The Truth About Beatrice Wood: Answers about Her Art, Her Men, and What She Really Thought of Titanic
By Thea Fiore-Bloom, Ph.D.
Beatrice Wood was far more than the inspiration behind a beloved Titanic character.
She was a groundbreaking artist, ceramicist, philosopher, and rebel who lived to be 105.
In this exclusive interview, I spoke with the Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts to uncover five fascinating facts about my favorite queen of creativity who made the mountains of Ojai her home.
Kevin Wallace (director of The Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts ) has fielded many questions over the years from curious artists/fans of Ojai’s beloved Beatrice (1893-1998).
Here are 5 of the most frequently asked questions Wallace gets, along with some surprising answers.
Beatrice Question #1: Was Beatrice Wood on The Titanic?
Answer: No, but…
Beatrice, known to her friends as Beato, wasn’t actually on the RMS Titanic.
But she was the historical inspiration for James Cameron’s character Rose in his 1997 blockbuster film The Titanic.
“It’s easy for those who are not writers or in theater or film to get confused about such things,” said Wallace. “It’s said that fiction is the best manner of telling the truth.”
“And Beatrice was right about the same age as Rose at the time of the disaster. Beatrice’s family summered in France. So, like Rose, she did cross the ocean on big ships in a similar manner.”
James Cameron drove up to Beatrice Wood’s home in Ojai for her 105th birthday to bring her a VHS copy of his film after it came out (see photo).
But Wood only watched the first half as she felt it would be sad.
Wood said, “It was too late in life to be sad.”
Beatrice Question #2: Was Wood in a Love Triangle?
Answer: Maybe
Was the novel and later François Truffaut film Jules et Jim based on the love triangle between Beatrice Wood, Marcel Duchamp, and Henri-Pierre Roché?
“It’s easy to understand why someone would assume this, said Wallace.
Henri-Pierre Roché wrote the book Jules and Jim.
And Roché was involved in a relationship with Beatrice and Marcel Duchamp.
There are similarities.”
Wallace went on to say, “Beatrice said she’d read Jules and Jim, but she didn’t recognize the characters, events, or conversations.”
However, that doesn’t mean it’s not true.
Writers tend to be inspired by something and then make lots of changes, which is the case with Cameron and “The Titanic.”
Roche claimed that Jules and Jim was modeled on the lives of other people he knew, which is likely true.
He wrote an unfinished book called Victor, which was directly inspired by his relationship with Beatrice and Marcel.
Victor was Marcel’s nickname back then.”
“And the female character in the book is named Patricia (was Beatrice’s stage name at the time).
Beatrice Wood read that book and didn’t recognize the characters, events, or conversations in that book either,” said Wallace.
Beatrice Question #3: Wood Was a Big Feminist, Right?
Answer: No, Not Exactly.
“This was a question that came up while Beatrice was alive,” said Wallace.
“Women would visit her at home, assuming that, as a strong, independent woman who had found success on her own, it must be the case that Beatrice Wood was an ardent feminist.
Wood instead irritated visitors by saying that she would ‘give it all up for a man,’ or make other statements in that vein that would shock them,” said Wallace.
“This was partially because Beato was rebellious. She was a Dadaist until the end, though she claimed not to really know what Dada was. And she really loved to shock people.”
“At the same time, Beatrice Wood was all about the relationships between men and women – which was obvious in her work.
Beato’s hero was Annie Besant – a female Suffragette from the previous century, but she found the Feminist Movement of the sixties and seventies to be in opposition to the roles that men and women play in each other’s lives.”
Beatrice Question #4: Many Assume the Artist was Financially Supported by a Wealthy Husband or Family. Is That True?
Answer: Absolutely not.
“No. It’s an assumption based on sexism. The assumption being that if Beato could live the independent life of an artist, she must have been supported either by her wealthy family or a rich husband.
Nothing could be further from the truth,” said Wallace.
“Beatrice walked away from what her family wanted her to be and took great pride in making her own living. There was no rich husband or lover.”
“She did have a couple of wealthy women friends who would help her out financially now and then when she was really struggling – but Beatrice was a proud woman and wouldn’t ask.”
“When she learned that her first husband, Paul, was borrowing money from her friends to pay his gambling debts, she was horrified. She insisted upon personally paying it all back.”
In her later years, Wood quipped, “The only partner I can count on to still be there when I wake up the next morning is the mountain there.”
“People who visit the Center often ask about her children,” said Wallace, “and it’s an understandable assumption – she was a beautiful, romantic woman.”
But Wood never had children.
“It’s more that it just never happened than that she planned it that way.”
On to our final Beatrice FAQ.
Beatrice Question# 5: The Artist Accepted and Loved Her Age, Right?
Answer: No. Actually, She Usually Claimed To Be 32.
Wallace: “There’s a video interview where the interviewer mentions Beatrice’s age – at the time she was in her nineties – and the interviewer made a comment that contained an assumption that Beatrice must be proud of her age.
Beatrice responded, ‘Heavens no – I don’t think about it.‘
She didn’t consider herself elderly; rather, she often claimed to be thirty-two.
When I first came to meet her in Ojai, she flirted with me, and it was obvious that she didn’t view herself as an elderly woman,” said Wallace.
“I heard this from several other men,” said Wallace.
“It was true,” said Wallace.
“And the thing was, when you were sitting and talking with her, the idea of her being elderly just dissipated.
You definitely had the sense you were speaking with a young woman.”
At 103 years old, Wood wrote the following in a letter to a friend:
“I hang on to the statement of scientists that there is no such thing as time.
Therefore, join me in telling everyone you’re thirty-two.
This allows me to go after young men and plan to grab husbands from my girlfriends.
Choosing to live in the timeless, I am now at the easiest and happiest time in my life.”
– Beatrice Wood
You may also like to read or listen to my article:
Do you love the work of Beatrice Wood?
Are you inspired by her life?
Let me know in the comments below.
I would love to hear your thoughts.
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I first heard about Beatrice when reading an article about her in the New York Times. Fortunately I later found myself visiting family in Ventura and visited her studio. I was so delighted to meet her, I was beside myself with joy! I became determined to one day own a piece of her work! Finally, that day arrived and my coveted vase arrived. This was about 20 years ago. Subsequently, I was again in Ventura and found myself being drawn back to Happy Valley. Her home looked deserted but I knocked on the door and to my surprise someone answered. Beatrice had passed by then and it just so happened that they had some of her personal jewelry and I purchase two pieces, one of which I wear almost every day. When I look at the vase I purchased it’s luminous glaze reflects her spiritedness and I am content.
What a wonderful story Joanne. I am so glad you had the courage to knock on that door in Ojai-and knock on it twice. I would love to see a photo of your vase and of your jewelry. I am obsessed with the objects artists find meaningful to them. Wood’s jewelry was/is such a potent encapsulation of her creativity, values and soul. How wonderful you have that touchstone in your life. I am sure those pieces have found a great home with you.
I was so intrigued by what you said I started looking at her work and I absolutely love what she does. Her art is my absolute favorite. Eclectic, unique, provocative and humorous. Thank you so much for opening my eyes to her work. I would love to see one of her shows.
I am over the moon you like her work. I will let you know the next time I see her work on display somewhere. But I highly recommend you and Michelle drive up to Ojai to visit her home museum there. Ojai is so relaxing and magical and there is great permanent collection to look at in her former living room at The Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts. If you go, stay the night at the Ojai Retreat, a slice of peace on a mountain top, nestled in a live oak grove. Woodpeckers by day, owls by night. Truly healing destination.
That sounds like a perfect idea. Thank you.
It’s impossible not to be inspired by Beatrice. I went back and read your first post about her as well. Always willing to take a chance…a true free spirit. Thoughts of her stayed with me for days, her art, her freedom, her laugh.
I might never have come across her name if it weren’t for you. Thank you so much!
You are very, very welcome. Not enough people have heard of her, so I’m on a mission. Now that you mention it, I have heard her laugh on video and it was so unusual, so infectious. She laughed a lot. Which is a good idea right? I bet she must have baffled “normal” people and totally delighted fellow “free spirits” (as you so rightly called her), like herself. You either get the joke of life or you don’t.
Ms Wood is an interesting person. Your post prompted me to read more about Beatrice Wood here: https://www.beatricewood.com/biography_3.html
Because I’m also interested in artists from the perspective of astrology, I found her birth date and place (no time, unfortunately). She was a Pisces, born March 3, 1893, in San Francisco. Saturn plays a strong role in her chart, influencing not only her art (pottery), but also her difficult relationship with her mother, romantic love and two marriages, but never consummated (no sex), and (of course) no children.
Her art form (pottery) and style (primitive) is strongly reminiscent of ancient goddess art. Pottery itself is a “container,” not unlike women.
My reaction to her work and life is that she followed her own rhythm / heart beat. Thank you for sharing this post and introducing me to another example of a powerful woman artist.
So glad you were inspired to research more about Beatrice. If you get a chance I highly recommend visiting her former home and studio in Ojai. It’s open Friday, Sat and Sunday 11-5. Kevin Wallace and the rest of the staff there are so welcoming. I have been several times and each time I have left completely inspired.
I love those photographs of her. Some are my favorites. Some I haven’t seen before. I want to print a few and put them on my inspiration board. 🙂
Is it just me? Or do you agree that Wood has this essence that shines forth from so many of her photos? She has so many qualities that shimmer out to the viewer;from peacefulness and equanimity to intelligence and mischievousness…..it’s like she always having a conversation with the viewer. Frida Kahlo is like that too in photos huh?
i absolutely love this post. Beatrice Wood is such a positive inspiration to me. I love how you look at people from so many unusual places. 🙂
Oh thanks for reading it Gale. She is a huge inspiration for me too. I love looking at artists who had the strength of spirit to do whatever the hell they wanted no matter what anyone said.