sketches of my day May 2008 - Nov 2010

July 23, 2008

Marc Chagall

"Only love interests me, and I am only in contact with things that revolve around love". 
                                                                                    Marc Chagall

                                    

In the summer of 1974, my good friend Kathy and I strolled up a mountain on a journey to Musee Marc Chagall, in Saint-Paul de Vence. We had heard that he might be there for his show. At twenty, I don’t think I fully understood how significant this could be. Today, I try very hard to recapture all that I can of those moments. The museum was modern looking (it had been built in 1966) and the walls were filled with Chagall paintings and it was rather crowded, but not crowded like here in the U.S., this was very French - room temperature wine from the neighboring village of Bordeaux, cut flowers on tables and warm romantic conversations I could not really understand. Soon after arriving, there was a bit of a fuss being made in one of the rooms and when we made our way there, we saw him. He was so small and his hair was white and he shuffled throughout the museum and spoke softly and humbly of his work. There was no paparazzo here only Marc Chagall and a modest gathering of people who were trying to be near him and somehow share or experience his genius. Hollywood and all of its’ plastic could never come close to this moment and this 87 year old man who had spent his life creating art. He went on to live ten more years and created more art. One day I would love to return to that place and imagine him there and take with me that feeling of someone real and genuine.

                                                            Till Next Time,

                                                                    p.s.