Weston and Shore | Ryan Ranch (Lecture Only)

Course Description:

By popular demand: We're offering an opportunity to join us for the lecture portion only. (Does not include the field trip to Monterey Museum of Art.)

In 1927 photographer Edward Weston was introduced to Henrietta Shore, a Canadian-born Carmel artist whose paintings moved seamlessly from Post-Impressionism to Modernism to Surrealism. Deeply moved by her work, Weston wrote in his daybook, "Shore realizes a fusion of her own ego with a deep universality . . . When she paints a flower she IS that flower, when she draws a rock she IS that rock."

We’ll explore and enjoy the blossoming friendship between the two artists; they often worked side by side, he photographing, she painting. It was her paintings of shells that influenced Weston to move from nudes to detailed photos of shells, fruits and his famous peppers. And Weston, in turn, motivated Shore to go to Mexico where she was inspired by the indigenous women in their colorful clothing and surroundings. This lovely creative dance between Weston and Shore, both of whom embraced a spare aesthetic and strong design, is being highlighted in an exhibition at the Monterey Museum of Art. In the second of two classes, we’ll visit the Museum and revel in the exhibition.