drawing first graced us as Second Saturday’s Sonnet on June 14, 2014, which happened to be the date of my late sister Flo Elowee’s 84^th birthday. I trust that her husband, Don Story, DID have such a body….]


The king gave me protection, and the god
the body of an ad for underwear,
but on the docks of Troezen in a fraud
of both I tempted every sailor there.

Susan’s Stuff: Mind, Memories & Hips

Detail from “Anxious Magpie”

By Moristotle

Hear this! “Mind, Memories & Hips,” a big art show of the work of Columnist Emeritus Susan C. Price, is underway through October 15 at The Artists’ Gallery (TAG), on Museum Row, at 5458 Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, California. From TAG's website:

Susan Price paints with acrylic and oil sticks on paper and canvas. Her abstract forms come from a figurative base that may or may not be visible, letting the audience dictate the open interpretation. Her work has been featured in juried shows at Barnsdall Park, LA Municipal Gallery, Gallery 825, Laemmle Theaters, and different venues via Women Painters West.
    Price has studied art formally since 1963, at Pitzer College, UCLA, & UCLA Extension, with an emphasis on private workshops. She is involved as a member with Los Angeles Art Association/Gallery 825, Women Painters West, and FIG Gallery.

Poetry & Portraits: Bottom

Drawing by Susan C. Price

Bottom
By Eric Meub

[Originally published on Aug. 9, 2014]

Why bother getting out of bed? It’s not
As if we’re here in season: covered pool
And lounge chairs stacked like firewood as a rule.
I say resort, you think forsaken spot.