Mother Goose and New Year's Eve Party

 

Buck Brown, PLAYBOY (January 1996)

Cosplay is an Art: ANIME NYC 2023

via Justin Pineda Media 

Fashion is DEFINITELY Art: Balenciaga Fall 24 Collection

Fashion Designer: Demna Gvasalia

via Balenciaga 

Lili Ilse Elvenes (Lili Elbe)

Art Appreciation 

Whether you've been a consistent follower of my blog or simply stumbled upon it, you're likely aware of two key aspects about me: my passion for exploring art and writing about it, and my role as a father to a transgender daughter.

Reflecting on a few years back, I vividly recall watching "The Danish Girl" (2015), featuring Eddie Redmayne, a film about the life of Lili Elbe. Elbe, born as Einar Wegener on December 28, 1882, in Vejle, Denmark, was a groundbreaking transgender post-impressionist artist. Her artistic journey commenced when she moved to Copenhagen to pursue art studies at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, where she met Greda Gottlieb, a Danish painter and illustrator, leading to their marriage in 1904.

In 1907, Elbe earned the prestigious Neuhausens Prize, a Danish award for architects and visual artists, after exhibiting at the Kunstnernes Efterårsudstilling at the Vejle Art Museum in Denmark and the Salon d'Automne in Paris.   

As the 1920s unfolded, Elbe embraced a transformation, adopting women's attire and posing as a model for Gottlieb. Their journey took them to Paris, where Elbe felt liberated to present herself authentically in public. However, in 1930, Elbe embarked on a series of five experimental gender-affirming surgeries in Germany, culminating in her being the first transgender woman to undergo vaginoplasty surgery during the fourth procedure. Unfortunately, complications arose as her immune system rejected the transplanted uterus, leading to a fatal infection and her demise on September 13, 1931. 

Greek Youth (1903)

Parti Fra Capri (1921)

Garden of Versailles (1922)

Portrait De Femme (1923)

Sources:

Wikipedia

https://www.wikiart.org/en/lili-elbe

http://www.papillongallery.com/einar_wegener.html

https://oii.org.au/789/book-review-man-woman/

https://daily.jstor.org/what-actually-happened-to-the-danish-girl-and-her-wife/

https://medium.com/@arteoriginal.co/from-einar-wegener-to-lili-elbe-first-gender-reassignment-in-the-art-world-99009ca4005f

https://www.biography.com/artists/lili-elbe

William A. Garnett

Photography Appreciation 

William A. Garnett, a prominent American landscape photographer, gained acclaim for his distinctive aerial photography, transforming natural landscapes like forests, sand dunes, mountains, canyons, agricultural scenes, and suburban grids into captivating artistic expressions.

Born in Chicago, Illinois, on December 27, 1916, Garnett relocated with his family to Pasadena, California. Following high school, he pursued a year of studies at the Art Center School in Los Angeles and subsequently embarked on a career as an independent commercial photographer and graphic designer in 1938.

In 1940, Garnett joined the Pasadena Police Department as a photographer and later worked briefly for Lockheed aircraft company before being drafted into the U.S. Army.

Upon completing his military service in 1945, Garnett acquired a passion for flying. By 1949, he purchased his first plane, marking the beginning of his aerial photography endeavors. His captivating work garnered attention, earning him the first of three Guggenheim fellowships in 1953. The George Eastman House in Rochester, New York, hosted his inaugural solo exhibition in 1955.

Equipping himself with a Cessna 170B single-engine plane, Garnett made modifications to optimize it for photography. He conducted experiments with various camera formats and films to refine his craft.

Garnett's photography found a place in esteemed publications like Fortune, Life, Reader's Digest, and The New York Times Magazine, as well as in art and text books, showcasing his ability to seamlessly blend artistic vision with the portrayal of diverse landscapes.

Dry Wash With Alluvium, Death Valley, California (1957)

Bryce Canyon, Utah (1966)

After Combine Harvest, Montezuma Hills, California (1964)

Foundations and Slabs, Lakewood, California (1950)

Sources:

Wikipedia

https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/09/obituaries/09garnett.html

https://www.sfomuseum.org/exhibitions/william-garnett-view-above

https://artblart.com/tag/william-a-garnett-aerial-photography/

Tahnee Welch

Acting Appreciation

Tahnee Welch, the daughter of the renowned actress Raquel Welch, portrayed Antarea, an extraterrestrial visitor who arrived on Earth with a mission: to recover cocoons hidden at the ocean's depths, containing the vital life force required to rejuvenate her alien society. When the sci-fi/fantasy film "Cocoon" gcame out in 1985, I was a only nine years old, and while I may not recall all the intricate details of its storyline, one scene remains etched in my memory—the captivating pool encounter between Tahnee Welch's character and Steve Guttenberg's.

Born on December 26, 1961, in San Diego, California, Tahnee Welch, despite her Hollywood lineage as the daughter of a famous actress, led a unique life. Her rebellious spirit led her to drop out of private school and leave home, rejecting the facade of conformity. In her own words to Playboy writer Christopher Napolitano, "I was shy but rebellious. I couldn't stand putting up a front. When I dropped out, I wanted to say, 'What are you going to do, handcuff me to the desk?' It was exhilarating. I ran off to do whatever I liked, which, at 16, wasn't much..."

After a period of odd jobs, including house cleaning, Tahnee landed in New York City, where she pursued acting studies. Subsequently, her acting career took root in Italy, where she secured the lead role in "Amarsi un po'...," a film that garnered favor among Italian audiences.

However, it was her breakthrough role in "Cocoon" in 1985 that catapulted Tahnee Welch into the limelight. The film enjoyed resounding success at the box office, and Tahnee's performance earned her critical acclaim.

Beyond her acting endeavors, Tahnee also ventured into the world of modeling, gracing the pages of prestigious publications like Vogue, Elle, and Harper's Bazaar. Notably, she bared her artistic side by posing nude for Playboy, featured in the November 1995 issue.

Tahnee Welch's journey from a Hollywood upbringing to a multifaceted career in the entertainment industry, both in front of the camera and on the pages of iconic magazines, is a testament to her individuality and talent.

Dave Allocca, 2013

Sante D'Orazio, Playboy 1995

Sante D'Orazio Playboy 1995

Sources:

Wikipedia

santedoreazio.tumblr.com

https://stargateantares.wordpress.com/2014/11/01/cocoon-the-film-antarean-aliens/

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0193520/

Napolitano, Christopher. "Totally Tahnee." Playboy, November 1995, Vol. 42 No. 11, pp. 74-81.

Merry F-ing Christmas