I’ve been writing about American women artists since my book on Isadora Duncan was published in 1995.
Isadora Duncan, Imogen Cunningham, Martha Graham. I’ve always been fascinated by women who came of age in the early 20th century, in the midst of emerging modernism and feminism.
My encounter with Georgia O’Keeffe began casually, as part of a first visit to Santa Fe. I visited the museum, of course, and toured the Abiquiu home. Even took a cooking class a la O’Keeffe. Then I read a biography. Then another. Then another.
Each one raised more questions than it answered. By the time I took another vacation in Santa Fe, re-visiting the museum and Abiquiu home, I felt a book brewing.
I have the book (mostly) researched and fully outlined. Now I am writing chapters. This website is part of my process. It’s a place for me to think out loud.
Professionally, I’m a hybrid writer — part scholar, part journalist. A former daily newspaper feature writer and a former university professor, I love archival research and I love to tell a good story.
Just wanted to thank you for the work you’re doing. This site is a nice resource for O’Keefe lovers. I’m here on her birthday, looking for a good portrait to post along with a quote from her, on my Facebook page. Thanks again, and good luck with your book.
I’m so gratified that the site is of interest to you!
You are great at both – the (detailed) research and telling a story!
Thanks so much, Kristen! I’m right in the middle of writing the first chapter, now about O’Keeffe’s study at Chatham Hall. Whew! So much information to gather, but, you know, I love it! If everyone knew how fun archival research is, we’d all be historians…