DENNIS HOPPER, Two Graces, Ranchos de Taos, Dia de los Muertos

                     {Catharsis: Purification or purgation of the emotions primarily through art.}

DAY OF THE DEAD, the BOX, the nicho, the altar, the shrine...

...holds memories of what seems like so long ago:

...a time that was dreamy and as fresh as this young man on a horse wearing a western hat and riding freely through the sage on the pueblo land between the mountain and his new mud palace (the big house/ mabel's) that he'd just bought and escaped to...or so it seemed. But no escape for Dennis.

...that notion of "escape", a theme of the time, was one feeling that i shared with Dennis and many others who'd come to Taos, and across our country.

...a year working for Dennis and living at Mabel's was exciting, chaotic, unpredictable, cathartic. he was kind to me, and brilliant and vulnerable. he was overwhelmed and troubled too. the Mabel Dodge Luhan house was a busy scene of restoration, 'famous' visitors, editing of the Last Movie, and artworks arriving to join the Warhols, Lichtensteins, Price, Bruce Conners, Wallace Berman....a long list could continue.

A few years ago, i told Dennis that although i was just two years out of college in 1970, he was the one who'd given me a degree's worth of art, art in the real world. i learned daily about film, artists, movements, framing, poets, light, cropping, and passion for the work: and, of course, about people.
Reciprocity: I was intent on helping Dennis, and he certainly helped me. Perhaps, a "cathartic time"...

and so it seems that creating the BOX for Dennis and the Day of the Dead show at Two Graces gallery October 22 was definitely a cathartic experience for me...which began when visiting Dennis' grave this summer with his dear brother David.

In the spirit of Dia de los Muertos, the altar's elements include:
nourishment, water, food, B12, candles, incense, matches, crystals, a motorcycle, and other pieces that bring forth sweet memories.
poems and pictures are hidden.
kris kristofferson's lyrics from The Pilgrim, Chapter 33 are on the top.
personal photographs of mine have been scanned and included from the time at Mabel's and some more recents photos with David and Henry...and that little "snapshot" on the horse.
in the background are articles that were mailed to me by friends when Dennis died this year:
the LA Times, the NY Times, and the Taos News.

                                                                                        


                                             "I heard the news today, oh boy..."

please check out 
TWO GRACES TAOS
link on my sideboard under
Sparks for Me. Robert is 
a wonderful writer, and the
gallery shop is an artist's
haven...!