East Hampton for the Day
When I was 17 I was assigned “Abstract Expressionism” as a research topic in American Lit. I didn’t know much about abstract art, but I knew who Jackson Pollack was and being an angsty art kid, I threw myself fully into the research. Mid Century America always felt very romantic to me. The art, music, architecture, hair styles and fashion lead me to believe everyone was soo much cooler than we were in 2003. As I learned more about Pollack, I learned about the darker side of his art and grew fond of his relationship with artist Lee Krasner. To me, Lee was everything I wanted to be as a partner. She put so much of her life on hold to keep their relationship and Pollacks career afloat. These were the kinds of women I was surrounded with my whole life and I assumed that similar actions would make me a good partner one day. (they don't, I learned the hard way that your partner will not stay with you or respect you more because you have given up everything to please them and keep them happy. but that’s a different story for a different day.)
During this research I also began to understand addiction more. Addiction was something I was forced to grapple with as a teen because I knew and loved someone that had chosen their addiction over staying with me and my brothers as a family. At the time I wanted to be angry about it, but I wasn’t. Instead it just felt familiar and lonely and the more I read about Pollack and Krasner’s relationship the more I tried to find answers to why we love people that harm themselves and their families. Since my little paper had turned into a bit of an obsession, abstract expressionism started to influence the work I was creating as a high school art student. My work in ceramics began to be filled with foreign items such as glass and sand. I started using slabs of clay as a flat surface to create on. I event started to think about art school and the dream of possibly leaving Cleveland for NYC one day. This little research topic changed my life.
I would have never though that 16 years later I would still be looking towards abstract expressionism for answers and feeling so many emotions when I finally made the trek out to East Hampton to visit Jackson Pollack and Lee Krasner’s home and studio. I had always wanted to lay with my eyes closed on the splatter painted studio floor. When we arrived at the farm and walked over to the studio, I learned that was not possible but that didn’t take away from everything else I took in.
When you visit the Pollack-Krasner House & Study Center you have to remove your shoes and put little booties on. It’s super common for people to attempt to chip paint off the studio floor, and the oils from our body could harm the old floor, which is essentially a piece of art. The house looks exactly how I imagined it. I could picture Jackson and Lee in the yard tending to their garden or walking down the old country road. The staff working there was so full of information and listened to me go on about the art and were just as excited to be in the same place as two incredible artists that changed the world once worked.
As most museum gift shops are, the Pollack Krasner gift shop was amazing. Z & I left with the book Dinner With Jackson Pollack, a large cookbook that contains personal recipes found in their home. The couple enjoyed entertaining and kept a seasonal garden so we knew these would be recipes we would really love. Inspired to eat, the gift shop attendant pointed us in the direction of Rowdy Hall, where ate outside at a picnic table and stuffed our faces with pub style food.
After dinner we knew we had to stop by a vineyard for a glass of wine, so we chose Wolffer Wine Stand because it was on the way home and I absolutely adore their mini rosé bottles with the pretty labels. The weather was perfect and the yard was crowded. We ordered two glasses of sparkling red rosé, sat in the grass and tried to have a conversation amongst a billion bachelorette parties. I guess it was exactly what I expected, and while I probably wont return to their vineyard, I will 100% continue to purchase their wine at the store!
Now here I am writing a blog the day after visiting the place I daydreamed of as a teenager, but now I’m 33. I never moved to NYC for college to study art, instead I ran away to NYC when I was 22 to escape an abusive relationship. I still think about the person that chose their addiction over a family years ago even though they are dead now. And I still don’t hate them. I cook from my backyard garden with an amazing man who joined me on my journey yesterday. We have a small NYC apartment and a house in the country. He’s someone that I do not have to crumble my dreams for because his happiness and success is more important than mine. Somehow this little research topic that Mrs. Rogers gave me in the 11th grade completely formed my life. It taught me about love and marriage and what home is and I’m still learning from that research topic but it’s done me well and I feel very content and proud of myself. And I am so very grateful for Jackson & Lee.
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dress: Frnch
army jacket: vintage
headband: Zara
sunglasses: Max Mara
