linda fetch

selected works

Fond memories of thanksgiving…

This week’s piece is a hearwarming/disturbing meditation on Thanksgiving, from 1988. Verna has talked about the circumstances and motivation of this work, but rather than think about that, we thought it might be a good idea at first to just present it as it is and see what people think about it. In a conversation a…

Memories of thanksgiving

This week’s piece is a hearwarming/disturbing meditation on Thanksgiving, from 1988. Verna has talked about the circumstances and motivation of this work, but rather than think about that, we thought it might be a good idea at first to just present it as it is and see what people think about it.

In a conversation a while ago with someone about personal art pieces, he made a good comment, to the effect that he didn’t want to hear an artist’s explanation for a piece, at least at first, because that would inevitably affect the way he experienced it.

This piece is a good example. What we  think about it after hearing some of the stories about Verna’s family probably affects how we see it now. What do you think?

2 responses to “Fond memories of thanksgiving…”

  1. Austin Avatar
    Austin

    My first response was laughter but there’s no telling what happened in Verna’s family to make a woman hold a knife like that next to an old guy with a square in his mouth. Perhaps Verna’s family is full of Hillbillies who carve the way they slaughter. Maybe her family is “just” uncouth and not abusive. I think if this was my Thanksgiving picture even uncouth would be a reason to shy away from the public with embarrassment.

    I like to know what the artist was thinking when they paint or write. I want to know the story behind art. For me, knowing where they’re coming from doesn’t block the fact that my own story will somehow get worked in as well.

    Austin

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  2. elmooarno Avatar
    elmooarno

    It was interesting to see your comment, coming from a completely neutral perspective. I personally thought the piece had a lot of character too, since I came from a more “genteel” family and our Thanksgivings were a little more “per the magazine pictures.”
    Verna tells me the old guy is her father, and Mom was just horsing around with the carving knife. They were probably both completely drunk on their asses when the photo was taken that this was based on.
    You are pretty much dead on re: her family being hillbillies; they were definitely not what we think of as upper crust.

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