Tuesday, May 31, 2022

Happy Birthday Walt Whitman

 by Gregg Chadwick


Gregg Chadwick
The Wound-Dresser
(Walt Whitman, Washington D.C., US Civil War, 1865)

30” X 24” oil on linen 2011

"The eyes transcend the medium."-R.B. Morris (Poet, Musician, Songwriter)   



Walt Whitman's poetry is a continual source of inspiration for me. Whitman's life story is also deeply moving. In December 1862 Walt Whitman saw the name of his brother George, a Union soldier in the 51st New York Infantry, listed among the wounded from the battle of Fredericksburg. Whitman rushed from Brooklyn to the Washington D.C. area to search the hospitals and encampments for his brother. During this time Walt Whitman gave witness to the wounds of warfare by listening gently to the injured soldiers as they told their tales of battle.  Whitman often spent time with soldiers recovering from their injuries in the Patent Office Building (now home to the National Portrait Gallery and Smithsonian American Art Museum), which had been converted into a hospital for much of the Civil War. Walt Whitman's experiences in Washington deeply affected his life and work and informed the core of his writing. 

Robert Roper's Now the Drum of War: Walt Whitman and His Brothers in the Civil War is an indispensible account of Whitman's time in Washington during the war.  Roper's book examines the Civil War through the experiences of Walt Whitman and provides new findings on the care of wounded soldiers both on the battlefield and in large hospitals in the capital and its environs. Roper also focuses on Whitman's emotional relationships with the  wounded troops he nursed. Walt Whitman journeyed from New York to find his wounded brother George and in the process Walt became a brother to thousands of wounded comrades. Whitman's volunteer work as a nurse during the Civil War is a story that needs to be told in all mediums.



Video by Kenneth Chadwick


The Wound Dresser
by Walt Whitman


An old man bending I come among new faces,
Years looking backward resuming in answer to children,
Come tell us old man, as from young men and maidens that love me,
(Arous’d and angry, I’d thought to beat the alarum, and urge relentless war,
But soon my fingers fail’d me, my face droop’d and I resign’d myself,
To sit by the wounded and soothe them, or silently watch the dead;)
Years hence of these scenes, of these furious passions, these chances,
Of unsurpass’d heroes (was one side so brave? the other was equally brave;)
Now be witness again, paint the mightiest armies of earth,
Of those armies so rapid so wondrous what saw you to tell us?
What stays with you latest and deepest? of curious panics,
Of hard-fought engagements or sieges tremendous what deepest remains?

O maidens and young men I love and that love me,
What you ask of my days those the strangest and sudden your talking recalls,
Soldier alert I arrive after a long march cover’d with sweat and dust,
In the nick of time I come, plunge in the fight, loudly shout in the rush of successful charge,
Enter the captur’d works—yet lo, like a swift-running river they fade,
Pass and are gone they fade—I dwell not on soldiers’ perils or soldiers’ joys
(Both I remember well—many the hardships, few the joys, yet I was content).

But in silence, in dreams’ projections,
While the world of gain and appearance and mirth goes on,
So soon what is over forgotten, and waves wash the imprints off the sand,
With hinged knees returning I enter the doors (while for you up there,
Whoever you are, follow without noise and be of strong heart).

Bearing the bandages, water and sponge,
Straight and swift to my wounded I go,
Where they lie on the ground after the battle brought in,
Where their priceless blood reddens the grass, the ground,
Or to the rows of the hospital tent, or under the roof’d hospital,
To the long rows of cots up and down each side I return,
To each and all one after another I draw near, not one do I miss,
An attendant follows holding a tray, he carries a refuse pail,
Soon to be fill’d with clotted rags and blood, emptied, and fill’d again.

I onward go, I stop,
With hinged knees and steady hand to dress wounds,
I am firm with each, the pangs are sharp yet unavoidable,
One turns to me his appealing eyes—poor boy! I never knew you,
Yet I think I could not refuse this moment to die for you, if that would save you.

On, on I go, (open doors of time! open hospital doors!)
The crush’d head I dress (poor crazed hand tear not the bandage away),
The neck of the cavalry-man with the bullet through and through I examine,
Hard the breathing rattles, quite glazed already the eye, yet life struggles hard
(Come sweet death! be persuaded O beautiful death!
In mercy come quickly).

From the stump of the arm, the amputated hand,
I undo the clotted lint, remove the slough, wash off the matter and blood,
Back on his pillow the soldier bends with curv’d neck and side-falling head,
His eyes are closed, his face is pale, he dares not look on the bloody stump,
And has not yet look’d on it.

I dress a wound in the side, deep, deep,
But a day or two more, for see the frame all wasted and sinking,
And the yellow-blue countenance see.
I dress the perforated shoulder, the foot with the bullet-wound,
Cleanse the one with a gnawing and putrid gangrene, so sickening, so offensive,
While the attendant stands behind aside me holding the tray and pail.

I am faithful, I do not give out,
The fractur’d thigh, the knee, the wound in the abdomen,
These and more I dress with impassive hand (yet deep in my breast a fire, a burning flame).

Thus in silence in dreams’ projections,
Returning, resuming, I thread my way through the hospitals,
The hurt and wounded I pacify with soothing hand,
I sit by the restless all the dark night, some are so young,
Some suffer so much, I recall the experience sweet and sad,
(Many a soldier’s loving arms about this neck have cross’d and rested,
Many a soldier’s kiss dwells on these bearded lips).


Below is a rich description from Walt Whitman's Diaries that captures his experience as a nurse:

"DURING those three years in hospital, camp or field, I made over six hundred visits or tours, and went, as I estimate, counting all, among from eighty thousand to a hundred thousand of the wounded and sick, as sustainer of spirit and body in some degree, in time of need. These visits varied from an hour or two, to all day or night; for with dear or critical cases I generally watch’d all night. Sometimes I took up my quarters in the hospital, and slept or watch’d there several nights in succession. Those three years I consider the greatest privilege and satisfaction, (with all their feverish excitements and physical deprivations and lamentable sights) and, of course, the most profound lesson of my life. I can say that in my ministerings I comprehended all, whoever came in my way, northern or southern, and slighted none. It arous’d and brought out and decided undream’d-of depths of emotion. It has given me my most fervent views of the true ensemble and extent of the States. While I was with wounded and sick in thousands of cases from the New England States, and from New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, and from Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and all the Western States, I was with more or less from all the States, North and South, without exception. I was with many from the border States, especially from Maryland and Virginia, and found, during those lurid years 1862–63, far more Union southerners, especially Tennesseans, than is supposed. I was with many rebel officers and men among our wounded, and gave them always what I had, and tried to cheer them the same as any. I was among the army teamsters considerably, and, indeed, always found myself drawn to them. Among the black soldiers, wounded or sick, and in the contraband camps, I also took my way whenever in their neighborhood, and did what I could for them."


More on Walt Whitman during the Civil War at:
Whitman's Drum Taps and
Washington's Civil War Hospitals



More on RB Morris at:
RB Morris.com

Note: Post is a lightly updated version of my May 31, 2012 essay on Walt Whitman. 


Monday, May 30, 2022

On Memorial Day The Past Is Present | Carrie Mae Weems and the 54th Regiment


In honor of #MemorialDay, artist Carrie Mae Weems () and Carl J. Cruz, descendant of the first Black soldier to win the Medal of Honor, reflect on the connections between The 54th Massachusetts Regiment and ongoing struggles today.

Battle Of The Brush: Walter Sickert Vs John Singer Sargent With Waldemar Januszczak


In this video Waldemar Januszczak presents this battle between two of the early 20th Century's best-loved painter, Walter Sickert & John Singer Sargent. The film focuses on some of the most beautiful and alarming paintings ever made in the UK; evokes the long-lost atmosphere of Edwardian London; and above all, shows that these two immigrants were waging a war over nothing less than the future soul of British art.

Thursday, May 26, 2022

Jimmy Kimmel on Elementary School Shooting in Uvalde, Texas


Jimmy responds to the tragic school shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, and talks about 89% of Americans wanting background checks, our cowardly leaders listening to the NRA instead of the people they actually represent, firearms becoming the #1 leading cause of death for American children and teens, Ted Cruz speaking at an NRA event this weekend, the 27 school shootings so far this year in America, and making sure that lawmakers do something about common-sense gun laws. If you can, please support Everytown in their fight against gun violence. https://www.everytown.org/



 

Tuesday, May 10, 2022

"Ohio" as performed by the Kent State University Chorale


In remembrance of the 50th anniversary of the events of May 4, 1970, and the release of the song, "Ohio:, the Kent State University Chorale performs a very special acapella version of "Ohio." this version was requested by, and approved by Neil Young.

Monday, May 09, 2022

Happy Birthday Robert Johnson

Friday, May 06, 2022

Winslow Homer: Crosscurrents Virtual Opening


From the Metropolitan Museum of Art:

Join Stephanie Herdrich, Associate Curator of American Painting and Sculpture, and Sylvia Yount, Lawrence A. Fleischman Curator in Charge—both of the American Wing—for a virtual tour of "Winslow Homer: Crosscurrents." This ambitious survey reconsiders Homer’s work through the lens of conflict, a theme that crosses his prolific career. A persistent fascination with struggle permeates his art—from emblematic images of the Civil War and Reconstruction that examine the effects of the conflict on the landscape, soldiers, and formerly enslaved to dramatic scenes of rescue and hunting as well as monumental seascapes and dazzling tropical works painted throughout the Atlantic world. The centerpiece of the exhibition is Homer’s iconic "The Gulf Stream" (The Met), a painting that reveals his lifelong engagement with charged subjects of race and the environment. Featuring 88 oils and watercolors, "Crosscurrents" represents the largest critical overview of Homer’s art and life in more than a quarter of a century. The exhibition is made possible by The Peter Jay Sharp Foundation. Corporate sponsorship is provided by Bank of America. Additional support is provided by the Barrie A. and Deedee Wigmore Foundation, the Terra Foundation for American Art, White & Case LLP, the Enterprise Holdings Endowment, and Ann M. Spruill and Daniel H. Cantwell. This exhibition is supported by an indemnity from the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities. It is organized by The Metropolitan Museum of Art and The National Gallery, London. The catalogue is made possible by the William Cullen Bryant Fellows of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Additional support is provided by the Wyeth Foundation

Sunday, May 01, 2022

Invest in art AND health at the 43rd annual Venice Family Clinic Art Walk & Auction!

 



🚨 Bidding Time!🚨 There are just hours left to bid on 200+ artworks and support @VeniceFamClinic s mission to provide vital health care services to people in need. Don't Delay—the auction closes at 6 p.m. today! ⏰
Place your bid now: http://artsy.net/veniceartwalk.






Saturday, April 30, 2022

H.E.R. Celebrates Prince in Minneapolis

Jon Bream writes in the Minneapolis Star Tribune that "Minneapolis matters to H.E.R. The Oscar- and Grammy-winning R&B star signaled that with her purple outfit on Friday night at the Armory in Minneapolis. She expressed it in words, acknowledging that she dressed in tribute to Minneapolis' most famous musician, and spoke of how Prince was a major influence. She also nodded to him musically, playing the climactic guitar section of "Purple Rain" at the end of a brand-new song."


Gregg Chadwick
H.E.R.
36”x36” oil on linen 2021

 

Friday, April 22, 2022

Happy Earth Day!

 




Happy #EarthDay! Today, as we collectively celebrate our beautiful planet, we are reminded of the urgent need to #ActOnClimate NOW. We must recommit ourselves to promoting and enacting solutions that will safeguard our planet for generations to come.

From the World Wildlife Foundation :

"Polar bears rely heavily on sea ice for traveling, hunting, resting, mating and, in some areas, maternal dens. But because of ongoing and potential loss of their sea ice habitat resulting from climate change–the primary threat to polar bears Arctic-wide–polar bears were listed as a threatened species in the US under the Endangered Species Act in May 2008. As their sea ice habitat recedes earlier in the spring and forms later in the fall, polar bears are increasingly spending longer periods on land, where they are often attracted to areas where humans live."
Pictured:
1. Gregg Chadwick
"Ice Rider"
7"x5" oil on panel 2022





2. Gregg Chadwick
"The Greatest Of Wanderers"
54"x54" oil on linen 2021
Honored that Saatchi Art has featured my painting "The Greatest Of Wanderers"
in their new Earth Day Collection - "One World, One Earth"curated by Aurora Garrison.

Thursday, April 21, 2022

Venice Family Clinic Art Walk: Benefit Auction 2022

 


Gregg Chadwick,
12”x9” oil on panel 2021
On exhibit and up for bidding in Venice Family Clinic Art Walk: Benefit Auction 2022


Excited to let you know that my oil on panel painting Tax the Rich (AOC) is up for auction at this year’s Venice Family Clinic Art Walk & Auction You can see my artwork and more than 200 other artworks in person at the Venice Art Walk Gallery in Santa Monica Place and bid on the works at artsy.net/veniceartwalk until May 1, 2022.

Invest in art AND health at the 43rd annual Venice Family Clinic Art Walk & Auction!

From April 15 - May 1, art lovers and supporters can bid on more than 200 artworks by established, mid-career, and emerging artists such as Chuck Arnoldi, Gary Baseman, Andrea Bowers, Bumblebee Loves You, Richard BrulandGregg Chadwick, Trine Churchill, Rosson Crow, Alexandra Dillon, Sam Durant, FriendsWithYou, Todd Gray, Lauren Greenfield, Channing Hansen, Deborah Lynn Irmas, KAWS, Lynne McDaniel, Ed Moses, Ed Ruscha, Analia Saban, Marc Trujillo, Zoe Walsh, Brenna Youngblood, and many more. View all of our 2022 participating artists.

Since its inception, Venice Art Walk has engaged generous artists and collectors to raise more than $23 million to provide vital health care to people in need throughout Los Angeles County. We are proud of our legacy in the art community which helps make it possible for Venice Family Clinic to provide essential health care to 45,000 people from the Santa Monica Mountains through the South Bay—an area where more than 430,000 people still need services.

Join us in bringing health care and justice to Angelenos in need by acquiring art work here!

To receive a preview catalog on April 11, subscribe to our Venice Art Walk mailing list.

To view the art in-person, visit us at our first-ever Venice Art Walk Gallery at Santa Monica Place (395 Santa Monica Pl., Santa Monica, CA 90401). Venice Art Walk Gallery will be open to the public April 15 - May 1, every day, from 12pm–6pm PDT.

Bidding will be open exclusively on Artsy and will close at 6:00pm PDT (9:00pm EDT) on Sunday, May 1, 2022.

All works will ship from Los Angeles, California. Shipping costs are the responsibility of the buyer. Sales tax may apply. Please contact specialist@artsy.net for any inquiries.


#VeniceFamilyClinic #venice #contemporaryart #contemporaryartist #contemporaryfineart #artcollection #modernart #GreggChadwick #VeniceArtWalk #VeniceArtWalkGallery #InvestInArt #InvestInHealth


Friday, April 15, 2022

Happy Jackie Robinson Day!

 

Jackie Robinson Day 

by Gregg Chadwick


Jackie Robinson 

"A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives."
-Jackie Robinson
"If we want to celebrate Robinson, let us also celebrate the truth he fought to reveal: that racism needs to be challenged collectively, by all of us, and we are all worthy of nothing less than first class citizenship, by any means necessary."- Dave Zirin 
Today marks the 75th anniversary of Jackie Robinson's first game for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Jackie Robinson was the first African-American baseball player to compete in the major leagues when he joined the Dodgers in 1947. Robinson broke baseball's color line and ended a sixty year era of segregation in professional baseball. Robinson's career with the Dodgers lasted only ten years. But in that time, he won six pennants and a World Series title. Robinson retired in 1957 and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962.
Anthony Castrovince on MLB.com reports that in Los Angeles today that "Jackie’s widow, Rachel, who will turn 100 this year, will be in attendance at Dodger Stadium, where the Dodgers are set to take on the Reds at 10:10 p.m. ET.
Prior to the game, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts will bring his entire team to the Robinson statue that resides at the main, center-field entrance to pay tribute to the baseball icon. Players Alliance representatives and former All-Stars Curtis Granderson and Edwin Jackson are also expected to attend."

 Today in honor of Robinson, every player in Major League Baseball  will wear Jackie Robinson’s No. 42. 




Rachel Robinson at the stadium. (From Spike Lee's documentary on Baseball and Jackie Robinson)

Rachel Robinson, Jackie's wife, had vivid memories of April 15, 1947:
"It was an exciting, exhilarating time — but it also was a stressful time," Rachel Robinson said.
Rachel and Jackie met while they both were students at UCLA. Rachel Robinson earned a degree in nursing from the UCSF School of Nursing in 1945 before marrying Jackie in 1946. A few years after Jackie Robinson's retirement from baseball, Rachel returned to school and earned a masters degree from New York University. In 1965 Rachel became an Assistant Professor of Nursing at Yale University.
Jackie Robinson during his collegiate years at UCLA played football,
ran track, was the leading scorer on the basketball team, and played baseball.

More on Jackie Robinson and Rachel Robinson at: