Hi Bailey! This made me think of an experiment a doctor did at a nursing home once. He brought in a cage full of birds and let them loose in the hallways. The chaos and break from routine actually improved the health of the residents there! But the administration didn’t like his little chaos experiment and he wasn’t allowed to do it again. I will have to look up where I read this because it’s fascinating and maybe these doves kept Matisse going!
May 19, 2023·edited May 19, 2023Liked by Bailey Richardson
I wonder if that was Bill Thomas? Atul Gawande wrote about him in his book Being Mortal. He'd wanted to introduce animals into the nursing home to help with depression and loneliness. He started with dogs and cats and then suggested they bring 100 parakeets. The birds were delivered separately from the (unassembled) bird cages, so the delivery driver just let them loose in the beauty salon. LOL! The nursing home staff had to spend hours assembling the cages, catching parakeets, and delivering them to residents.
I used to work in skilled nursing care, and I love that story because what else was there to do except pitch in?
The swimming pool story is my favorite part of the story. It makes me also wonder if there is another art form I would be able to do. My hands no longer can hold paint brushes, perhaps there is something other thing I could do. Thank you So much for the Matisse storyline!💕
Hello Pamela, I missed the ‘swimming pool’ reference, was it in the video? The video was not available to me (here in Australia) I’m so sorry for your difficulties with holding a brush, as an artist that would be an anguish. An artist friend of mine uses a computer program that adds layers to an image of her own creation. It is similar in style, I suppose, to ‘collage’. She added ‘samples’ of her own paintings and other ‘found’ images into the work to create a new image.
I apologize for the delay in replying. I am getting ready for a trip across country to be with my 2 sons & their families for a while. Busy but exciting!
The swimming pool was regarding how Matisse had painted images on his walls after not finding anyone diving when he was taken to a pool to view diving. No one was so he painted on his walls so he could view what is was like to live inside a pool. I loved it. I had painted murals in my last home and I loved his take on it!
Thank you, this was lovely. I went to graduate school in the Philadelphia area and loved visiting the Barnes Foundation. So many beautiful works but I remember the Matisse works in particular.
How interesting that he gifted them to Picasso!
Hi Bailey! This made me think of an experiment a doctor did at a nursing home once. He brought in a cage full of birds and let them loose in the hallways. The chaos and break from routine actually improved the health of the residents there! But the administration didn’t like his little chaos experiment and he wasn’t allowed to do it again. I will have to look up where I read this because it’s fascinating and maybe these doves kept Matisse going!
I wonder if that was Bill Thomas? Atul Gawande wrote about him in his book Being Mortal. He'd wanted to introduce animals into the nursing home to help with depression and loneliness. He started with dogs and cats and then suggested they bring 100 parakeets. The birds were delivered separately from the (unassembled) bird cages, so the delivery driver just let them loose in the beauty salon. LOL! The nursing home staff had to spend hours assembling the cages, catching parakeets, and delivering them to residents.
I used to work in skilled nursing care, and I love that story because what else was there to do except pitch in?
This was definitely the story I was thinking of! Thank you, and thanks for remembering it more clearly than me!
I've never seen a dove with legs like the one in that second photo. Fancy! https://share.cleanshot.com/FLFNzDBH
I think they are technically called “Maltese pigeons” so they may be con artists doves...!
I would read a publication about the pets of con artists!
Excellent- had the same thought - would they have pets though? I would think they would be part of a con?
I love this Bailey!
This is such a sweet story about Matisse's love of doves and the special bond between him and Picasso
putting in a request for Warhol and Archie :)
This is so fascinating, Bailey! 🕊️
I love that Matisse gifted his birds to Picasso!
Also: great idea for a newsletter! Excited to read more!
The swimming pool story is my favorite part of the story. It makes me also wonder if there is another art form I would be able to do. My hands no longer can hold paint brushes, perhaps there is something other thing I could do. Thank you So much for the Matisse storyline!💕
Hello Pamela, I missed the ‘swimming pool’ reference, was it in the video? The video was not available to me (here in Australia) I’m so sorry for your difficulties with holding a brush, as an artist that would be an anguish. An artist friend of mine uses a computer program that adds layers to an image of her own creation. It is similar in style, I suppose, to ‘collage’. She added ‘samples’ of her own paintings and other ‘found’ images into the work to create a new image.
Interesting how your friend uses graphics for her paintings. What a great idea!
I apologize for the delay in replying. I am getting ready for a trip across country to be with my 2 sons & their families for a while. Busy but exciting!
The swimming pool was regarding how Matisse had painted images on his walls after not finding anyone diving when he was taken to a pool to view diving. No one was so he painted on his walls so he could view what is was like to live inside a pool. I loved it. I had painted murals in my last home and I loved his take on it!
Oh I love this. I always saw the Picasso doves and didn’t even think there might be a story
Thank you, this was lovely. I went to graduate school in the Philadelphia area and loved visiting the Barnes Foundation. So many beautiful works but I remember the Matisse works in particular.
Really enjoyed reading about this!
This is a side of Matisse I had not known- beautiful story!