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PEOPLE & ARTS Wednesday 7 March 2018

Tate Modern Picasso show charts one extraordinary year: 1932

By JILL LAWLESS well another portrait, "Girl
Associated Press Before a Mirror," which is on
LONDON (AP) — In 1932, loan from the Museum of
Pablo Picasso was 50 years Modern Art in New York.
old and art critics were ask- The show also includes "The
ing whether he was yester- Dream," a vividly colored
day's man. portrait of Walter con-
He proved them wrong with sidered among Picasso's
an outpouring of creativity greatest works. It was once
that is charted in the exhibi- owned by Las Vegas ca-
tion "Picasso 1932 — Love, sino mogul Steve Wynn,
Fame Tragedy," opening who put his elbow through
this week at London's Tate the canvas in 2006 just after
Modern gallery. agreeing to sell it for $139
More than 100 paintings, million.
drawings and sculptures, Olga left Picasso in 1935
all from 1932, show Picas- when Walter became
so's influences, including his pregnant, around the time
rivalry with Henri Matisse, his the artist moved on to a
interest in psychoanalysis new mistress and muse,
and his passion for younger Dora Maar.
lover Marie-Therese Walter. Picasso's treatment of
Walter inspired some of the women has often been crit-
Spanish artist's greatest por- icized, but Diana Widmaier
traits, one of which sold at A woman looking at Pablo Picasso's The Three Dancers, 1925, during a preview of the exhibition Picasso, granddaughter of
Sotheby's last week for al- Picasso 1932 - Love, Fame, Tragedy at Tate Modern in London, Tuesday March 6, 2018. the artist and Walter, said
most 50 million pounds ($70 Associated Press "this traditional idea of Pi-
million.) casso being a monster"
Three nudes of Walter, Khokhlova and their son as an iconic artist, but here Walter, with her strong aq- was simplistic.
painted over a five-day Paulo, while having a rela- we really get to the person uiline nose, inspired paint- “The sexuality is a part that
period and not displayed tionship with Walter, who and to the heart of his cre- ings, drawings and sculp- I don’t want to discuss
together since 1932, are was 28 years his junior. ativity," she said. "Without tures that absorbed and most of the time — no one
at the heart of a show that Co-curator Nancy Ireson making judgment, it makes transcended styles includ- does,” he said.
explores the interplay be- said at a preview Tuesday an iconic figure more relat- ing cubism and surrealism. But, he added, “it’s very im-
tween Picasso's work and that the exhibition offered able." In March alone he pro- portant to show the public
his life — especially his "an incredible opportunity Picasso's career lasted sev- duced the three nudes — that for every subject, ev-
complicated love life. to get really close to Picas- en decades — he died at "Nude, Green Leaves and ery model, there was a di-
In 1932, the artist was living so." 91 in 1973 — but 1932 was Bust," ''Nude in a Black Arm- rect relationship between
in Paris with his wife Olga "We're used to seeing him one of his most fertile years. chair" and "The Mirror" — as the artist and the model.”q

'Dodging and Burning' is riveting debut by John Copenhaver

"Dodging and Burning" is a when mystery writer Bun- girls to accompany him to as he tries to fit in while also
riveting debut by John Co- ny Prescott receives an the local woods where he bonding with other gay sol-
penhaver. It tackles a story anonymous envelope in claims he photographed diers. Don't ask, don't tell
that's seldom explored in the mail containing an old a blond woman who had wasn't even an option. But
mysteries — life for gay crime-scene photo. The just been murdered. While what Jay had to deal with
men and lesbians during photo sparks the memories he has the photographs, in his hometown, where he
America's post-World War of three characters, each the body is missing when was despised because of
II era. The intricate plot of whom changed during they get to the woods. The his feminine ways, is worse.
melds a coming-of-age 1945. woman, he claims, was Lily Several poignant scenes
story, a coming-out tale Back then, Bunny was 18, Vellum, who recently may show Jay trying to explain
and a mystery with realis- the daughter of Royal have been kidnapped. to Ceola the relation-
tic characters who want Oak's wealthiest man who Ceola is a fan of detec- ship he has with Robbie.
to be accepted for them- owned the local factory tive fiction, an interest she A 12-year-old in the 21st
selves. "Dodging and Burn- that made soda and was shared with Robbie and century would understand
ing," a photography term, the town's biggest employ- also Jay. But the real mys- what being gay is, but
works well as a metaphor er. Bunny had a crush on tery is the secret life that Ceola is a product of 1940s
for the characters whose Jay Greenwood, a photog- Jay and Robbie led — se- and has little idea what be- This book cover image re-
freedoms to love and be rapher who was wounded cret lovers who could ing homosexual means. Yet leased by Pegasus Books
themselves are limited by during World War II and who never acknowledge their Ceola's adoration of her shows "Dodging and Burning,"
by John Copenhaver.
the time in which they live. now lives with his tyrannical relationship. "Dodging and brother never lags, even Associated Press
The characters do a lot of grandmother. Ceola Bliss, Burning" explores the secret her recollections are in the
dodging, and some burn- age 12, also had a crush gay life that existed during form of her speaking to mysteries have been pub-
ing, as they maneuver life on Jay, who was the best that time, as well as the long-deceased Robbie. lished for decades. Colum-
in Royal Oak, a small Vir- friend of her adored broth- bigotry and pure hatred The brisk pace is augment- nist and short story writer
ginia town, as well as stints er, Robbie, who was de- that the closeted had to ed by the character stud- Copenhaver brings a new
in the military. clared missing during World endure. Jay's recounting ies and an in-depth look at voice to this genre with
The story kicks off in 2000 War II. Jay wants the two of his war days is touching gay rights. Gay and lesbian "Dodging and Burning."q