An American friend of mine, artist Meighen Jackson, posted a message on my personal Facebook that, while reading the preview of Emily Carr’s BC, she “was inspired to immediately google her paintings. “WOW!,” said Meighen. “They have the magic of Birchfield and the strength of O’Keeffe, with a real sense of the spirit of the north woods. Can’t wait to read the book.”

I was very interested in Meighen’s immediate comparison with Georgia O’Keeffe and thought I’d share my response with everyone here:

Emily briefly met O’Keeffe in 1930 when she visited Alfred Stieglitz’s gallery in New York (Stieglitz was O’Keeffe’s husband). She mentions the incident in her autobiography, “Growing Pains,” and also her meeting with Katherine Dreier in which they briefly discussed O’Keeffe.

“Some of her things I think beautiful, but she herself does not seem happy when she speaks of her work.”
Miss Dreier made an impatient gesture.
“Georgia O’Keefe wants to be the greatest painter. Everyone can’t be that, but all can contribute. Does the bird in the woods care if he is the best singer? He sings because he is happy. It is the altogether-happiness which makes one grand, great chorus.”
I have often thought of that statement of Miss Dreier’s, also of how extremely nice she was to me.”

There is an interesting video comparing Emily, Georgia and Frida Kahlo called Bone, Wind, Fire and a book about the three called Places of Their Own. I haven’t read the book, but the documentary is very good.