What I do is pretty weird and I haven't seen anything else like it here on Substack though, if we are being 'posh' and literary, it's actually something similar to ekphrasis: a term used for poetry that describes a work of art. Think Keats's Ode to a Grecian Urn, where he imagines the cattle lowing and the music playing etc.
I don't know whether it's good to be different or if it'll put off potential readers, but it's what I want to write, for now.
Yes about Keats and ekphrasis! (In addition to studying art, I was also an English major back in the day.) I really like what you are doing and I don't think it would put people off but rather the opposite. It's like, by example, you're giving people both permission to imagine their own story for the art as well as offering them a way to experience this art, and then by extension, other art!
Thanks, Sal, that's fantastic. There's always more to know about the surrealist women! I might try addding some descriptive essays to The Fur Cup substack, but not necessarily email them out. What d'you think?
I’d welcome any writing you wanted to do. I’m not sure what your plan is about not emailing them out — why not? I think the most important thing is to follow your own interest & excitement.
You've been a great supporter of mine since the start, Sal, and it's an honour to write for you and my other subscribers. To answer your question, I suppose I am worried about writing in a different register to the one that subscribers have signed up for, and also I don't want to clutter up people's inboxes in an unwelcome way by posting too often.
However, I do think my imaginary encounters for The Fur Cup would benefit from some context and background and ultimately I'd love it if my readers were as engaged and clued-up re. the women surrealists as I have had to be to write my novel which is what has sparked my journey here on Substack.
I'll work on some ideas about 'extra' newsletters, and perhaps The Fur Cup will edge into being weekly, with alternate imaginative and essayistic newsletters, rather than the current twice-a-month pattern.
I’m guessing your readers would be up for anything that you were really excited to do. You could always run a poll or host a chat for your subscribers if you want anted to know more.
Thank you for taking the time to let me know. I did wonder if it might be too much and be 'triggering' as they say now but there has to be room for everything in art, and the appreciation of art, and depression is part of life for many people, unfortunately.
It was ‘activating’. I think the warning was helpful because you certainly capture how our inner darkness can take over in an almost horrifying way. One might look at that image and assume you’d written something surreal and hilarious!
1. I LOVE Meret Oppenheim's "Fur Teacup."
2. I've never seen this painting and I also love it. Thank you for that.
3. What a fantastic way to interact with a painting.
So glad you liked it, Sarah.
What I do is pretty weird and I haven't seen anything else like it here on Substack though, if we are being 'posh' and literary, it's actually something similar to ekphrasis: a term used for poetry that describes a work of art. Think Keats's Ode to a Grecian Urn, where he imagines the cattle lowing and the music playing etc.
I don't know whether it's good to be different or if it'll put off potential readers, but it's what I want to write, for now.
Yes about Keats and ekphrasis! (In addition to studying art, I was also an English major back in the day.) I really like what you are doing and I don't think it would put people off but rather the opposite. It's like, by example, you're giving people both permission to imagine their own story for the art as well as offering them a way to experience this art, and then by extension, other art!
After her show in New York I discovered that Meret Oppenheim also wrote poetry. Here’s one of her poems:
For you, against you
Throw all the stones behind you
And let fall the walls.
At you, on you
The hooves tear loose
For a hundred singers above.
I gut my mushrooms
I am the first guest come through
And let fall the walls.
Thanks, Sal, that's fantastic. There's always more to know about the surrealist women! I might try addding some descriptive essays to The Fur Cup substack, but not necessarily email them out. What d'you think?
I’d welcome any writing you wanted to do. I’m not sure what your plan is about not emailing them out — why not? I think the most important thing is to follow your own interest & excitement.
You've been a great supporter of mine since the start, Sal, and it's an honour to write for you and my other subscribers. To answer your question, I suppose I am worried about writing in a different register to the one that subscribers have signed up for, and also I don't want to clutter up people's inboxes in an unwelcome way by posting too often.
However, I do think my imaginary encounters for The Fur Cup would benefit from some context and background and ultimately I'd love it if my readers were as engaged and clued-up re. the women surrealists as I have had to be to write my novel which is what has sparked my journey here on Substack.
I'll work on some ideas about 'extra' newsletters, and perhaps The Fur Cup will edge into being weekly, with alternate imaginative and essayistic newsletters, rather than the current twice-a-month pattern.
Thanks so much for your input.
I’m guessing your readers would be up for anything that you were really excited to do. You could always run a poll or host a chat for your subscribers if you want anted to know more.
This moved me deeply! Thank you, Kathy.
Thank you for taking the time to let me know. I did wonder if it might be too much and be 'triggering' as they say now but there has to be room for everything in art, and the appreciation of art, and depression is part of life for many people, unfortunately.
It was ‘activating’. I think the warning was helpful because you certainly capture how our inner darkness can take over in an almost horrifying way. One might look at that image and assume you’d written something surreal and hilarious!