Glass Houses 11: Julie Speed

by Everett Taasevigen July 27, 2009
A woodblock print by Katsushika Hokusai featuring a grassy cliffside with wooden structures and a bridge.
Katsushika Hokusai, "The Hanging-cloud Bridge at Mount Gyōdō near Ashikaga," 1833–1834, color woodblock print, 10 x 14 7/8 inches. Worcester Art Museum, John Chandler Bancroft Collection
A sculpture of the Houston Astrodome by Kambel Smith.
Kambel Smith, "Houston Astrodome," 2024, cardboard, acrylic, spray paint, astroturf and foam board, 42 x 42 x 4 inches.

On a vintage English bike, a “Robin Hood” three speed, Marfa artist Julie Speed rides to her studio every morning to paint the images in her head. Vito, a beautiful redheaded Amazon parrot of nearly 30 years, keeps the artist company in her spacious gallery and painting studio. Speed shared with me what she like most about Marfa:

“The clouds. There are makes and models of clouds I’ve never seen anywhere else.  I call it the cloud showroom on the universe.”

Julie Speed was born in Chicago, moved to Texas in 1978 and Marfa in 2006. Speed Art 2003 – 2009, chronicling the artist’s work since 2003, will be published by UT Press in October 2009.

Everett Taasevigen is a Houston photographer.

Also by Everett Taasevigen:

Glass Houses 10: Bert Long

Glass Houses 9: Steve Brudniak

Glass Houses 8: David Aylsworth

Glass Houses 7: Jill Pangallo

Glass Houses 6: Nestor Topchy

 

2 comments

2 comments

Ron July 28, 2009 - 18:51

Wonderfully magical photographs.
Everett’s eyes see beauty in composition and angles that few others see.
His photo essays leave me wanting to meet the subject artists and be in their studios.
Ron Martino

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Paola Estrada February 27, 2012 - 21:17

queridaJulie

nosabesloqueteadmiro.yotambienpintoytesigomuydecerca.
unbeso
desdeCHILE

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