Don’t Let That Winged Fairy Vibe Fool You
Beatrice Wood was a Heavy-Weight Artist & Thinker
That Creatives Like Us Can Learn From
By Thea Fiore-Bloom, PhD
What’s not to love about Beatrice Wood?
She created transcendent ceramic vessels until she was nearly 105 years old, and she could rock a silk sari.
And if being a great artist and thinker wasn’t enough, she was funny.
When asked about the secret to her longevity, she would often say:
“I owe it all to art books, chocolates, and young men.”
– Beatrice Wood (1893-1998)
But many art critics and art journalists don’t get beyond the sassy to see the sublime in Beatrice Wood.
That’s too bad because Wood’s life and works are a treasure chest of inspiration and confirmation for creatives, especially women.
Beatrice Wood has been a hero of mine since I stumbled upon her home/museum in Ojai fifteen years ago.
So I was thankful for the opportunity to interview Kevin Wallace, director of the Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts, there.
I broke down Wallace’s insightful and often surprising answers about Wood into four life lessons for artists and writers.
Beatrice Wood Life Lesson 1
Live on Your Own Terms
Charmed Studio: Why do you think Beatrice Wood appeals to and inspires so many visual artists and writers?
Kevin Wallace: “I believe that the one thing all artists, writers, and other creative individuals have in common is a desire for freedom – both creatively and in their personal lives.”
“That’s why so many of them lead unconventional lives or push the limits in their work.
Beatrice Wood’s life and work embody that desire; from her rebellious teenage years to the very end, she made it clear that she would live and create work on her terms.
(To read “I Shock Myself,” the fabulous autobiography of Wood, go here.)
“Wood was willing to walk away from comfort and orthodoxy and to endure heartbreak and financial struggles, for that freedom. She was obviously an original. She was a self-made woman with her own sense of style,” said Wallace.
“But she also made clear the importance of discipline and balancing dreams with pragmatism.”
Beatrice Wood Life Lesson 2
Open Doors to Your Dreams with Discipline
Charmed Studio: What one thing do you think artists, writers, or other creatives could learn from Beatrice Wood’s daily work practice?
What would it serve us to emulate?
Kevin Wallace: “More than anything, her belief that discipline imposed from without led to rebellion, while discipline from within was a wonderful gift that made anything possible.
This, along with pragmatism in understanding every aspect of an artist’s career—from the technical to the business—was key to her success as an artist.
Beatrice Wood Life Lesson 3
Keep Coming Home to Your Spirituality or Personal Philosophy
Charmed Studio: Did Wood have a spiritual practice of any kind that you know of?
Or was life her spiritual practice?
Kevin Wallace: “As a Theosophist, she studied yoga long before it became fashionable, though it was the mental and spiritual practices, rather than the physical exercises, that people equate with yoga today.
She was familiar with the teachings of Patanjali, which form the basis of modern yoga, and her philosophy was largely based upon the wisdom of the East.
She studied the writings of H.P. Blavatsky, as well as the teachings of Krishnamurti, [who was an Ojai resident and eventual friend of Wood], and embraced non-attachment.”
“Pottery for me is not a pursuit of glory, but a daily discipline of pursuing accuracy. In India, it would be called my Dharma.
Life is dual. There is matter and spirit, and one cannot function completely without the other.
For creativity, the spirit side to work, the matter side must be strong enough to hold the spirit side.
If the form has cracks, the spirit leaks. ”
-Beatrice Wood
Beatrice Wood Life Lesson 4
Embrace Absurdity – Immediately
Charmed Studio: How much of a role did humor play in Wood’s art life?
And do you think humor helps creatives?
Kevin Wallace:
“Like the Dalai Lama and numerous Indian gurus, Beato giggled easily and laughed often,” said Wallace.
He then added, “Humor was very important. Beatrice Wood was quite philosophical, but she didn’t like to proselytize. While philosophy makes some people very ‘heavy,’ it made her lighter.”
“As a Dadaist, Wood embraced absurdity and enjoyed creating works that were humorous while carrying commentary about society.”
“This brings us back to your first question, Thea,” said Wallace.
“I believe that one of the reasons artists and writers were drawn to her was this lightness of being, that she didn’t take everything so seriously and let it bring her down – her ability to laugh and enjoy life.”
“When the bowl that was my heart was broken… laughter fell out.”
―
Now, let’s look at why most people haven’t heard of Beatrice Wood before.
But first, here’s a book every heart-centered artist needs on their bookshelf.
If you’re a Beatrice Wood fan, you’ll benefit from reading her refreshing autobiography,
Just the ticket for artists when we are being hard on ourselves.
But if Wood is so great for artists, why haven’t most of us heard about her?
Why You Haven’t Heard of Beatrice Wood
Wallace’s take on Wood provoked my last question.
Charmed Studio:
In light of who Beatrice Wood was and what she accomplished, why isn’t she a household name?
Kevin Wallace: “That’s a very good question, and there are several possible answers. The first answer is art world sexism.”
Reason #1: You Haven’t Heard of Beatrice Wood
Art World Sexism
Kevin Wallace: “Wood was a central figure in New York Dada in 1917, alongside Marcel Duchamp and Henri-Pierre Roche, yet Wood was written out of that history for decades.”
In art history, men are still often considered the “important” artists, and women are seen as their girlfriends or “muses.”
“I have to admit,” said Wallace, “That it didn’t help that Beato [Beatrice] was a romantic and often spoke of her relationships with Duchamp and Roche in terms of love, rather than playing up the role she played as their equal in the art realm.”
Reason #2: You Haven’t Heard of Beatrice Wood
Prejudice Against “Crafts”
Kevin Wallace: “When she emerged as an artist, she met with another challenge in terms of art world acceptance. Ceramics were considered ‘craft media’ (as were wood, glass, fiber, and metal). For decades, ceramics were derided by art critics as being ‘craft’ and not ‘art.'”
The influences that ran through her work were the same as the great Modernists, but as a woman working in ceramics, she faced two types of prejudice.”
Reason #3: You Haven’t Heard of Beatrice Wood
She Refused To Speak in Art-Speak
Kevin Wallace: “Lastly, there is the fact that Beato was very “light”, as opposed to being “heavy” with dogma, art-speak, etc.
Wood didn’t like to proselytize, so even when speaking out about humanity and being against war, she did not do so in the forceful manner of some.
She was quick to laugh and behaved more like a young girl than a “serious” individual, so her manner hid her depth and importance.”
She was a great humanitarian and helped financially support others, including women artists in India, quietly.
Had you ever heard of Beatrice Wood before reading this post?
What’s your opinion of “art-speak?”
(I feel it reinforces the misguided notion that art should be interpreted rather than related to.)
Have you been up to Wood’s magical home/museum in Happy Valley, which looks out at the rose-gold Topa Topa mountains?
Need More Beatrice? Check out my new post:
5 FAQs About Artist Beatrice Wood
I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
If you liked this post, you might like to read my post:
Bye Bye Facebook: How Artists Can Succeed Without Social Media
How To Get an Artist’s Residency? Don’t Apply For One, Do This Instead
And Orhan Pamuk, Nobel Laureate: Genies, Junos, Junk Shops, and Genius.
Or check out The Charmed Studio posts on:
O’Keeffe, Dali, Rachel Carson, Van Gogh, Hopper & Matisse, Diane Arbus, Frida Kahlo, Remedios Varo, or Alison Saar.
Charming Notes: Carolyn See’s Life-Changing Pro Tip For Writers and Artists
Need help making your art writing shine?
Sign up for one of my writing coaching for artists mini-packages, and I will help you bridge the gap between where you are now and where you want to be in your art writing.
Bonus: Wonderful 8 Minute Video of Wood Talking and Working in Her Ojai Studio.
This post may contain Amazon affiliate links. This means if you buy books or stuff via my blog I may receive a tiny commission and do a happy dance. There is no extra fee for you. I only link to items I personally use and love; products that I think help heart-centered artists.
Hi, You will enjoy this gem of Beto. She spoke at my graduation in 1993. I think I have maybe the only copy of the speech, which I share will Kevin at some point. But here is the most important five min of the speech. At 18, I had the pleasure of collecting her recycling each week and each time I would walk in she would say “OOO the fine young men are here again” I would blush and turn red and she would be delighted. She was one of one.
youtube link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsEoC_9L-hw&ab_channel=KevinHenschel
Wonderful story of you as the blushing recycler. It is amazing how certain people make so many others around them feel like shiny gems. It’s funny how Wood says she was “selfish” but I don’t think she was. There are so many people whose lives she touched and blessed in seemingly small but actually important ways, right?
And the video! That was so moving Kevin, especially the last 30 seconds. Wow. Thanks so much for sharing the link with me and my readers.
Three questions:
Was this a school in Happy Valley Ca? What kind of school?
I also want to know, did you see what was on her hands? Ink? glaze?
Thanks again.
Ahhh what a lovely way to greet the day! I love rediscovering Beatrice Wood and discovering your writing and art. Divine timing! Looking forward to more. This was some much needed inspiration. Thank you 💗
Catherine, you are very kind. Thank you. You mentioned re-discovering Beatrice Wood, can I ask how and when you first became familiar with her?
Oh gosh, it was so long ago! Back when I first began potting, sometime in the ‘90s and probably just from looking at books and magazines. Early on my hero was Ron Meyers because his pots were so loose and expressive. He knows how to let go! I’m drawn to the work of artists who give themselves that permission because I find it so challenging to give that to myself. It’s really wonderful to find your piece about her. I hadn’t explored her work or life beyond the few images I had seen early on but now I’m fascinated. I think I will put her image in my studio so I can channel her independent, carefree spirit. I LOVED the short video.
Catherine, I think what you have to say here about admiring artists who “give themselves permission” is so important and poignant. Thanks for helping me clarify one of the biggest reasons I am so drawn to the life and work of Beatrice Wood. She gave herself permission, yes. Yes! And in doing so also grants us permission right? From what I read in Wood’s autobiography and other biographies of the artist, Wood’s mother was very restrictive, so it is all the more heroic that Wood through off a bushel full of restrictive bonds and insisted on conducting a fully-lived life for herself anyway. I checked out the whimsical and important work of Ron Myers, thanks for mentioning it, he was new to me. in case anyone wants to eyball some of his work here is a link.https://www.pinterest.com/pin/832743787331574389/
I had not heard of Beatrice Wood! Thank you for the illumination. A strong role model for female creatives. As for art-speak, I think it gets in between the viewer and the art. But art spoken for (illuminated by words about the process or emotion that went into the art) can bind viewer and art together. Don’t tell them what the art means – tell them how you felt making it. 🙂
Thanks, Jen. Speaking about one’s art is no easy task. I find it easier to talk to people about my writing than it is to talk about my art. RE What you just said above: It’s funny though, for me it’s easier to speak of what the art means to me than about the feelings I had while making it.
What I wouldn’t give to get my hands on a piece of Beatrice Wood pottery. This one works for me: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/517069600947988003/.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful writing and for sharing Beatrice Wood with us. While I had heard of her, and knew of her ties to the Dadaists, I never really delved into her art until now. As a collector of pottery this is a real treat.
I too, Shawn, lust for Wood’s lustreware. Actually I did buy a really affordable piece not by her but made in her studio with one of her molds and finished with her own luster glaze. It was made by an artist working at her studio and part of the proceeds go back to preserving Wood’s legacy in the museum. Very cool. And it’s that dreamy irredescant tangerine orange with hints of purple and it has Wood’s magical human forms on it. The Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts has a few affordable reproductions like that. So keep that in mind down the road as an option.
Hi Thea,
Have been meaning to write to you for ages! And here are the wonderful two pieces about Beatrice Woods. With a lot of points I can relate too. Light (the one from the sun), though you mention being light. The latter has been the key word for my life for the last 5-10 years. Travel light through life, not taking things too seriously, watching whenever you can do something without effort…
And humor! I can never go far without it. Not even to take out the trash. It’s all around (humor and ridiculous, not trash). And always a ready giggle and laughter.
I don’t care to become a household name either. Reaching a few people is fine with me.
They carry further what they got from me.
I also have a couple of technical questions: Thea, are you planning to add more audios for your blogs? For me personally it’s easier to listen to them than to read (while I am cooking or doing other chores). There are tons of reading without the blogs (books I mean). Anyway, I am glad I came across your blog. Since the two others died away or were not my cup of herbal tea.
And the other – what are your favorite colors – so I could send you a bookmark when I am making the next batch? Not absurd or crazy enough?
So delighted you love the audios Marianna. Not everyone is down with audio but I myself love to listen to good stuff when I am folding laundry etc. And yes I would love to have each article on audio and was going in that direction but currently having trouble with Dropbox.com which I have used in the past for audio recording storage. They changed their user interface and pricing plans and I am not on board. So bear with me while I look for a better platform. I perhaps will go with Soundcloud.
And yes to humor and light, they are life-saving aren’t they? I will answer your other questions in an email to you. Thanks so much for commenting!
Thea
The audio you have of Beatrice was easiest for me to listen to, since I don’t have Dropbox or Soundcloud. Though I would create an account if it will be worth my while.
You wouldn’t need to have Dropbox or Soundcloud, just the creator of the audio would. And I don’t even need them if the audio is under 8 minutes or so, WordPress can accommodate that on the post itself. But I need cloud storage for the longer audios for longer posts. Will work it out, and have you listening to longer articles by late Spring hopefully- thanks Marianna.
Hi Thea, loved your articl and interview with Kevin! For the sake of accuracy I thought you might like to know about a little mistake or perhaps typo in the quote “ When the (BOWL) ball that was my heart was broken, laughter fell out “
(Bowl is the correct quote, get it? Bowl, fragile, ceramic) she how clever she really was! You can confirm the quote by looking it up in her book “ Playing chess with the heart “ or “ I Shock Myself”
I worked closely with Beatrice for the last 5 years of her life and she paid close attention to details and I’m sure you can appreciate that so I thought I’d share this clarification with you. Thx!
All the Best to you, Nancy Martinez
Thanks, Nancy, yes, it was a typo. I took the quote from I Shock Myself and the damn autocorrect had its way with me.
Thank you for sharing the wonderful Beatrice. What struck me as interesting was how she would talk of her colleagues like Marcel Duchamp as lovers- and how she would hide her intelligence with her light mannered most likely a practice of the spiritual) humor. It was the time, and what I so appreciate Thea is the way you bring the female artists of our time and beyond to the forefront in ushering truth-telling as it is. Grateful
Lauren Mantecon
What lovely feedback Lauren. I’m touched. Will get back to you on your Marcel Duchamp point in a moment, I want to check with Kevin Wallace on that.
Just double-checked my research and Beatrice Wood and Marcel Duchamp were indeed lovers. She didn’t use the term lover as a euphemism. Wood met Marcel Duchamp in New York in 1916. She and Marcel were two-thirds of a menage-a-trois with Henri-Pierre Roché.
Ooh, la la!
Oui,oui! I love that vessel you found on Pinterest by the way. The shape is dreamy, ancient yet otherworldly at same time.
I absolutely love these life lessons! I want to copy them and put them in every room I go in!! What a great way to live!
What a wonderful compliment Denise, thanks so much. I like the “embrace absurdity” one the most myself. It’s great to have our ability to laugh at life, our work, and our attempts to do everything correctly all the time–validated by such a vital, important artist.
Thank you Thea for the introduction to Beatrice Wood. I had never heard of her…and love her lightness of being. I sometimes wonder if I’m wrong for not taking my art more serious in my practice of it…but I enjoy having fun with it…I love making art and being in that happy place of creating. Thanks for bringing Beatrice into the light for me.
My iPad auto corrected the word creating for cheating! No, no, no…of course this is wrong and I could not go in and change after submitting. So sorry. 😐
Oh no problem, I just corrected it for you. Though I did so grudgingly because I love the idea of how I sometimes find myself slipping into thinking that just making art to enjoy it, does sometimes feel like “cheating.” 🙂
“I sometimes wonder if I’m wrong for not taking my art more serious in my practice of it…but I enjoy having fun with it…I love making art and being in that happy place of creating.”
Denise I feel the same way! Exactly. But on my confident days I know that is what it is truly all about. So glad I could introduce you to Beatrice. I believe you two have much in common in the lightness of being department :).
When did your love affair with found objects begin?
Hi Thea- Thanks for starting off my week with a story of a great artist I’ve never heard of. ‘Tis like taking a stroll through the morning woods and seeing a beautiful sunlit object!
It is so fun to stumble upon an artist or writer you have never heard of isn’t it John. You get to open this walk through the Wardrobe, and open a previously undiscovered door into THEIR Narnia. I remember going to Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes de La Habana in Cuba and just seeing all these jaw-dropping artists there I had never ever seen a stitch written about in the standard American and European art history books. It was like walking into a secret parallel universe. So much to discover outside the traditional path. Thanks for reminding me and always inspiring me and for reading.
‘Lightness of being’. I think that’s the answer for all of us.
I am just starting to see that for myself. I love that Wood had the “lightness of being” to put something humorous on her outdoor studio sign (“Pottery: Prices Reasonable and Unreasonable.”) It is easy to forget to bring our true selves, our lighter selves into all aspects of our work including our marketing. When we are younger we worry it will turn people away, then it dawns on us that other people are just like us and appreciate someone who is real. Anyway, thanks for reading Sara! Hope your latest show was a big success.
Beatrice woods in one of my favorite artist and iI would love to know more about her practices and how she created her art.
Hi J,
Thanks for taking the time to read the piece and to comment. In answer to your question have you checked out this 8 minute video on YouTube of Beatrice Wood in her studio? https://youtu.be/Yxv8k6g3i-A
Wonderful stuff.
I use to visit Beatrice Wood at her studio back in the ‘90’s. She invited me for lunch during one of my visits. I believe Mr. Singh prepared the meal. I have photos of her with Mr. Singh and she would ask me to be in the photos but I always declined. One of my biggest regrets! I have all her books which she signed. She made a difference in my life.
Wow, you had lunch with Beatrice Wood, that is huge in my book! You must be a kind spirit to have her open her home and table to you. I am shy with photos too so I understand. And like you I have regretted my reticence after sometimes. When you say she made a difference in your life can you tell me a little more about that? How did she impact your thinking or creative life?
Art speak was the bain of my art school experience. Literally, the guys would go into the glass-enclosed office with the male instructors and talk because the girls were “just gonna get married”. That was actually a good learning experience for me because it made me tougher for NYC and I learned I had to ignore my exclusion. Everything you said in this article is true especially the need for freedom and discipline. I’d never heard of Beatrice Wood and I’m sure I will never be a household name. I work in relative obscurity, and that’s okay with me. I wish I could just trot over the hill and speak with Beatrice, I feel I can relate to her so much! Thanks for being her and her work into my awareness!
Hey Barbara, thanks so much for your response. I can’t stand art speak myself. I wonder how many careers have been sidelined by the refusal to describe their work in it? Art speak is not intrinsic to art making, ironically it gets in the way of the connection between an artist and her art making. At least it does with me. Does it with you?
So many cool, well-informed artists I know like you have never heard of Beatrice Wood. I thought of you when I chose the topic. I think she is still in the shadows because she was a female art outlaw. I am publishing a second post on my firm belief that one day Beatrice Wood will be nearly as popular as Kahlo because she will be brought to the attention of the general public and carried up and along like a huge wave by those of us who refuse to blather on about “contextualization” and speak instead about the actual impact the work and life of an artist has on us and why. You have to visit her center in Ojai next time you are out in L.A., Kevin Wallace and many others have helped Wood stay present in the ethers.
P.S. Your story makes me glad I didn’t go to art school.