One of my favorite things, especially at this time of year, is paging through one of my big beautiful art books. These days, with toddlers running around, and a lot of general life bustle, I have less time for it. But, while, maybe, I’m less relaxed, my fatherhood provides perspective on how to better see the world, and so better see art.
The other night I had a moment, and sat down with a big architecture book. Right away, Georgie was next to me saying, “read it to me?” So I got him on my lap to read. He’s less excited than me about federal style facades. We changed to a Norman Rockwell book with a lot of pictures. He likes those. We also paged through some NC Wyeths. He likes those too. Both Wyeth and Rockwell had some great Christmas time pictures. George likes seeing Santa in there.
At bedtime I sing to him. Lately I’ve been singing Christmas songs. He loves Jingle Bells, and We Wish You a Merry Christmas, so I start with those. Then, as he nods off, I sing Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. This year, it's just been feeling like a special song.
Frank Sinatra did it well. But, in my head, I hear Judy Garland's voice. There’s something so palpably lovely when she’s singing it. That voice. The skill, and natural beauty. The emotion. I don't know. I can’t really write it. It’s just perfect to listen to.
And isn't that something to do with art? The thing you can’t really write down or define well. But you want to company with it. What else do you do, but make that into art? And, while somewhat intangible, the really good stuff is still intrinsically accessible. It feels deeply healthy. And so, you make and share art, music… etc. because it's a humane thing to do.
I'm a ‘Great American Songbook' guy, and I like musicals. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas is originally from Meet Me in St Louis(1944). I’m not too familiar with the show. But, the basics are Judy Garland plays Esther Smith, and she sings Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas to pacify her young sister Tootie Smith who is sad because the family have to leave their home and move to New York after the holiday.
It's a check yourself in song. In the face of your worry, make the yuletide gay. But, it's not a brashy in the face of worry song, like I Got Rhythm, or I Got the Sun in the Mornin’. Big broadway feelgood stuff. The quiet of Have Yourself a Merry LIttle Christmas is a beautiful artistic choice. A perfect meditation for the season. To address your own fears and worries is inextricably connected to making the place brighter for those around you. A caring communal act for the shortest days of the year.
The other night I had a moment, and sat down with a big architecture book. Right away, Georgie was next to me saying, “read it to me?” So I got him on my lap to read. He’s less excited than me about federal style facades. We changed to a Norman Rockwell book with a lot of pictures. He likes those. We also paged through some NC Wyeths. He likes those too. Both Wyeth and Rockwell had some great Christmas time pictures. George likes seeing Santa in there.
At bedtime I sing to him. Lately I’ve been singing Christmas songs. He loves Jingle Bells, and We Wish You a Merry Christmas, so I start with those. Then, as he nods off, I sing Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. This year, it's just been feeling like a special song.
Frank Sinatra did it well. But, in my head, I hear Judy Garland's voice. There’s something so palpably lovely when she’s singing it. That voice. The skill, and natural beauty. The emotion. I don't know. I can’t really write it. It’s just perfect to listen to.
And isn't that something to do with art? The thing you can’t really write down or define well. But you want to company with it. What else do you do, but make that into art? And, while somewhat intangible, the really good stuff is still intrinsically accessible. It feels deeply healthy. And so, you make and share art, music… etc. because it's a humane thing to do.
I'm a ‘Great American Songbook' guy, and I like musicals. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas is originally from Meet Me in St Louis(1944). I’m not too familiar with the show. But, the basics are Judy Garland plays Esther Smith, and she sings Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas to pacify her young sister Tootie Smith who is sad because the family have to leave their home and move to New York after the holiday.
It's a check yourself in song. In the face of your worry, make the yuletide gay. But, it's not a brashy in the face of worry song, like I Got Rhythm, or I Got the Sun in the Mornin’. Big broadway feelgood stuff. The quiet of Have Yourself a Merry LIttle Christmas is a beautiful artistic choice. A perfect meditation for the season. To address your own fears and worries is inextricably connected to making the place brighter for those around you. A caring communal act for the shortest days of the year.
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas probably pairs well with a lot of paintings, but I’ve been thinking of George Bellows’ Pennsylvania Station Excavation. It's a winter scene. Loosely painted and tonal. It depicts a massive crater dug for construction of the old Pennsylvania Station in New York City. Bellows painted it in 1907-8. Meet Me in St. Louis is set in 1903-4. If I was little Tootie Smith on Christmas eve 1903, building a snowman in the yard, and I saw this Bellows’ picture of New York City I’d need comforting.
Pennsylvania Station Excavation is a stormy painting, cold, dark, smoky, and strong, but I like how it comes across if I look at it and listen to Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. A meditative overlay on the cold real of the world. There’s always another layer. If you clear your eyes, or maybe your head, or maybe let your heart be light you feel the painting. A scene moving through time. What was here before. What is here now. What will be here next year. The snow falls on places, the skylines change, our emotions come with us through it all, and, maybe, next year all our troubles will be out of sight.
The old Pennsylvania Station from Bellows' picture was eventually torn down. In its place they built Madison Square Garden with today’s Penn Station a series of tunnels and concourses scurrying along underneath the arena. For me, a Flyers fan, it's kind of fun to think the ugly home arena of the New York Rangers wasnt always there, and someday could be replaced with a beautiful structure. Layers of history.
When I first had kids, I was surprised by how much babies like being sung to. Maybe I could have expected it. There are few things more elemental than singing to babies. I think, cradle singing had just seemed symbolic to me before. But now, it’s among signs there are uses for arts that are just at the foundation of being human. I think, sharing cheer this time of year might be similar.
This kind of inspiration can be hard to come by in the art world. So snuggle up with a Holiday song or a movie musical. Or a painting of Santa Claus, or of a big snowy hole in industrial era New York. The honesty and truth in good stuff made by great artists will help provide an extra layer of solace conducive for communion with those you hold dear.
This kind of inspiration can be hard to come by in the art world. So snuggle up with a Holiday song or a movie musical. Or a painting of Santa Claus, or of a big snowy hole in industrial era New York. The honesty and truth in good stuff made by great artists will help provide an extra layer of solace conducive for communion with those you hold dear.