ART AFICIONADO

Thursday, March 12, 2026

Rita Angus

Art Appreciation

Born on March 12, 1908, in Hastings, New Zealand, Rita Angus grew up in Palmerston North before studying at the Canterbury College School of Art in Christchurch from 1927 to 1933. Her training coincided with a push among young artists to develop a distinctly New Zealand visual language rather than imitate European models.

Early exposure to the region’s sharp light, rolling hills, and coastal settlements shaped her visual memory. Financial hardship during the Great Depression forced resilience, and teaching roles supplemented her income while she refined her craft.

Angus was influenced by European modernism, particularly the clarity and structure of artists such as Giotto and early Renaissance painters, as well as the flattened perspectives of modernists. She was also shaped by contemporaries including fellow New Zealand painter Colin McCahon.

Rather than romanticizing the landscape, Angus painted it with crisp lines and controlled composition. Works such as Cass (1936) exemplify her spare, luminous approach—depicting a rural railway settlement with geometric precision. Her portrait Rutu (1951) reflects her interest in identity and cultural respect, portraying her friend Rutu Te Ao with dignity and stillness.

Her method relied on careful drawing and layered oil paint to achieve smooth surfaces and balanced color harmonies. In later years, spiritual reflection and personal struggles informed stylized self-portraits and symbolic landscapes. Angus often eliminated unnecessary detail, favoring clarity and strong contour.

Rutu (1951)

Cass (1936)

Boats, Island Bay (1968)

Sources:

Wikipedia

https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/4a13/angus-rita

https://www.tepapa.govt.nz/discover-collections/read-watch-play/art/rita-angus

https://christchurchartgallery.org.nz/artists/rita-angus

Wednesday, March 11, 2026

RANDOM WEDNESDAY: Barry Blitt's "Guzzler" for The New Yorker

Source:

https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cover-story/cover-story-2026-01-19

Tuesday, March 10, 2026

The Case of the Cramping Hand

I had been a little concerned about my right hand. Being only a few months away from turning fifty, I assumed it might be arthritis or possibly carpal tunnel syndrome. I even wondered if it was something as simple as how I slept, since I often rest my hand under my pillow in a clenched position.

The concern grew recently, and I found myself worrying more than I probably should have. I decided to give it some time and see whether it would resolve on its own. I made a conscious effort not to put too much pressure on my hand, especially my pinky and ring finger. To be honest, that seemed to help. The cramping faded and eventually disappeared — at least for a while.

It had also been a few weeks since my wife and I had been intimate. Life, timing, and desire don’t always align as neatly as we would like. That changed when she decided she wanted to make time for us before her upcoming face lift. Yes, a face lift — something she had been planning for some time following her recent breast enhancement. That, however, is a story for another blog post.

After lunch one afternoon, she took my hand and led me toward the bedroom. I knew exactly where things were headed, and I welcomed it. As we kissed and touched, things naturally progressed, and I began focusing on pleasuring her the way she prefers -- gently stroking her clit. She takes her time reaching climax, and somewhere along the way I felt the familiar tightening in my hand again. That was when it finally clicked — the repetitive motion was the cause of the cramping.

There are, of course, other options that might make things easier, but she prefers the familiarity and intimacy of my touch. I can’t argue with that. I love this woman deeply, and there is something profoundly meaningful about the trust and closeness in those moments when she allows herself to simply be present and cared for.