ink on paper, Millie Gladu, 1966 I am in Fort Frances, the town closest to the farm where I grew up. Ned and I are here with my father for a family event.
ink on paper, Millie Gladu, about 1967 Yesterday I went into the Fort Frances museum. The Ontario Craft Council exhibition is on display, which is serendipitous.
Upstairs in a back room there was an art sale.
detail of above It was disturbing for me to see that the life's work of Millie Gladu was being sold off in a yard sale type situation.
Her name was well respected when I was a child. My mother studied with her. The above painting of hers is in the main area of the museum and is not for sale. 
It used to hang in the main area of the bank. 
ink on paper, Millie Gladu, mid 60'sWhat does it all mean? Emotions about mortalitiy, isolation, and gender make my throat ache.
I purchased four of her drawings.
ink on paper, Millie Gladu mid 1960's. I spent ten dollars. 
Can you feel her touch?
18 comments:
Isn't that sad .... I am just so glad you were there to purchase some of her art, that it will be treasured.
I love her work! Beautiful pen and ink work.
Jacky xox
These are beautiful drawings Judy. I'm glad you are going to give them some love.
it is my opinion that in the grand scheme of things, it does not matter. i'll bet her works will get more love and attention by more people being sold this way. they are beautiful drawings and had you not posted this, i never would have heard of this artist.
these are exquisite and whether something is truely valued and of worth is more to do with the lives they touched not the notority or monetary value they achieved. Her work touched your heart,your mother's, no doubt countless other and now mine. Her work is immortal.
wow.
It left me sad to see the sale sign! Are you only "good" if your prices are high?
extraordinary ---
looks like stitching---
clearly you were meant to be there--
to take some of her work home --
& to show this to us......
thank you
Yes... it looks like stitching... very inspiring.
The drawings are like Agnes Martin meets landscape, really, beautiful. I don't know what to make of the sale, what a shame, but also what a gift. Both/And.
Sometimes I think I want to give away all my old work stored in my studio. Some were the three leftovers from a big show that 7 sold, so you wouldn't think there would be so many hanging around. But of course there were the 25 I made and the 10 that were chosen for the show. I wonder if giving them away would feel really good....?
Well, I'll need to muse on this. In the meantime, congratulations of the purchase of exquisite work!
I know, have seen the places she's drawing about; this is The Canadian Shield as it is in my mind's eye. I can smell the air. These are beautiful drawings, and seeing your story makes me glad to see them, to recognize them, to get to say how wonderful they are.
Her work is quite evocative! I felt the pull, before I even read the words. I wish that I could purchase a piece or two to rescue them from the unknown. Sigh! To work so hard and yet to be so unappreciated that your work ends up in a sale bin!!
Happy that her work will continue to bring you pleasure. I guess we all harbor hope that our work will live on past us but the realist (?) part of me says that that's totally out of my control. I bet that the making of those drawings made her very happy and full as a person in her lifetime though - as I hope our own creative work makes each of us happy. What happens next is more historical footnote or something. Someone else decides (as they do while we're living I guess, too).
stunning work, life is so thin.
I love her work...so glad I got to see it! I wish I had been there to buy some. Maybe it's not so sad...you bought some of her work and you will treasure it. Maybe other people who bought it will treasure it as well, and might not have been able to afford it if it had been priced at what it ought to be worth.
I love the third image (of the detail). It is "enough" on its own. Beautiful drawings. Thanks for sharing.
Such beautiful work. Thank you for sharing it. I love the comment about it looking like stitching - so true.
I agree with most people who think that this situation is not so sad in the end. But I also think that we've lost the oportunity to know the work of so many artists just because "the art market" (I don't know if you say it in English) hasn't pay attention to it...
Luckily, magic happens sometimes, just like with these drawings...
amazing pictures!
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