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Art in the SouthFemale Artists

Dusti Bongé Surrealist drawing recalls Chagall

By Chadd ScottPosted on May 15, 20220 Comments
Dusti Bongé Untitled (Angels), c 1938, charcoal on paper, 8 1/2” x 11”
Dusti Bongé Untitled (Angels), c 1938, charcoal on paper, 8 1/2” x 11”

Throughout Dusti Bongé’s (1903-1993) long artistic career, she experimented with a wide variety of Modern painting styles from Cubism to Surrealism and Abstract Expressionism. Our example this week through See Great Art’s partnership with the Dusti Bongé Art Foundation in Biloxi, MS is a Dusti Bongé Surrealist drawing.

Analysis of the artwork, as always, is provided by Dusti Bongé Art Foundation Executive Director Ligia M. Römer.

Dusti Bongé Untitled (Angels), c 1938, charcoal on paper, 8 1/2” x 11”

Herewith a lovely and slightly unusual drawing by Dusti Bongé from her early years. While the majority of her work at the time was focused on depicting cityscapes, landscapes and still lifes, all representing her immediate surroundings, she also did some of these almost dreamy drawings. With slightly amorphous curvy figures, some of which seem to hover or float; a few of these drawings are reminiscent of Chagall’s ethereal figures. 

In this drawing it appears as if the figure in the foreground, with her curled up legs sitting by a stream, is being embraced by an angelic creature with a halo. Behind them rising along a diagonal across the paper, are three more dreamlike, floating angel figures. They are surrounded by curving forms that appear to be wings, but that also kind of look like banana leaves. The legs of the three hovering angels seemingly undulate down until they become one with the ripples in the stream of water. 

Perhaps these are imaginary guardian angels, perhaps they represent the spiritual calm Dusti found enveloping her while sitting at the water’s edge. It is hard to know. What is clear is that they are an early sign of her venturing into surrealist themes. Interestingly, Dusti did two sketches with this very same composition; she also did several with figures representing a mother and a child. They are all introversive compositions with mostly female figures surrounded by various patterned backgrounds. These patterns in the form of stippling, wavy lines, cross hatches etc., also became a tool often used in her later surrealist compositions.

More Dusti Bongé

Dusti Bongé, Fav-o-rite Sketch Book, p.5, Self Portrait, 1951, ink on paper, 7 3/4” x 5”

Dusti Bongé self portrait sketch drawing

December 5, 2021 No Comments on Dusti Bongé self portrait sketch drawing
Dusti Bongé, Strathmore Alexis Drawing, page 4 & 6, c. 1955, ink on paper, 10” x 8”

Dusti Bongé contour drawings

November 21, 2021 No Comments on Dusti Bongé contour drawings
Dusti Bongé

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Florida Highwaymen Art

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Helen Frankenthaler’s ‘Eden Revisited’ (1967 Helen Frankenthaler’s ‘Eden Revisited’ (1967-1976) sure to brighten your day, it did mine on a recent visit to @sama_art @visitsanantonio. Stunning, vivid, massive (10-plus-feet tall), expressive… up close you can see the paint stains. 
I see so much drama in this painting, so much certainty, confidence. Of all the past artists I could have met, @helenfrankenthalerfoundation would be high on the list.
#helenfrankenthaler #colorfieldpainting #greatwomenartists #femaleartist #womenshistorymonth #yellow #orange #painting #modernart #visitsanantonio
3 showstoppers from @_wiggins_ at @briscoemuseum @ 3 showstoppers from @_wiggins_ at @briscoemuseum @visitsanantonio. Kim’s mark making and color are instantly recognizable and I DIG it! 
#visitsanantonio #westernart #westernartist #santafe #cowboy #purple
Harold Newton (left) and Alfred Hair side-by-side Harold Newton (left) and Alfred Hair side-by-side at @tampamuseumofart. To learn more about the original Florida Highwaymen artist, click the link in my bio.
#floridahighwaymen #haroldnewton #alfredhair #florida #floridalife #floridaartist #floridaart #floridaartists #blackartist #floridahistory
OVERWHELMED by this exhibition of #purvisyoung art OVERWHELMED by this exhibition of #purvisyoung artwork on view at @tampamuseumofart! 
What most caught my eye were all the 18-wheelers. Are these a reference to “urban renewal” and the siting of I-95 through the heart of Young’s #overtown #miami neighborhood. 
As occurred across America during 1950s-80s, so-called urban renewal was a tactic used by white politicians to destroy thriving Black communities by running interstates through them to aide white suburbanites in getting to jobs in town faster.
Young experienced Overtown on both sides of #urbanrenewal and I can’t help thinking all these trucks are commentary on I-95.
#miamilife #tampa #tampaflorida #artmuseum #blackart #blackartist #blackartmatters #selftaughtartist
I was writing about @ronjonofficial for my “My F I was writing about @ronjonofficial for my “My Favorite Florida” column on Rovology.com travel site this morning. My first visit was 86ish, my most recent visit came last month. 
#ronjonsurfshop #ronjon #cocoabeach #cocoabeachflorida #surfing #surflife #80s #80sfashion
“Florida Highwaymen: Dashboard Dreams” closes “Florida Highwaymen: Dashboard Dreams” closes at @aebackusmuseum 2/26. Best chance all year to see original Florida Highwaymen paintings. 
More info about Highwaymen check link in bio.
“Cocktails & Dreams” neon at @treylorparkhitch “Cocktails & Dreams” neon at @treylorparkhitch in #savannah. Who gets it?
#savannahgeorgia #cocktails #tomcruise #movie
Check out this #keithharing ceiling above the @nyh Check out this #keithharing ceiling above the @nyhistory admission desk! It comes from his #soho Pop Shop retail location which he opened in 1986 and was operated by @keithharingfoundation until 2005. 
Second pic his remix of a #subway sign. New-York Historical Society has an AMAZING modern + contemporary art collection. Highlight of my recent visit.
#subwayart #newyorksubway #newyorkhistory #newyorkhistoricalsociety #newyorkcity #newyorklife #streetart #graffiti #graffitiart
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