Customer Reviews

Collecting Souls, Gathering Dust: The Struggles of Two American Artists, Alice Neel and Rhoda Medary

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A fascinating study of two women--close friends--who attended art school together, but whose paths then diverged widely. One woman, Alice Neel, became one of the greatest American painters of the 20th century. The other artist, Rhoda Medary, chose a different life as a housewife whose artworks remained obscure.

How and why these two painters traveled their respective paths makes for illuminating reading, especially for today's woman artist. The issues these women grappled with are far from being resolved in contemporary society: how a woman balances a career with marriage and/or motherhood; how an artist responds to pressure from family and culture to conform; how to follow your dream but still pay your bills. Highly recommended.

If this were a book about two male artists, it undoubtedly would have been much longer and more detailed.
That said I love Alice Neel's work. She had the mindset to persue her obsession. This book connects on the human,the artistic and the female artist level. Hard to explain a life position such as this. As an artist I sympathize, as a female artist, I empathize.I knew sketchy details about Alice's life but, had no idea how everything fit together.
I also knew nothing of Rhoda Medary. This book did make me pick up the brush and finish a painting. I don't plan on being a Rhoda Medary.

I have enjoyed this book immensely !
It ties together historical events with the lives of
these women. Kept my interest all the way through
to the end which could have otherwise been a very
dry biography.

Poorly written, at times too wordy, It is the subject matter that keeps one reading despite the style. Authors were able to elicite some good info but there were gaping holes in undisclosed info about key players.